Slimy Doom

In the underground country of Imperlia, there are many unexplored and ancient ruins deep, deep underground. Many locations in this underdark haven't seen humanoid activity in many thousands of years. As such, some of the ancient defenses, traps, and constructed guardians still linger. In one such instance a group of adventerers run afoul of one particularly sinister trap that casts the spell contagion, specifically Slimy Doom. Slimy Doom causes the target creature to bleed uncontrollably, it gains disadvantage on Consititution checks and Constitution saving throws. In addition, whenever it takes damage, it is stunned until the end of its next turn. This particularly insidiuos disease will spread when the adventuring party returns to Baor Avor Ormi for treatment. thousands, maybe even hundreds of thousands will get sick and die. This disease is neither pleasant to contract nor to see. It will become a major crisis for the Imperlia inhabitants. After unsucessfully attempting to contain and eliminate the disease, the normally secretive and exclusive government will open its doors to other humanoids that are offering aid. (Before this disease, only Dwarves, gnomes, and goblinoids were allowed in the deeper part of the underground country) It will start slowly, of course, but eventually, with pressure from outher countries and internal pressure from citizens, the country will open its doors to all humanoids. They will create a quarantine and safety protocol for all adventurers exploring the underdark ruins.

Transmission & Vectors

Slimy Doom becomes infectious once the first signs of the disease manifest in a humanoid, namely uncontrollable bleeding. The blood of an infected individual can easily infect another person through any opening, especially an open cut or sore. This mechanism isn't well understood at first and because of its high virility, a first and deadly wave spreads quickly through the population.

Causes

The disease is entirely natural in its course but it was magically induced in an adventurer exploring the underdark. Patient 0 triggered a trap that led to his infection and subsequent spreading throughout Imperlia and beyond.

Symptoms

Physical symptoms include uncontrollable bleeding from wounds, frequent bleeding from bodily openings. Usually this leads to fatigue, confusion, and fever.

Treatment

Magical treatment, such as Lesser Restoration, works to completely cure an individual, but the population generally requires bedrest and liquids. A concoction of ground leafy greens seems to also aid some (typically adminstered as a superfood smoothie). There is a medicine established several months after the onset of the disease using several medicinal herbs and fungi, but it is intitially expensive and only about 65% effective. Support from other governments will see this medicine supply increase and create more magical cures. However, these magical potions are expensive and typically only affordable to the rich and influential.

Prognosis

The first stage of the disease is silent, with little discernible difference, except for maybe an increase in fatigue. The second stage sees minor bleeding start. This stage is usually when the disease is transmitted because the individual is usally able to still travel easily. The third stage sees increased bleeding, including internal bleeding. If the disease progresses to the third stage the prognosis is almost always death. However, about 15% of the population will recover from the disease in the second stage. With bedrest and liquids, this increases to 21%. Adding leafy greens or other foods rich in vitamin K increase this to 23%. With medicine, the recovery rate increases to 55%. Magical potions and cures ate 100% effective, however, if the cure is adminstered too late and internal bleeding is too severe, an individual may still not recover.

Hosts & Carriers

After the introduction of this disease, it never truly is eliminated. The disease can affect any mammalian like creature, so strains survive in rats and other vermin. They are affected by the disease as normal, but even blood from a dead infected rat can start an epidemic.

Prevention

Infection is prevented by avoiding contact with blood or other bodily fluids from the infected.

Type

Viral

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Short-term