Weeping Fever

When the Iksandi Empire first turned its greedy eyes on the Mari Valley, the magefolk were unafraid. After all, they had ten times the might and the empire lacked the magic that they posessed. However, the empire targeted the Watching-lilies, healing plants connected to legend. Alongside that, a disease afflicted many mages, spreading through Marisen with frightening speed. These combined factors allowed the Iksandi to push the mages into the mountains, and many believe the mages to be long gone, relics of an ancient time.

Cause and transmission

The Weeping Fever appears to target magefolk with existing mage scars, likely drawn to the high concentration of magic present in their body. It is contagious and passed through physical contact, especially with the scars of an afflicted mage. The disease can harbor in a mage for up to a week before it becomes infectious, and remains infectious until cured.

Symptoms

The Weeping Fever presents itself with fever-like symptoms for the first few days. After then, it affects the shape of mage scars and creates new ones, presenting itself as tear-like streaks surrounding the eyes, which become covered with a milky film. Blindness is a common symptom of the disease, as is a dull ache in the affected area. As the "tears" spread, the affected skin becomes inflamed and extremely sensitive, and patients describe vivid hallucinations and mage sight. Many succumb to overstimulation in this stage, and become increasingly irritable. Paralysis may occur, depending on the strength of mage scars and the time of infection and treatment. If not contained, the spreading of mage scars due to Weeping Fever can lead to death.

Treatment and cures

Traditionally, Watching-lilies would be used to cure the disease, but after the Iksandi wars, watching-lilies were almost entirely wiped out. Powerful mages specializing in healing would be able to cure the disease, but at risk of becoming infected through physical contact.
Treatment in short term and long term utilizes a variety of herbs to reduce fevers and dull the pain, but the treatments are not effective at curing the disease. To avoid the spread of the contagion, afflicted mages are covered in cloth and wear long gloves to avoid transmission through skin-to-skin contact. Designated "death nurses" are any mages specializing in healing that willingly treat clusters of patients in out-of-the-way places, knowing that they have a high risk of contracting the disease themselves.