Pollen Sickness

Pollen that could make any man afraid of his own shadow.

Introduction:

The realm of Keog is home to some breathtaking and wonderous sights. Not all of those areas are as safe as they are beautiful. A truly unique landscape lies on the borders of the Silvermaw Forest.

The Meadow Of Fear:

In the realm of Keog on the eastern borders of the Silvermaw Forest lies a beautifully deadly meadow. The meadow, filled with beautiful flowers of varying colors and hues is a real sight to behold. Less remarkable if you begin to wander through the meadow. Many of the flowers in this region are known to send out pollen that seems to alter the brain structure of anyone who inhales too much. The chemicals in the flowers create widespread panic, anxiety, and fear of nearly everything as it takes hold in the brain. Many never make it out the meadow once they wander in as the chemical changes in the mindset in very fast. Most sit, cringe, and never leave the meadow for the fears manufactured in the brain cause them to shut down. Few have lived from the chemical changes in the brain. The disease of the mind if one does survive the initial onsetting is called "Pollen Sickness."

The Flowers:

The meadow is packed with the beautiful Cluster Bells. A flower that comes in many colors as the plant will flower through most of the summer months. The flowers create multiple sacks of pollen on them that burst open when they are full, releasing all of their pollen.

Snapdragons Flower Plant Houseplants Flower Room by Paolinio

Transmission:

Pollen Sickness is commonly known to be caused by air-borne particles from the plant are inhaled in the lungs. The chemicals in the pollen then absorb into the bloodstream, eventually reaching the brain where the chemical changes take place.

Treatment:

No cure is known at the time; some say that the Sapphire Belch brew created by the Satyrs of Becher has been known to alleviate the symptoms.

Symptoms:

Physical Damages: Due to the chemical changes in the brain and the hallucinations, some physical trauma of the Illness will be self-inflicted.
Emotional Damages: Due to fear and hallucinations, having a robust psychological framework is hard for these individuals. Most people who would generally be close to the inflicted will either shun, ignore or forget the inflicted.
Psychological Damages: Excessive fears, worries, and anxiety.

Mad Powder:

The pollen is known to have a devastating effect on anyone who inhales it. With such a potent chemical so abundantly ready in this large meadow, many of the unsavory in Magmoia have found other uses for the pollen. The most common misuse of the pollen is in creating a poison like powder that can induce the mental instability the powder creates.

Uses of the Meadow:

In the Goboro Kingdom, they have a unique way of dealing with traitors, thieves, murders, and rapers. The accused will be hauled to the edge of the meadow and told to walk to the other side. As the accused walks through the field, the onlookers witness the changes as the pollen takes hold in the criminal. None have ever made it to the opposite edge of the meadow.

Cultural Reception:

For the few travelers and wanders who have lived after breathing the toxic pollen, healthy life is impossible. Most citizens in the realm of Keog will see anyone with the illness as a criminal, heathen, or a waste of time. As most who suffer the illness are former criminals. Many with the disease are either beaten, ridiculed, or die in a short amount of time due to lack of food and support.