Poet's Trance

All the novices were warned about the nature of Poet's Herb, and what could happen if you were too liberal with your use. The tales of the shells of some of the most promising early spellwriters who succumbed to Poet's Trance were terrifying, and I took them to heart, as did all the others. Or so I thought. I found Patrik in the hallway, standing and staring at nothing, with his arm raised as though giving a speech. I rushed for a nurse, but it was too late. Patrik died later that day.

Transmission & Vectors

Poet's Trance is transmitted by the imbibing of excessive quantities of Poet's Herb. Generally, a dose of Poet's Herb is about 1 or 2 cups of tea, and for most people the dose strong enough to bring on Poet's Trance is 5 cups. 7 cups has proven to be fatal in most cases. Although not contagious in the traditional sense, Poet's Trance can be transmitted if there is a sufficient quantity of Poet's Herb in a single place - the residue it leaves is potent and, if in an enclosed space, the smell can bring on the condition if an individual remains near it for too long.

Causes

When imbibed in large quantities, the lyrian acid to which Poet's Herb owes its potency becomes highly concentrated in the brain and causes rapid neural failure. With proper precautions, such as the use of an Ailmentwrit or counter-drug, this can be limited to the point where it induces only a heightened state of awareness and creativity.
Poet's Trance begins suddenly, freezing the victim in place as though paralysed. If caught at this early stage, the afflicted person can be brought back to consciousness and avoid most of the negative effects of the condition by use of an Ailmentwrit or, if one is not available, the repeated moving of their limbs and body by another individual. This stage lasts for 10 to 15 minutes.
Next, the victim typically strikes an orator's pose, with an outflung arm and a foot stepped forward. By this time it is usually too late to save them, although there are some exceptions. This phase typically lasts for 2-3 hours before the victim begins foaming at the mouth, after which point they die within the hour.

Symptoms

The smell of Poet's Herb on someone's breath or body can indicate they have imbibed too much. Additionally, a refusal to wake or a lack of desire to move around can indicate an early onset of the condition. As described above, stillness as though paralysed and suddenly adopting the position of an orator are also indications of the condition's presence.

Treatment

If found in the early stages, it is possible to revive a victim of Poet's Trance by simply moving their arms and legs. This allows them to regain control of their body and is postulated to release a counter-drug to the Poet's Herb.
At later stages, or if movement of the arms and legs does not succeed after five minutes of constant motion, an Ailmentwrit or counter-drug is required. Depending on the stage of the condition, a stronger Ailmentwrit may need to be procured. Typically, a copy of Lawrence's Lilies on the River is sufficient and effective, but occasionally a copy of quality such as Creza's Sbakâro is required. Counter-drugs that act with sufficient rapidity include Marrow-wort and Djinn's Grass. Healall DOES NOT act sufficiently fast enough to cure the condition and should be avoided.

Prognosis

If attended to in the first stages of the condition, the afflicted individual is unlikely to experience any serious detriment (apart from an aversion to Poet's Herb for the rest of their life!), although they may suffer some small side-effects for the next few days depending on the method used to cure them and the exact amount of time before attempts to cure them begin. These side-effects can include slurred speech, a shuffling walk, or dizzy spells.
If left to later stages, the afflicted individual is likely to suffer serious detriments such as limb loss and permanent brain damage.

History

Poet's Trance has been around as long as people have known of Poet's Herb. The first notable user was the great poet Kijl, who died from overdose on his second consumption of the herb. He ate 3 leaves. Since then, in order to prevent the condition, Poet's Herb has been brewed in tea, and limits have been found through regrettable errors for its safe use.

Cultural Reception

Those who are affected by Poet's Trance are generally seen to be foolish, taking greater quantities of Poet's Herb than they should, and also they are seen to be over-reaching in their disciplines, aiming to be better than they are by merit. Those who survive and recover are generally not reminded of the condition, and treated as normal people.

Type

Mental

Rarity

Rare