Blackbane Fever

Research findings provided by Ezra Vae'lisar and his research assistant.

"Blackbane Fever is a condition found only within the swamps of Blackwater. It's tied to the unnatural magic that lingers in the area, though whether it's a hag's curse or tied to the source of Blackwater's misfortune all together remains a mystery. Current theories would point to pollution from the Underdark seeping into the surface landscape, tainting everything it touches. The other leading theory is that it may be negative energy lingering in the area from the War of Life and Strife. The course of the disease is vicious and painful. Without knowing the cause nor the source of it, no cure has been found. Treatment consists of keeping patients comfortable and quarantined to prevent the spread of the disease.
Blackbane Fever takes hold of a patient by entering their body through ingestion or an open wound. The undead in the area are prime carriers for the disease and a single scratch from them can be a death sentence. Holy water and artifacts can keep the undead at bay, but it's highly recommended that one avoids an encounter with them entirely.
Cover any and all open wounds, especially when exposed to the water in the swamps. Blackbane Fever has contaminated the water, making it no longer suitable for mortal consumption. Purifying the water before drinking will rid a flask's worth of water of the disease. Most of the wildlife within Blackwater seems to be unaffected by the disease and frequent testing has turned up no traces of it within their blood. It's safe to say that they are, for the most part, immune to this magical corruption.
Observed subjects have all gone through the same course of symptoms that the disease presents. It weakens the body substantially in the beginning stage, allowing it to take hold of their body much quicker before they eventually perish. The finale stage is the reanimation of their corpse as the disease seeks out another host. Despite its need to grow, the disease is contained within the boundaries of Blackwater, and there's been no cases of it running rampant in the surrounding areas.
While that may sound like good news, the lack of information or even the acknowledgement of its existence proves to be troubling. It's a ticking timebomb that will lead to mass casualties should it leave the confines of Blackwater. Provided with this article is Ezra's extensive research into the disease, as well as his patient reports. Samples of the disease were also found, but for the safety of everyone involved, they were not removed from the swamps."

Recommended Course of Action:

Disallow the development of any settlements or roads leading to Blackwater and its immediate surroundings. A dam should be built in the tributary that bleeds into the swamps to prevent any chance of its corruption reaching the rest of Caelsimil. Begin development of a small fort near the outskirts of Blackwater. Station a military squad there as well as mages trained in the study of disease and curses. Any threats that leave the confines of the swamps will be dealt with immediately. If possible, seek out the aid of the Order of the Oracle's Eye and their allies, as they can surely find a way to deal with this problem.

-Dannis Goldstorm, Cleric of Bibiana.

Transmission & Vectors

The disease is present in the waters of the Blackwater Swamps. Ingesting the water is dangerous and any open wounds left exposed to it also provide the disease an entryway into the body. The hordes of undead that roam the area carry the disease as well, passing it to a living host through bites or scratches.

Symptoms

• Joint stiffness
• Numbness in the extremities
• Fever
• Excessive sweating
• Itchy, flaky rashes on the chest, neck, and face
• Wet cough, coughing up blood or a grease-like substance
• Thick, tannic colored mucus
• Dry, red eyes
• Sores that leak a black, grease-like substance
• Delusions
• Undeath

Treatment

There's no cure for the disease. Treatment consists of pain management through herbal remedies made with atropa belladonna, which also acts as a muscle relaxer. When available, patients have also been treated with small doses of opium. In several instances, those who hadn't succumbed to the mental effects of their illness would overdose on opium before the disease had a chance to reach its final stage. Patients should always be quarantined the moment they come into contact with the usual carriers of the disease. If in a week's time, they fail to show any symptoms, then they likely haven't caught it.

Prognosis

The disease is fatal, usually killing a patient within a month's time of contracting it. Shortly after their death, the disease takes full control of the body and reanimates it to find more hosts. While burning the bodies before reanimation is the best way to contain it, the supernatural capabilities of the disease are unpredictable. A body may be up on its feet within several minutes, which can lead to unfortunate circumstances for those tending to the dead. For the dead who have been reanimated, it's best to set live bait loose into the swamps and allow the body to roam free.

Affected Groups

Mortals of all kinds can fall victim to the disease. Most of the wildlife in the swamps has remained unaffected by the presence of Blackbane Fever. Testing done on their bodies has turned up no traces of the disease in their blood, leading many to believe that animals are immune to its corruption.

Prevention

Any natural resources, even those that aren't normally affected by the disease, should be purified magically before consumption. Water is especially dangerous, so purification is a must. When bathing, one should keep their head above water. If there's any open wounds on the body, bathing and swimming should be avoided at all costs.
Keep away from the undead as much as possible. If spotted, flee quickly and don't engage them. If traveling through the swamps, pack a bottle of holy water and a religious symbol blessed by a cleric. While these won't put the dead in the ground where they belong, they'll stun them and provide an opportunity to escape.

Type

Supernatural

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Rare

by Fulvio Ciccolo