The Lowland Malady

In the swampy lowlands of Heege, there is among the copious insect life a particular variety of biting fly which plagues the visiting soldier. First, the bite of the fly itself is painful -- not excruciating, but noticeable and sharp. Then the pain resolves into an itching welt for approximately two to three days, after which the welt begins to swell.
Scholars have determined that the swelling is due to the injection of eggs by the fly, which not only takes flesh or blood in its bite but simultaneously implants its young to hatch in the host. The growing cluster of eggs absorbs nutrition and then, when ready, hatches and burrows outward through the skin, a process which causes what is generally described as "a burning itch."
The bite and hatching themselves are not generally dangerous, but the effects of pain and itching can be hard on morale as wet troops work through swampy terrain. More, the hatching process can be quite alarming, and more than a few seasoned veterans who would not flinch at facing a line of incoming Ryuven have broken into panic at seeing tiny flies worm through their own arms. The horror, in addition to the burning itching, have led many to try to cut out the swelling welts or to burn the welts or the emerging flies, leading to greater injury.
It should be noted that soldiers in this region rarely bear a single welt at a time. Excessively affected troops may show additional physical fatigue as multiple sets of eggs siphon energy from their host.
"The Lowland Malady" refers to the general mental exhaustion and irritability experienced by troops suffering from these flies. In some cases the flies may transmit additional disease, but these are not to be confused.
Many remedies are touted as defenses against the biting flies, from coating one's skin in mud to the use of particular scented oils, but none have been seen to be universally effective, and in some cases the "preventatives" are no more than unscrupulous tactics by sellers of scented oils. The best practice is to keep as much skin as possible covered against biting, despite the humid warmth.

Type

Parasitic