Diseases

"It begins with a shiver, or a cough that will not quite go away. By the time the rash appears or the blood turns black, most have already made their peace. Illness travels quietly through the crowded taverns of Lifton and the windblown camps of the Caldera alike, taking root where it pleases. Apothecaries work through the night with ink-stained fingers and dwindling supplies. The faithful say The Divine is listening, but even the devout know to boil their water and burn the bedding." -Unknown.

Characters might encounter diseases in many forms during play. A bloated corpse discovered in the undergrowth, a sickly traveller stumbling into camp at dusk, or a persistent cough spreading through the tents are all signs that something is amiss. Diseases are a part of the world and characters might encounter them at any point. The following section explains the rules for how diseases work in game, including how they are caught, treated, and roleplayed.

Diseases in Game

All diseases come with a card. The roleplay effects and the contagion level of the disease will be on the outside, this is for everyone to see. The virulence level and any roleplay requirements for healing will be on the inside. Only Medical Practitioners with the Diagnosis sub skill may look on the inside of the card.

Contagion level:

Each disease will have a contagion level representing how easily it spreads: Low, 4 hours of close contact to contract this from a player/NPC Medium, 2 hours of close contact to contract this from a player/NPC High, 30 minutes of close contact to contract this from a player/NPC Very High, 15 minutes of close contact to contract this from a player/NPC

Close contact is 2 metres. The amount of time spent near an infected character to catch the disease is cumulative for the event, for example: If Jenny spends 15 minutes next to Billy who has a High contagion level disease, then goes away for a while, but then comes back and spends another 15 minutes around Billy, Jenny will now catch the same disease.

Virulence level:

Each disease has a virulence level representing how potent the disease is. The Virulence level needs to be matched or exceeded to remove the disease. This can be done in game e.g. appropriate Elixirs/ Tinctures or Specific religious rites.

List of Known Diseases:

Weak Wrists

(Virulence level 2 Disease) (Contagion Medium). 30 minutes after contracting this disease will Stop you being able to pick up anything with your hand ie weapons/objects, you have a choice of how to Role play this, you could pick something up and drop it immediately or just not be able to pick the item up.

Husk

(Virulence level 4 Disease) (Contagion Low).
After 1 hour and every hour you start to lose access to your skills, starting with your Sub Skills, followed by your Hobby(‘s), then your Profession and last of all your “skills Y’all get for free. If you manage to lose all your skills you wander around looking lost not knowing where you are. Once cured you will regain 1 skill per hour until you have all your skills back, in the reverse order as above.

The Rot

(Virulence level 3 Disease) (Contagion High).
Once contracted this disease will remove 1 global hit every 30 mins until dead or cured, you can not be healed until this has been cured.

Blast Fever

(Virulence level 1 Disease) (Contagion Very High).
Once contracted this disease will force you to go prone/take a strike down effect every time you hear a gunshot (even if you are the one shooting)