Diseased
A Diseased character or creature carries an affliction that may damage the body, impair its functions, or produce other harmful effects. Depending on the disease, the carrier may also pose a risk to others through direct contact, bodily fluids, contaminated food or water, airborne transmission, parasites, or other means of spreading the affliction.
Diseased is a general condition rather than a single illness. The specific disease determines its symptoms, severity, progression, and method of transmission. Players and the GM should consult the disease's description to determine its effects on the carrier and the risks it presents to others.
Diseased Causes
Diseases may arise from naturally occurring microorganisms, parasites, hereditary conditions, or supernatural sources. Some are acquired through exposure to an infected creature or contaminated environment, while others are inherited or imposed through magical means. Not every disease is contagious, and the method of transmission depends on the particular affliction.
Examples include:
- Bacteria, viruses, fungi, and other microorganisms
- Parasites and other disease-carrying organisms
- Contaminated food, water, or environments
- Contact with infected creatures or their bodily fluids
- Hereditary or congenital conditions
- Magical spells and archetypal powers
- Charms and curses
- Wards and other supernatural effects that inflict disease
Diseased Effects
The effects of Diseased are determined by the specific disease's description. Some diseases produce mild symptoms with little impact on a character's activities, while others cause progressive damage, impair essential bodily functions, or introduce additional conditions.
Of particular importance are effects that reduce Body Points or impose conditions such as Blindness or Dazed, which may interfere with a character's ability to fight, travel, communicate, or perform other necessary tasks. The disease's description should specify its symptoms, how those symptoms progress, and whether the carrier can transmit the affliction to others.
Removing the Diseased Condition
The appropriate treatment depends on the disease and its underlying cause. Some diseases resolve with rest and ordinary medicine, while others require specialized remedies or magical intervention. Treating the symptoms may improve the carrier's condition without necessarily eliminating the disease itself.
Possible methods include:
- Rest and recovery
- Medicine and other appropriate treatments
- Curative potions
- Magical healing
- Archetypal powers that restore health or combat disease
- Magical artefacts that suppress or eliminate disease
- Removing a curse or countering a spell responsible for the affliction, where applicable
- Isolating the carrier or avoiding exposure to prevent further transmission while treatment takes effect
The disease's description determines whether a particular treatment is effective and whether the carrier remains contagious during recovery.
Long Term Diseased Effects
The long-term consequences of Diseased depend on the nature and severity of the affliction. Some diseases resolve without lasting effects, while others persist, recur, or progressively damage the carrier. Prolonged illness may cause additional conditions, reduce the character's ability to perform ordinary tasks, or leave lasting impairments even after the disease itself has been overcome.
Contagious diseases may also spread to companions, communities, or other creatures if appropriate precautions are not taken. In severe cases, the disease may continue causing damage until the carrier dies. The specific disease's description governs its progression, possible complications, transmissibility, and ultimate outcome.
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