A rare disease of which little is known
Score: 603 | 7/18/21 |
White Ash Rot is a mysterious disease thought to be contracted due to contact with a rare fungus that has been infused with residual magic from beyond the void. Some speculate it is fey in nature, others associate it with necromantic ritual sites.
[Text in brackets are crunchy bits and may not be known by characters]
Symptoms
[When exposed to White Ash Rot, a character must make a Luck (Con) save at a -2 penalty to avoid contracting the illness]
Once contracted, White Ash Rot begins to reveal itself within around 2-3 weeks [3d6+6 days].
White Ash Rot starts as a skin affliction that spreads to the muscles, and eventually affecting the blood, causing madness and ultimately death. Weakness and fatigue are the primary symptoms until it works its way into the brain through the blood system when delirium and madness set in.
[After the disease reveals itself, the character must make a Luck (Con) save (-2 penalty to the chance) or take one level of exhaustion. Thereafter, every 1d6 days, the sufferer of White Ash Rot must make a Luck (Con) save (-1 penalty to the chance for every level of exhaustion) or take another level of exhaustion. Short rests Will checks are at a penalty equal to the level of exhaustion. Long rests may not be taken, hence the sufferer cannot recover exhaustion from long rests while the disease persists, nor may they regain Luck.]
Treatment
This disease may only be treated, not cured, using a poultice prepared from an apothecary kit. The treatment can relieve the symptoms for a short term only, but in no way affects recovery.
[Upon successfully receiving aid in the form of an apothecary kit (and successful roll while treating the patient at least 8 hours per day, the sufferer gains advantage on their next Luck (Con) save to avoid the progression of the disease. Such boons only help for so long, meaning that without the ability to regain Luck, the victim soon spirals downward to inevitable death.]
[ Certain class abilities such as the Druid Class Ability - Gifts of Nature: Debilitate Disease, will not delay progression, but instead suppress the Exhaustion effects for the duration of the ability. Unfortunately, the duration of this ability is too short to allow the victim a long rest unless the Druid is a very high level or unless they have a Unique Ability that affects or extends the duration of their treatments.]
[A Purge the Accursed potion will relieve the symptoms for a longer time, and temporarily postpones the progression of the malady, and afford the patient one long rest. A Purge the Accursed spell does the same, and has a very small chance of removing the disease.]
[When casting Purge the Accursed, the caster must succeed on an Apothecary, Arcane Lore, or Wilderness Lore check with a penalty depending on the progression of the disease (DM's call - usually -2 to -10). Success cures the disease (no further Luck (Con) required. The patient will recover after a substantial recovery period (based on the progression). Failure aids the sufferer as described above but also indicates that the malady eventually continues to progress. Further Purge the Accursed spells are ineffectual unless the caster is of a higher level than the previous casting. Caster level does not affect the skill check to overcome the treatment of the disease.]
The only known cure for White Ash Rot is a very rare herbal mixture imbibed by the victim prior to the casting of a Purge the Accursed spell (regardless of the caster's level or skill proficiency). Such Apothecary knowledge is rare, and the ingredients, rarer. The formula is known to be held by a few thuel tribes in Drelnor Forest who specialize in herbal remedies.
Prognosis
White Ash Rot, when treated (not cured), can only be kept at bay for so long. Untreated, it will kill the victim in a matter of weeks. Treatment can delay death for only a few months at best.
Prevention
There is no known prevention for White Ash Rot, save being able to identify its cause before contact is made. As this is such a rare disease, very little is known regarding its cause and prevention.
Cultural Reception
Sufferers of White Ash Rot are treated with a mixture of wariness and apprehension, especially in the later stages, although it is not believed to be contagious. Survivors are considered blessed, and some unscrupulous medicine practitioners seek them out to distill their blood for use in cures. To date, none have been known to be successful.