Enchanted Realms Rulebook
Disease
People get sick. Disease is part of life, even the adventurer’s life. In this subsection are the rules and details of how to manage when someone is potentially exposed to a specific disease. There are several variables, including what the disease is, how and how quickly it is spread, and the degree of severity or risk of fatality there might be.
In the world of Enchanted Realms, germs and microbes are really a thing. The concept of disease is more similar to miasmatic theory, where disease exists due to a noxious form of “bad air” created because of rotting organic matter mixing with evil and cursed strains of energy existing in the world. As a result, weather doesn't often carry this “bad air” but rather this pollution settles upon objects or persons who become carriers or victims. Typically one catches a disease due to exposure to a bad object or location. Therefore, disease is not something that will be checked routinely, but only when there is a chance for actual exposure.
| Roll | Severity | |
|---|---|---|
| 01-10 | Mild | Half duration, half effect or possible asymptomatic |
| 11-85 | Normal | |
| 86-98 | Fierce | Double duration |
| 99-00 | Extreme | Triple duration; make another feat save a few days after recovery for re-infection |
Of course, exposure comes in different ways: touch, breathing the contagion, ingestion, or perhaps being in the proximity of something. Once the exposure occurs, the GM will secretly roll a feat save against the DC of the disease. At this point, the character is infected. The disease will incubate for a specific time before symptoms occur. Next the GM must determine the severity of the illness that sets in. Unless otherwise noted, the default for severity is determine by the table to the right. Mild cases might not show any symptoms, especially if the victim cannot be affected in a notable way, such as a non-priest character having abyssal fever. However, the infected would still have unusual sweating and be a carrier of the disease. If the severity is worse than normal, then death saves may occur daily for the potential of body point losses at the discretion of the GM; these death saves can occur even if the victim has positive points.
After the incubation period, symptoms will occur. The disease will exist within that person’s lifesong for the duration. Effects of the illness will occur for that duration. If the disease is contagious by touch or proximity, then the diseased person may pass the disease to others during this time. The recovery of the losses will return based on the type of disease the person had.
Of course, due to how diseases work, there is little doubt that powerful beings and perhaps even well-funded evil organizations will develop methods to weaponize the terrible illnesses.
| Disease | Exposure | DC | Incubation | Duration | Recovery | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abyssal Fever | Touch | Res:15 | 1d10 days | 3d10 days | Standard | Normal: 11-00 |
| Ashen Plague | Airborne | Str:10 Elves Str:15 | 5d10 hrs | 2d10 days | Special | Standard |
| Cerebral Pyre | Ingestion | Logic:12 | 2d4 hrs | 3d10 hrs | Standard | Standard |
| Crimson Fever | Airborne | Agil:16 | 5d10 hrs | 2d10 days | Standard | Standard |
| Crow Frenzy | Airborne | Judg:12 | 2d6 hrs | 2d4 days | Standard | Standard |
| Earth Rot | Touch | Res:10 | 4d6 hrs | 4d6 days | Standard | Standard |
| Eyesore | Airborne Touch | Res:9 | 2d6 hrs | 4d10 hrs | Standard | Standard |
| Hangman's Distemper | Touch | Res:14 | 5d10 hrs | 1d6 weeks | Standard | Standard |
| Lunar Combustion | Touch | Res:11 | 2d4 days | 1d10 days | Standard | Normal: 11-00 |
| Necrotic Rot | Touch | Res:15 | 2d4 hours | 4d6 hours | Special | Standard |
| Rat Fever | Touch | Res:10 | 5d10 hrs | 10d10 hours | Special | Standard |
| Timber Shivers | AirborneForests | Str:12 Elves Str:8 | 5d10 hrs | 1d10 days | Standard | Standard |
| Vermin Fever | Touch | Res:7 | 2d10 hrs | 1d6 days | Standard | Standard |
Abyssal Fever: Fever which causes sweat, which is a mild form of unholy water. If others touch the sweat, it causes itching and possible contraction. During infection, divine skills and incantations require a successful Faith feat (DC:11) to successfully use. Further, Spirit points lost while infected do not recover, even by magical restoration. Once the disease clears, any divine abilities return without difficulty and Spirit is restored at a normal rate. This disease can incubate without symptoms for 1d10 days, this of course means that those not divinely-aligned may be asymptomatic carriers.
Ashen Plague: Elves are more susceptible than other races. The sickness causes vomiting and bleeding from the ears. The victim will require a week of bed rest to recover. If disregarding bed rest, the victim will temporarily lose 1 point of body max per day after onset. Max body returns to normal at a rate of 1 per day after the disease passes. However, if the body reaches zero because of strenuous activity, then there is a 10% chance of death by hemorrhaging.
Cerebral Pyre: Contracted within a few hours of eating or drinking something tainted, this disease reaches the victim’s brain, producing horrific pain inside one's head. It will cause one to scream and claw at the scalp and face. Fortunately, the effects pass quickly. In the meantime, Sorcery requires a Logic feat (DC:17) to successfully cast a spell; and even cantrips require a Agility feat of DC:8. Combat is at disadvantage, and initiative suffer -3 penalty. Further, all saves (other than those listed specifically in this description) suffer -1 on the roll.
Crimson Fever: When contracted, this turns the skin to a reddish hue and is associated with aching pains. While sick, movement is halved. Mild cases do not affect movement, but skin color changes. If severity is fierce or extreme, then movement is one-quarter.
Crow Frenzy: While in the grips of this disease, victims frequently succumb to fits of mad laughter. Any event that causes the infected creature great stress, including entering combat, suffering damage, experiencing fear, or having a nightmare, this forces the creature to make a Resilience save (DC:13). On a failed save, the creature becomes incapacitated with mad laughter for 30 seconds (or 3 combat rounds).
Earth Rot: This usually only is contracted through an open would, but it can become a serious health issue. During its course, the victim acts as if having half the normal Strength and Agility. Like rat fever, this disease requires bed rest to recover, and only then does the timer for recovery begin. During the recovering phase, each day the victim must make another Resilience save (DC:10) or suffer a point of body damage which does not heal under normal rules; however, divine or alchemical methods will restore the lost Body points. If ignoring the need for bed rest, the victim will lose both a normal and max Body point for each day. If Body points are reduced to a value below zero equal to Resilience then the victim will die.
Eyesore: When infected, one’s eyes swell and become covered in a fuzzy mold. During this time, the victim is under the blind restriction. After 4d10 hours, the spores burst and spread in the air. Anyone in the immediate area must make a Resilience feat save (DC:9) or become infected as well.
Hangman's Distemper: This disease produces a strange bruised ring around the neck, eyes bulge, and breathing is difficult. Coughing up blood is typical. Movement is halved. Sorcery requires a Logic feat against DC:6 to successfully cast. Combat is at disadvantage, initiative suffers a -1 penalty, and all saves suffer a -1 on the roll.
Lunar Combustion: This illness causes a severe sensitivity to moonlight, which can create a skin burning like that of a painful sunburn. If a moonburn happens, the victim’s movement is half of normal.
Necrotic Rot: This fast-acting disease turns the skin dead, causing it to rot and fall off. It’s disgusting and smells bad. Every six hours during infection, the diseased must make another Resilience feat save (DC:15) or suffer a point of body damage which does not heal under normal rules. It cannot be healed by wound care or field medicine; however, divine or alchemical methods will restore the flesh. If not magically healed, the restoration of body points after the illness has passed will occur at one point per day.
Rat Fever: The disease causes weakness and fever which lasts for 2 to 3 days. The victim will require bed rest to recover, and only then does the timer for recovery begin. If disregarding bed rest, the victim will functionally lose 1 point of body max per day after onset. Max body returns immediately to normal after the disease runs its course; however, any healing will still require a long rest.
Timber Shivers: It is not a common infection, but it is usually due to be exposed to forests. As groves tending to be the carrier, elves have bred themselves to a special resistance to this disease, making their DC on 8 to contract the malady. It causes twitching and trembling, resulting in the inability to perform delicate tasks. While infected, the victim’s combat attacks suffer -1 per each die. Further, there is a 20% chance of losing bladder control in combat or other stressful situations.
Vermin Fever: The disease is carried by wererats making the sick person suffer restrictions as if having been poisoned. Further, one's movement is halved while under the effects of the disease.