Seaswallowed

Seaswallowed is a term for a condition caused by high doses of several kinds of marine animal venom.

Transmission & Vectors

Getting seaswallowed is relatively uncommon as the creatures that produce the kind of venom ( Lurkworms and Siltcrawlers ) that cause it either do not typically attack humanoids or do not loose their prey for the condition to be noted i.e. Dreadful Lurkworm.
The venom itself can easily enter a creatures system intravenously of by being absorbed in larger doses through soft membrane such as the eyes, mouth, and stomachs of humans.
While uncommon due to high costs professional kidnappers and assassins will sometimes take advantage of seaswallowed using the venoms that cause it on targets.

Causes

The cause of the condition is a type class of venom that is produced by a couple species of marine arthropods, the Lurkworms and the Siltcrawlers. It is used it as both a defense mechanism and to incapacitate prey.
Most creatures capable of producing this venom are far to small for a single bite or sting to cause seaswallowed but if someone were to be attacked by a nest of the creatures for threatening their home they may get a high enough dose to develop it. The ones that are large enough to consider humanoids prey can produce enough venom for it to cause a full case of seaswallowed by it saliva coming in contact with ones eyes, mouth, or open wound.

Symptoms

Seaswallowed come suddenly, almost instantly after being exposed to a high enough dosage of venom a person will start to feel numb throughout their body. They will become confused by their surroundings and be unable to respond before going completely limp and becoming unable to move. After this their heart will slow and they will develop a mild fever and glassy eyes before slipping in and out of a coma.
While conscious a person will be unable to move or enunciate only moan and gaze unfocused around.

Treatment

Any spell or special ability that heals poison will heal this condition with the creature taking 1 level of exhaustion if they have been affected for more than an hour, have taken more than 10 hit points of damage while affected, been seaswallowed more then once in 3 days, or was below a third of their maximum hit points when they gained this condition.
Several tonics exist to purge the toxins from an affected individual which are force fed to them and will lift the effect in 1d4 hours.
If none of these are possible the affected creature will recover with 2 levels of exhaustion and three hit dice of hit points in six weeks if provided care and are not administered another dose of toxin.

Prognosis

An affected creature will recover by itself if provided liquid nutrients such as milk or broth, clean water, and shelter from the elements.

Sequela

After recovery aside from any levels of exhaustion creatures will suffer 1d4 recovery days during which they will be sensitive to bright light, have disadvantage on constitution saving throws related to poison or endurance, and will move at half speed. This affect can be cured by a lesser restoration spell.

Cultural Reception

Due to the effects of this condition people believed that something in the sea stole the affected individuals soul or have charmed them in some way. Which caused many families to administer strange home remedies and rituals to return their loved one or outright abandon the "shell". The common scapegoats blamed for the condition are, hags, mer, ghosts who died by drowning, and any person in the village that was disliked and ostracized. This has contributed to hostilities between mer and land dwelling races and resulted in several "warlock hunts" where a person is mobbed for supposedly stealing the affected persons soul for a dark patron.
Though scholars have learned that seaswallowed is an easily treatable condition caused by animal venom many villages still believe that it is the result of some form of magic due to both ignorance and manipulation.

Type

Chemical Compound

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Uncommon