Moon gaze

In this one night I see more than the sun has ever revealed to me. The innumerous shades of greenish–blue ink, the whispers of black moths. My eyes are one with the moon, opening the single, but bright eye. I see it! I see it all!

— Hithean by the Gáláwá Lake

Causes

The exact origin of the condition remains unclear but all cases were observed in the vicinity of Gáláwá Lake and only after the Flood.

Symptoms

The moon gaze manifests by an increased bleaching of the iris and hazing of the cornea, slowly taking resemblance of a full moon. The affected don't lose their sight — in fact in the first weeks, when the moon is rising they see more than an average eye would see during the night. Shortly after the apex, which overlaps with the full moon, their senses rapidly degrade. First comes the sight and with it the onset of madness. The train of thoughts becomes chaotic and difficult to follow. By then a moon gazed person finds themself attracted towards places with significant depth and very often shine, e.g., the surface of the lake. Obsessed with chasing after the moon, they eventually drown.

Treatment

All affected were found drowned before any treatment could be applied.

Epidemiology

The illness does not spread in any observable way.

History

The first reported case was connected with a Gáláwán boy, named Hithean, which eventually inspired the folk to write a moralizing song with dark undertones. A total of five cases were recorded in the whole history of the region.

Cultural Reception

As the Gáláwá Lake is thought to be the lair of Ithrós of the Depth, many think him to be the link, or even the source of the condition. This is based solely on superstition and the similarity between his large, blind eyes and the full moon. Hence, the moon gaze is seen by the people of Gáláwá as a form of a curse, and even though not contagious, puts many in an unrest with a shade of fear. The connection between blindness and madness runs deep in the folk and was immortalized in the everyday language..

Type

Supernatural

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Extremely Rare