Giggle Sickness

The Laughing Curse

Should not be confused with Cackle Syndrome.

Despite its name, Giggle Sickness is not in fact a medical sickness, but rather a condition brought about as the result of a curse, also known as the Laughing Curse. It is characterised by the afflicted breaking into fits of uncontrollable giggles and/or laughter during moments that are in fact rather serious, often resulting in severe embarrassment or, in the worst case scenarios, unfortunate noise at inopportune moments.

Giggle Sickness is considered a simple curse that does not require any particularly difficult to find materials, and is therefore one of the easier ones to learn to cast. It is a common curse used by students as a prank, as it can be dispelled relatively easily so long as the afflicted has access to a Cleric or Witch of the correct grade. Like all curses, it is resistant to Lesser Restoration magics and cannot be dispelled by simple dispel magics.

The curse itself is not fatal, but it can be very stressful and rather irritating, both for the afflicted, and for those around them. It also has the potential to put people in danger by causing them to make noise when they are required to be quiet.

Causes

Giggle Sickness is a relatively common curse that is typically directly cast upon the target, or is embedded into an object for use with a trigger. It is very rarely used as a defensive curse, and is most commonly seen as a minor deterrent or prank.

It is classified as a Lesser Curse and is one of the curses available to learn as part of the Bestow Lesser Curse spell.

Treatment

The curse must be removed by a Remove Lesser Curse or higher Tier curse removal spell. These are typically only available from Clerics and Witches, though some Paths of Druidism can also dispel curses to a limited degree. It can also be removed by use of a Greater Restoration or a Wish spell.

Potions of Remove Curse are typically effective against Giggle Sickness, though they are often difficult to find and can be expensive to purchase. Additionally, spell scrolls that remove curses can are available on the market, but require a certain degree of magical skill to use, and can result in unforeseen side effects if utilised by those who are not of the Cleric or Witch vocations.

As with all curses, Giggle Sickness can be temporarily suppressed by Anti-Magic.

Cultural Reception

While viewed among the magically inclined as a Lesser Curse and therefore a more minor inconvenience, some rural places in the world view the Giggle Sickness as a bad omen and will avoid anyone that they know to have contracted the curse.

It is also viewed as more major problem amongst adventurers, assassins, and spies, where the ability to remain silent in tense situations is imperative.

Contents

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Rarity

Uncommon