Planar Loss

Extremely rare amongst the general population, Planar Loss is not a well known phenomenon. For those at risk, however, it is a good idea to take preventive actions, as the consequences can be quite severe.

Condition

Planar Loss is inhenrently caused by some instability of the planes, most notably the ones "closer" to the material plane (the Elemental Planes, the Feywilds and the Shadowfell) manifesting in some individuals psyche. Much like the Planes the condition reflects, its effects are can vary widely between individuals. There are, however, a few main "branches" of symptoms that are mostly mutually exclusive. These branches also seem to have a pattern in their victims.

General Symptoms

• Hyper sensitivity to any planar manifestation, leading to severe mood shifts towards mindless anger or fear.
• Loss of interest in the surrounding world. Evolution of this effect varies by branch.
• Slow loss of the ability to manage physical needs, such as eating, cleaning, or taking care not to get wounded.

Deep Loss

• Most common among Elves
• Steady, but slow, onset of general symptoms
• Persisting sadness, increased nostalgia
• Inertia, lack of energy
• More uniform dulling of senses and intellect
• In interactions, mostly express disinterest
• Slow abandon of magic, if any

High Loss

• Most common among Aarakocras and other Elemental Plane affiliated races
• Initial general symptoms present themselves as temporary bursts that gradually increase in length, intensity, and frequency
• Increased mood swings, energetic outbursts
• Primal, animalistic regression of intellect
• Prone to strongheadedness
• Random bursts of reckless magic usage, if any

Who is affected?

A few factors can affect the predisposition to Planar Loss:

• Race
• Occupation & Travels
• Planar State

No link has been found between age or physical condition and the likelyhood of getting Planar Loss, except in the cases highlighted in the race and occupationfactors, and the influence of magic, though undeniable, doesn't yet present a clear pattern.

Race

Because of its link with planar effects, races that are tied more closely to the planes are much more suceptibles to Planar Loss than races such as humans, for whom the condition is so to speak inexistant, except in some exceptionnal cases strongly influenced by both other predisposing factors. Such vulnerable races are the Aarakocras with their ties to the plane of air, and to a generally slightly lesser extent, Elves via their tie to the Feywilds. In the latter case, however, it has been speculated that, combined with the slow descent into nostalgia that the nigh-immortals frequently experience as they age, it might become more common for older elves, and also affect them more strongly in all cases, though such speculations are still largely based on inssuficient datas.
No case has been observed in Genasi, but it is unknown if this is due to an immunity, resistance or anything of the sort, or simply their rarity, especially before the end of the First Isolation (see the planar state section).

Occupation & Travels

Again strongly tied to the planes, the condition has been observed almost exclusively with individuals who have frequently interacted with the planar forces, are frequently near an opening ot another plane, or have travelled directly to other plane. Overall, travelling ot the planes has proven the worst activity yet, but few travel to the planes without interacting with it's forces.

Planar State

A condition that didn't exist before the First Isolation, and for which the number of declared cases dropped dramatically when the Planes went back to normal almost certainly has a root in the planar state, planar imbalances directly affecting some individuals. Little progress has been made on the condition as a whole since the First Isolation though, through lack of patients to provide data, and a lack of scholarly interest over a receiding condition. The beginning of the Second Isolation, however, hushers in what is likely to be a new thriving age for the condition.

Social Impact

Mostly forgotten between Isolations, Planar Loss is slowly making a comeback, and it is worrying many. Of course, to the general population, it is still a somewhat rare condition and although incredibly sad, it is largely non-threatening to the population itself. However, it is a double factor that makes it so Planar Loss is worrying many scholars. The illness is mostly caused by exposure to planar energy and imbalances, which is why it is far more sommon during the Isolations. However, the Isolation in itself is a threat, a force of chaos unleashed upon the world, and the beginning of the second one raised an alarm in every society in Aeria. Many scholars, adventurers, governement delegates etc. are trying to find the cause of it and end it, but in so doing expose themselves to incredibles amounts of unstable planar energy. There lies the true fear generating power of Planar Loss: losing the only people who could save the world from utter elemental chaos once again!

Type

Magical

Rarity

Extremely Rare