The Frigid Woe

Frigid Woe is a special disease that cannot be cured by conventional treatment or magic. The only way a creature infected with the disease can be cured is by finding and breathing in the antidote, a cloudy liquid made from the fur and ground up claws of a winter wolf. This disease was created by the winter werewolf Hrothag, using his own ice breath and profane magic.
A creature can drink the antidote as an action, ending all symptoms and effects of the disease instantly.

Transmission & Vectors

The Frigid Woe is transmitted by breathing in blue spores created from the magically harvested breath of a winter wolf.

Causes

When a creature comes into contact with even the tiniest amount of spores from the liquid, it tries to fight off the infection. Otherwise, it become infected with frigid woe.

Symptoms

It takes a few days for the symptoms to manifest in an infected creature. These symptoms include fatigue, chills, and visible blue veins that appear on the creature's body. The infected creature grows slow and sluggish. Eventually, the creature dies and its body turns into a statue made of ice.

Treatment

An antidote can be made from winter wolf blood. Otherwise, there is no effective treatment for the disease.

Prognosis

The condition is ultimately fatal, and most victims will succumb within a month or less.

Sequela

If cured by the antidote, full recovery  can be expected with no lasting conditions.

Affected Groups

Any humanoid who comes into contact with the spores may be affected.

Hosts & Carriers

Most animals and beasts can also be affected buy the Frigid Woe, but like humanoids, they are not carriers of the sickness. Winter wolves and other magical beasts with the Cold subtype are immune to Frigid Woe.

Prevention

The only prevention is to protect oneself from breathing in the spores.

Epidemiology

An outbreak is usually caused because the liquid reagent seems harmless and symptoms usually take a few days to show up after infection. So someone might carry the spores from person to person for several days without realizing they are spreading the disease.

History

The Frigid Woe was created by an archfey, the Queen of Air and Darkness, and given to one of her acolytes, the Winter Werewolf Hrothag. Hrothag wanted to spread the disease to the world, starting with the monks of Far Abbey, a monastery to which he once was pledged. But he was robbed of some of his supply of the spores by a couple of treasure hunters. These explorers brought the spores south into civilization, completely oblivious to the danger they posed. By the time anyone realized these spores were dangerous, the disease had already spread to several people, killing two.

Cultural Reception

Those with Frigid Woe are looked upon with sympathy, but victims may be affected by depression and may attempt to isolate themselves from others, despite there being no evidence the disease is contagious from patient to patient.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Extremely Rare