Lady Castmire's Vengeance

Synopsis

Of the many diseases on the western side of the Irynian Peninsula, few are so loathsome to catch as Lady Castmire's Vengeance, as it is known to travelers to Chulara. Natively in Caljaan, it is known as Ija Baleei o Raka, translating to "Tears of Red" in Seaspeak. The disease in waterborne and insect borne, spreading in stagnant pools and from the mosquitos that inhabit them. Initial symptoms of infection include a runny nose, itchy eyes, and loss of hearing. After a few days, this will progress to the most famous of the diseases traits, bleeding eyes. The eyes of the infected will become bloodshot and bleed lightly, yet extremely painfully for about two weeks, or until cured. This is not necessarily fatal, but without proper bandaging and antiviral poultice it can cause the victim to lose too much blood or catch other, more deadly infections.

Cure

If caught and treated in the first few days, a dietary inclusion of a few bites of Yiqeu Root can stave off the disease before it progresses and will eventually die out within the system. However, if it is already at the stage of bleeding eyes, the best cure is the application of a poultice of three parts mashed Yiqeu Root, one part shredded Bark of Alm, and one part Boyvao Paste, made of Green Guica fruit juice, mashed Pendil, and crushed Oilleaf. This mixture should be slathered on clean bandage cloth and bound tightly over the eyes of the infected. Change and reapply every 6 hours 5-6 times to cure. After catching the disease and successfully fighting it off through this method or waiting will render the victim immune to the viral disease in the future.

Lady Castmire

The story of Lady Castmire comes from Iesadon, and is well known there and around Irynia. It tells the story of the titular Lady Castmire, the childless widow of a estatelord in upper Ocalia. Due to the laws of the of the current king of Iesadon, she was unable to remarry, and her estate would be passed on the local fortlord when she passed, whom she despised. She desired to adopt a child instead to raise into the position, however the child could not inherit without being anointed lordly by the baron himself, which he of course refused to do. After many lonely months, she was visited by a Yagana, or witch. This witch told her she could give the Lady a child without the need of a husband, through her dark majic. The Lady initially refused, fearing the taboo of black majic, and sent the witch away. After a few years however, she decided it was worth the risk to have an heir and sent out men to find the Yagana and return her to the estate. The witch returned within the week, alone. This did not dissuade the Lady, who took part in the black majic ritual to put babe in her belly. Many days passed without the Lady leaving her lordship's manor, with her servants reporting strange sounds from her room, until eventually the servants stopped coming home. After nearly a month of tentative fear, Lady Castmire burst forth screaming from the manor on the Darkest Night and sprinted through the manor village. She was said to have eyes and womb pouring blood down face and dress, before jumping down the village well, never to be seen again. Searching the manor, a babe with the Lady's eyes and hair color was found in a pool of blood on her bed, determined to be the ladies child. Although most wanted the child slain, knowing of the Yagana and fearing the majic that created the child, an unknown person kidnapped the child in the dead of night and was never seen again.