Lupinus Mentis

"Lupinus Mentis"
Also known as "The Howling"

A rare psychiatric syndrome that involves a delusion that the affected person believes themselves to be a wolf and acts accordingly.

Transmission & Vectors

The condition is individualized and cannot be transmitted from person to person or to an object.

Causes

There are 2 main reason for the development of this disease. The first being a natural yet very rare psychiatric syndrome, where the person has a neurological issue affecting the part of the individuals brain related to its perception of body shape. The second and much more common cause is due to long term inhalation of the mineral Howlite.

Symptoms

Those affected have initial symptoms of high fever, chills, itching, and an increased metabolism and heart rate. Additionally they begin to develop paranoia, schizophrenia, sunken, dim and dry eyes, an insatiable thirst and hunger, an obsession with uncooked foods, a desire to be a wolf, often howling, growling, or crawling, and the eventual delusion that the affected person has become a wolf.

Treatment

Due to the extremely rare nature of this disease, there are not very many records of treatment or cures.
The best hope for an affected individual is to have a high level priest or cleric perform a cure disease spell. Of course this implies that the person has the mental clarity to seek help and the coin to pay for it. Usually only those with well off benefactors, are able to get the help they need and recover.
There may be a possible theoretical treatment for those ailing from Howlite inhalation caused Lupinus Mentis. Future cures may have a connection with cold water. See also Curative File # 0013754 from the Clararton Curative Clinic Archives in Bartolara.

Prognosis

Conditions will continue to worsen over time with affects becoming more drastic and the individual falling deeper into delusion. The tragic out come is usually death, from their actions or others reactions to them.

Affected Groups

Generally those working in the mining industry are more at risk due to the increased chance encounter with the mineral Howlite. Humanoid organisms, in particular mammalians, are more susceptible to this disease through Howlite fiber inhalation. Reptilian, avian, and amphibian humanoids have different lung structures that allow a higher resistance and lower probability of contracting this disease in this way. However, it is not unheard of for all humanoid species to develop this disease through other means.

Hosts & Carriers

There is no flora or fauna that carry this disease, however humanoid organisms can sometimes contract or develop the disease.

Prevention

There is no prevention for the natural mental disorders that lead to this disease. However, prevention does exist for those who would become affected through Howlite fiber inhalation. Whenever mining or working with Howlite, wear a protective mask or cloth around the nose and mouth, thoroughly wash off all exposed body parts, and seal exposed clothing in a safe bag, box or trunk.

Epidemiology

This is a condition of the mind and as such not contagious or transferable.

History

Very little is know about this very rare disease and most information about it is just speculation. There were no known centers of healing in the ancient times and very few records survived after The Sundering. Although the howling behavior and violence from the stories of the barbarian berserkers living near the Greyspire Mountains could be explained in part due to possible Howlite inhalation. The mountains of the area are still know to this day to have large deposits of Howlite.

Cultural Reception

Since early symptoms are often overlooked as just typical sickness, the infected are generally avoided or in some circumstances treated for their symptoms. However, once the person really begins to show advanced symptoms, howling, and believing that they are a wolf, the general reactions to the infected are quite severe. Most people become fearful and eventually try to dive the infected out of the community. Those with long term infection are often seen as dangerous and some townsfolk begin to believe that the affected are actual werewolves. If mob mentality takes over the town, the diseased are often hunted down and killed outright.

Type

Mental

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Extremely Rare