Whalekiss
The Whalekiss, also known as the Fisher's Ailment is a skin condition commonly found among fishermen that work in areas where many whales reside. It is known to be transmitted by small insects that accompany the schools of whales, the improperly named whaleflies. Fishermen that submerge their limbs in the water near a whale risk being stung by the flies and be infected with the Whalekiss. The condition is usually not fatal but can be very annoying. As it can be easily avoided with proper protection, it is deemed a poor worker's malady.
The condition is a red rash with dark spots, usually on the legs and arms. A dark spot usually designates a spot where the whale flies stung. The rash spreads in a large surface area roughly along the veins. The waterborne flies are drawn to the blood of creatures and quickly draw some through the skin of a person. In doing so, they inject some bacteria into the skin to momentarily numb the area - which ultimately causes the rash to appear.
Cleaning and cooling the rash causes it to subside within a few days without any harm, but scratching the rash can cause scar tissue to form. Failing to neither clean the rash nor cool it down can sometimes lead to further inflammation and even septic shock. Given that most known cases are in the vicinity of ocean water, however, these circumstances rarely happen.
Further Details
A few centuries ago a famous rouge released a full jar of angry whale flies in the water supply of a bandit camp in the desert. The whole camp was inflicted with the Whalekiss and unaware of how to properly treat it, they flew in fear of the supposed evil wizard.
Most fishermen have good protection for arms and legs against the Whalekiss. However, the hands are usually barely covered for working, making them a target for the condition. Whalefishers have very characteristic scars on their hands after years of work.
Type
Bacterial
Cycle
Short-term
Rarity
Common
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