North-Call
North-call (Or FaraCan in Elvish) is a fairly common ailment that affects spell casters in Marnain, particularly in northern parts of the country. It manifests primarily as an aching desire to travel beyond the borders of Marnain and north, though precisely where the desire leads is still unclear. @Elf do seem to be the only
North-call is sometimes difficult too distinguished from the wanderlust deeply rooted in elvish culture, but warning signs include the mood in which it first manifests, the magical area of expertise and the intensity of the afflicted.
The possible destination for North-Call are many, and still under debate but is believed to be somewhere in Skempski.
Symptoms
The primary symptom is a desire to travel northwards with varying degrees of severity. It can manifest as an irresistible compulsion, or as a nagging in the mind. Rarely is the disease so strong that the afflicted is compelled to act, so unless already in a position too do so, they usually do not.
Other symptoms include a disconnect with reality, melancholy ranging from severe too mild, and forgetfulness.
Some of the affected experience dreams about mountains, snow, and ruined buildings during their trances.
Those that do act find the symptoms intensify the further north they travel, but in almost all cases the symptoms disappear after a 3 or 4 month period. Those that manage to travel beyond the borders of Marnain in this period occasionally find that the symptoms do not abate, and are lost in the wastelands of the north.
Treatment
As the disease is both magical, and directly affects a core part of the elvish psyche, curing it has been difficult. It is possible to prevent symptoms by cutting off an elf from the trance, by inducing unconsciousness as a form of rest over the course of a week, but this can be traumatic to the patient, and the recovery is slower than the recovery from the disease.
Recently a more experimental cure is being trialed, mostly successfully. Noting that magical disturbance can prevent the disease from occurring, amulets can slightly disturb the weave around their wearer are being used to treat the disease. Patients are instructed to wear the amulet for a three week period. In most cases, the symptoms disappear entirely, though in some they are merely lessened and must make use of the amulets for longer.
Unfortunately the amulets are very costly to produce and maintain, and the disturbance in the weave can make it much more difficult for spellcasters work magic. The fact that the amulets can be recycled between patients give some hope that merely giving each population a store of them might be an effective method of relieving the disease.
Prognosis
In most sufferers, the condition passes after a month or two, reaching the most intense yearnings during second week. For the few that have the capacity to act, the disease continues for longer, and becomes more intense the further north they travel. In these cases it can last up too 3 or 4 months, upon which the yearning will suddenly snap out of it, disoriented and likely lost.
Sequela
There is usually no long term effects of North-Call, but it can permanently plant the seed of curiosity in the mind for a better planned and less compelled expedition north.
Affected Groups
High Elves being slightly more predisposed than their cousins. Those that study death magic, be it in restoration, communication or necromancy, are significantly more likely to be affected, and more intensely. Magical ability doesn't seem to affect the likelihood of contracting the condition, so a high elf that just knows a few small cantrips is just as likely too feel North-call as an archmage.
The northern duchies of Marnain have a slightly higher rate of North-Call per population, and tends to be more intense.
The insular nature of Marnain where the disease is endemic makes any information about how it affects beings other than elves difficult to get hold of, but there has been nearly no reported cases amongst spellcasters without elvish blood.
Prevention
While complete prevention is impossible without a clear vector or cause, there are steps to be taken to ensure the disease does not heavily affect persons. Education, primarily in distinguishing the disease from the more natural wanderlust can allow both the afflicted and the people around them to address the disease and ease symptoms and disruption to life.
Epidemiology
With such a large population of spell casters Marnain is particularly vulnerable magical disease, but also better equipped to deal with them. About 14% of the population will experience North-call in their lifetime,
Notably, areas of magic taint, where the weave of magic is particularly intense or damaged seem to prevent the disease almost entirely, with a rate of less than 1%.
Depression, melancholy and grief seem to make one more vulnerable.
History
It was a very long time before north-call was recognised as distinct from the cravings for change that afflict most Elves at some time or another. It was formally recognised in Marnain in the year 1722 by the watchers calendar, but records that describe the symptoms dating back about 300 years before,
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