Faeblight

Faeblight is a disease that afflicts many non-fae folk. It is often caused by fae curses, although it may spread by other means. Apart from how its symptoms progress, it is not very well understood and many folk fear those afflicted.

Transmission & Vectors

There are a few different ways in which faeblight can be transmitted to organisms. Although it is considered a magical affliction, it is believed that there are some bacteria or other particulates involved in the blight.

• Fae curses are the most common transmission vector; when a fae is offended, they may curse the perpetrator with a variety of curses. Faeblight is a fairly common curse, but is only used for greater offenses.
• Contact with fae may result in faeblgiht, although this is uncommon since most fae do not carry the blight with them.
• Contact with blighted individuals can also result in transmission to a previously healthy organism, especially if their immune systems are weakened.

Symptoms

Faeblight generally progresses in a fairly predictable manner, and stages of the disease have been identified.

• Stage one: The blighted begins to feel feverish and lightheaded, breaking into a high fever and profuse sweating.
• Stage two: Physical symptoms ease, but the blighted begins to perceive distances and size differently - everything seems to be disproportionate.
• Stage three: Blighted begins to see rapid, confusing visions, most of which seem to involve fae. Skin, hair, and eyes begin to lose color.
• Stage four: The blighted seems to lose all sense of self and place, speaking gibberish and walking around dazedly.

Treatment

The best way to treat faeblight as it occurs is to make sure the one afflicted is in a safe location. As they experience the severe mental symptoms associated with later stages of the disease, it is important to make sure they don't get themselves into danger in their confusion. Many more folk die from falls or accidents caused by confusion and poor visual perception than they do from the disease. The fever and sweating which present in the first stage of the disease can be mitigated or alleviated with fever-reducing medicines, but the loss of pigment is permanent.

The only true way to cure faeblight is to bring the blighted somewhere fae are known to frequent, and then to plead with them to remove the disease. Unfortunately, by fae law, this removal must be performed by the fae who originally caused the blight if the curse was put directly on the blighted individual. Additionally, since the curse is usually only applied to those who have offended the fae, it requires much pleading, apologizing, and oftentimes a hefty sum to get the fae to agree to remove it. Fae are generally a prideful folk, and it may be difficult for them to accept the apology and consent to removing the curse. These difficulties lead some blighted folk deciding to end their lives themselves rather than experience the horrifying confusion and loss of self or making their loved ones endure it.

Prognosis

Unless removed by a fae, faeblight is permanent. Although symptoms may alleviate themselves over time, there is permanent damage to the minds of the blighted. No reported cases of faeblight have been shown to recover their memories or fully step out of the confusion, although some luckier individuals may be able to lead a somewhat normal life afterward, albeit one shadowed by the loss of things they cannot remember. The loss of pigment is permanent, and one can identify hose living with the blight by their pure white skin and hair and silvery eyes.

Cultural Reception

Faeblight is feared by many folk, especially among those who can become infected. Individuals living with faeblight are often ostracized and avoided by healthy folk, fearing that they might catch the blight from them. Families and friends of blighted folk often mourn the loss of their loved one, in some cases going so far as to claim them dead and banish them from the household because they find it easier than having to face the loss day after day.

In some countries, such as Mistfall, families are by law required to mark their houses if a household member has been blighted. These markings usually involve hanging silver ribbons from the windowsill and placing a fae-mark on their door, to warn passerby of the presence of faeblight. The afflicted must then be placed in isolation, tended by doctors who wear protective clothing to prevent the transmission of the disease.

Type

Magical