Plagues of Manbara

The deepest jungles of Manbara are regarded, even among its own peoples, as a land of endless plagues and maladies. Heat without relief, waters standing and putrid, and the abundance of insects and parasites give rise to innumerable afflictions, many poorly understood even by the most learned of physicians. Imperial scholars maintain that no accounting of these diseases is ever complete, as for every named malady, there is a score of new fevers and corruptions that pass through the lowland villages each season. What follows is not an exhaustive account, but a selection of the most prevalent and feared of the so-called Plagues of Manbara, as recorded in both Wstaar'si and Meluvrati sources.

Amber Blight

The skin develops patches of hard, resinous growths that crack and weep thick yellow pus. The afflicted suffer constant pain and fever as the growths spread across the limbs and torso, often restricting movement entirely. Many perish when the corruption spreads inward to the chest or belly, while survivors are left permanently scarred and stiff of movement. The cause of the Amber Blight is unknown, but it is most frequently encountered in the marshes south of Jiwombe.

Ash Fever

A wasting fever in which the hair and nails grow brittle and shed a fine gray dust, as though the body were slowly turning to ash. The afflicted grow pale and delirious, and most die within a fortnight; bitter draughts are used to prolong life, to limited success. Survivors remain weak and gray-skinned for the rest of their lives.

The Bleeding Season

A swift pestilence bringing forth internal and external bleedings. Isolation of the afflicted, cleansing of all possessions, and prayers to the spirits are prescribed, yet few survive. Communities struck by it are left bereft, and the air is said to grow heavy with the smell of sickness and death.

Carrion Bloom

A corruption of wounds in the hot and wet air of the jungle, causing flesh to blacken and decay with alarming speed. Maggots often infest such wounds; though repulsive, some Wstaar'si physicians note that they sometimes slow the spread by consuming dead flesh. Survivors are often left horribly scarred and missing fingers or toes.

Crooked Tongue

Causes speech to twist strangely, with the tongue stiff or curled in unnatural ways. Often accompanied by fever and delirium, survivors are feared as cursed or bewitched. Poultices for the mouth and bitter draughts are applied to aid recovery.

Drift Fever

A mild fever at first, followed by sudden dizziness and an irresistible urge to walk or drift through the jungle. Many are lost to the wilds, never to return, though some recover fully after several weeks. Those who recover rarely remember their wandering.

Ember Madness

Marked by burning sensations beneath the skin and an unquenchable thirst. The afflicted often become delirious, speaking of fire or smoke and sometimes fleeing into the forest or water in confusion. Death often comes through exhaustion or injury rather than the fever itself. Cooling washes and restraint are applied where possible, yet few survive.

Glass Hide

A strange pestilence of the mind, in which the afflicted believe their flesh to be brittle and easily broken. Hallucinations and self-injury are common, though some recover if restrained and well cared for.

Jointfire

A sudden fever marked by grievous pains in the joints, often accompanied by rash. Entire villages may be laid low at once during outbreaks, leaving fields untended and roads empty. Most recover, but weakness and joint pain may persist for months. The young and the old suffer most, crying out as if their bones are snapped by invisible hands.

Lantern Fever

Eyes glow faintly in the dark before fever and delirium set in. The glow is sometimes taken as a sign of spirit possession; death is frequent in those who wander or flee during fits of hallucination. Darkened rooms and cooling washes are recommended to calm the fever.

Lord’s Wasting

A severe internal disease causing fever, swelling of the belly, and gradual wasting of the body. It is often fatal without long care and nourishment. The name comes from the belief that only the wealthy have any chance of surviving it.

Mirror Rot

A disease of the skin in which sores and lesions appear in matching patterns on both sides of the body. Though rarely fatal, it causes severe disfigurement and social stigma. Many believe it to be a curse rather than a natural disease.

The Pale Death

Causes the body to waste as though emptied from within, leaving the skin loose and the bones prominent. Victims remain alert and conscious until the very end, making the disease particularly feared. No known remedy halts its course, though strengthening broths are given in hope.

Pus-Lung

Attributed to foul vapors and rot within the jungle, it fills the chest with sickness and brings a long wasting cough that may last months or years. Survivors often remain weak for life.

Redgum

Produces swelling of the gums and severe pain in the teeth, accompanied by fever and delirium. Some sufferers grind their teeth down to the root, while others refuse food and drink due to the pain. Bitter teas and poultices may help ease the pain temporarily.

Red Marsh Ague

One of the most common diseases in Manbara. Brought about by the bite of marsh insects, it brings cycles of chill and burning fever. Those afflicted are often bedridden for days, shivering in the heat, and entire villages sometimes suffer in waves. Many suffer repeated attacks for years. Travelers unaccustomed to the jungle often die from their first severe bout.

Rider's Bane

Said to be contracted through contact with Patrakku dung, Rider's Bane is particularly common among riders, handlers, and stable hands who work closely with the beasts. Worms burrow beneath the skin, forming painful, shifting lumps as they feed on the flesh of the infected. Removal is difficult and often leaves lasting damage. Victims cry out at night as the creatures shift, and infection may spread to others if the sores are not properly cleansed.

Ripjig

A slowly progressing disease, heralded by loosening of joints and muscles, often initially a relieving experience for the arthritic. Progresses to degraded connective tissues and sudden bouts of catatonia accompanied by waves of pulsating muscle spasms. In advanced cases, horrific surges of activated muscle groups can violently snap cartilage and dislocate joints, pinning the afflicted in unnaturally deformed poses and splintering bone through flesh. Spasms can continue for hours after death.

River Blindness

Caught near fast rivers where biting flies are common, this disease slowly destroys the sight over the course of several years. As a result, many older fishermen and ferrymen near Kimasi are blind, their eyes pale and pockmarked. Many many believe the disease marks one as cursed by the spirits of the streams.

Sap Sickness

Caused by contact with certain jungle plants whose sap enters cuts or scratches in the skin. The veins darken visibly beneath the flesh before fever sets in, and the afflicted often suffer dizziness and weakness. Repeated exposure makes the illness worse each time, and experienced woodsmen learn to recognize and avoid the offending plants.

Shade-skin

A creeping blackness appears beneath the skin and nails, spreading slowly like smoke. Pain is intermittent but intense, and eventually the afflicted are said to vanish entirely, either having fled into the jungle or dispatched by black magic. Protective charms and fumigation are used to preserve the living, for the disease is widely feared and poorly understood.

The Silent Song

A wasting illness of the throat and chest that makes the voice faint or entirely silent. Patients may appear healthy for weeks before a sudden collapse, often accompanied by the gushing of dark fluid from every orifice. The silence of the afflicted brings fear among family and neighbors alike.

Silver Veil

A strange affliction that causes the skin to take on a pale, glimmering sheen. Victims grow weak and often suffer night terrors. Many sufferers wander at night and are later found dead or missing. Some believe the glimmer is a sign of spirits gathering around the afflicted.

Sleeping Sickness

Spread by forest flies, it produces lethargy and confusion. Patients are kept in shaded rooms, with bitter teas and mild stimulants to keep them from wandering into danger. Death often comes slowly, while those who survive often remember strange dreams of the forest and are prone to madness.

Swamp Fever

Contracted by wading in waters where unseen creatures are known to enter the flesh. It brings blood to the urine and long injury to the body within. Even those who recover often suffer weakness or intermittent pain for years.

Sweetrot

Begins with a small bruise or swelling at the site of a scratch or bite, which rapidly grows black and oozes foul liquid. Survivors are rare, and those who endure are left permanently scarred and feverish. Its sickly sweet stench and discoloration make it easy to identify, yet impossible to halt once begun.

Swine Leg

A swelling of the limbs and groin caused by writhing, festering worms. Gentle massage, poultices, and herbal tonics may ease the swelling but rarely offer a cure. It rarely kills, but it leaves many unable to work, travel, or care for themselves. Communities often support sufferers when able, as the disease is extraordinarily common in certain lowland regions.

Veinfire

A fiery burning sensation travels along the veins, sometimes accompanied by flame-like marks appearing on the skin. Few live long, and those who do are forever weakened. Cooling washes and bitter teas are applied where possible.

Web-sores

Tiny sores erupt across the body, oftentimes forming web-like patterns. They itch and burn fiercely; if left untreated, the flesh blackens and spreads, leaving permanent scarring or death. Washings and salves are applied, though relief is often fleeting.

Wormfoot

A disease taken through the feet from damp soil, which slowly drains strength from the body. The afflicted grow pale and weak and tire easily, though they may not appear gravely ill. It is especially common among laborers and children who go often barefoot.

Wraith Sickness

Victims grow pale, cold, and gaunt, often claiming to see figures or shadows following them. Death sometimes comes suddenly without clear cause. Many believe the disease is connected to spirits of the dead.