Plague of the Burning Death

Transmission & Vectors

The plague is transmitted through physical contact with an infected person. The plague is not lethal to most animals and so animals that feed on the bodies of victims can become carriers. Furthermore, during the final stage the fumes created by the burning of the right arm of the victim can also spread the plague.

Causes

Though originally a curse visited on the people of Fetesca by the God of Strife, Omadon, the plague now behaves like an ordinary sickness. It tends to spread during early spring among the very poor and those without access to clean living spaces.

Symptoms

The plague is known to have two distinct phases. During phase one, the patient will develop weakness, dizziness, chills and a extremely high fever. This phase can last up to two weeks, and its end is marked by red welts and rashes spreading over the right arm of the patient. The fever breaks during the second phase and is replaced by severe pain and itching and burning in the infected arm. The second phase is unpredictable and can last anywhere from a few hours to a month. When the second phase ends, the infected welts on the arm burst open and the patient's arm catches on fire. This fire is ultimately the cause of death as it is impossible to put out with normal means.

Treatment

The only certain cure to the Plague of the Burning Death is the casting of Remove Curse and Cure Disease by a powerful priest of a good aligned God. As there is rarely enough magic to go around during an outbreak, several mundane cures have been developed that have varying levels of success. The two most well known are detailed below:

An unguent made from duck fat, willow root, and lavender is a common peasant treatment that has shown some effectiveness if used early in stage one. This mixture is spread over the body of the afflicted daily for 6 weeks, and is the most effective treatment that is easily available to commoners. (Full treatment typically costs less than 5 silvers to make) If treatment is begunwithin 2 days of the initial symptoms forming, it has a roughly 30% rate of interrupting the disease.
A more expensive, and thus rarer treatment is a tonic made of Linseed Oil, properly rendered Pokewood seeds and powdered silver. This tonic must be prepared by a specially trained alchemist, since Pokewood Seeds are highly poisonous without proper preparation. This tonic is effective if taken at any point during stage one, but must be taken once a day for 4 weeks to complete the cure. The effectiveness ranges from 10%-50% depending on how soon after infection it is begun. A typical treatment regime can cost up to 50 gold pieces and as such is really only available to those of means.

Prevention

It is said that those faithful to Omadon are completely immune to the disease. Common wisdom holds that those who anoint themselves with holy water are likewise immune.

The common people will use incense around their homes to keep the plague away during an outbreak. Typical incense used are sandalwood, lavender or evergreen. Nobles and those of means use a mixture of Myrrh, Cinnamon and Dragon's Blood which actually seems to be rather effective, if horribly expensive to procure.

Cultural Reception

Those suffering the plague are typical cast out of the villages for fear of the plague spreading. Larger cities will often form plague villages outside of the city walls to house such individuals. The Plague of the Burning Death is one of the most feared happenings in all of Fetesca, and only the bravest and most true priests will attend to the victims of the disease. The Church of Pthalo has gained significant following in Fetesca as being one of the main priesthoods willing to help deal with the disease.[pr]
The Church of the Holy Union remains split on the matter, with some more extreme sects holding that the disease is a sign of sinfulness of the people and Omadon's influence over their souls.

Type

Divine

Origin

Divine

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Uncommon