Moonlit Tears

"Shame. He was a good Captain too,"

First Mate Yacobi Grunson after he and the crew discover the captain two days after the disease had struck.

A wasting disease often seen in sailors, roused in suspicion and full of terrible consequences. Attempts to study those who succumb to the disease have been fruitless as the disease withers away one's organs. Even casting Lesser Restoration only stems its effects for a time.
Mechanically the disease does the following:
Stage 1: a black spot appears, if a limb is affected the DC to Dexterity checks that only use that limb goes up. The target suffers one level of exhaustion.
Stage 2: the black spot grows, and extends to the length of whatever body part is affected. The user finds it difficult to breath or move and all dexterity checks are made with disadvantage. The target is now under 3 levels of exhaustion.
Stage 3: fatal stage, the black spot spreads throughout the body and has reached either the brain or spinal cord. The target is unable to move and automatically fails dexterity checks and saves. The target is now under 4 levels of exhaustion. The target has 1D8+1 hours to live, and in the final hour they are now under 5 levels of exhaustion. If the sufferer does not receive medical treatment in the form of lesser restoration or greater restoration then they undergo six levels of exhaustion and die.
Regardless of which stage, in the moonlight around midnight the corners of the sufferer’s eyes glisten with a lambent glow, as if their tears were drops of light. This is often a dead giveaway for those familiar with the disease.
Casting Lesser Restoration on the target immediately moves the disease back 1 stage. It is unknown if other spells can have any alternate effects.

Transmission & Vectors

Many believe the disease is transferred airborne, but none can say for certain. It only ever seems to affect one person per ship. Once the person dies, if they are not disposed of properly, it transfers to someone else on the crew.

Causes

Only ever seems to affect sailors. None are entirely sure of the cause but it tends to strike entire groups at a time or sometimes strike only one.

Symptoms

First Symptom comes with a coughing fit spurred by nothing. Following this, the diseased gains a noticeable black spot, almost bruise like, somewhere on their body.
In the second stage, the bruise covers a larger area, discoloring skin similar to frostbite, but slimy. The person finds breathing difficult, and physical activity becomes almost impossible.
Third stage the part affected by the body falls off, and rots away. The diseased has 7 hours left, after which they rot from the inside out, starting with their eyes and teeth falling from their mouth. When they die their blood pours out every orifice in a black, rotten color. The body dries up completely within 2 hours.

Treatment

No cures have been found.
Ela Stonetell has managed to stem the effects by taking small doses of Deadly Nightshade Poison daily. This seems to prevent the disease from extending beyond the first stage.

Prognosis

Many believe the cause comes from stealing treasure that does not rightfully belong to them. Some also believe it to be a curse of Ocean Beings too terrifying to name. Others believe the root comes from one's connection to fae.

Sequela

Many who undergo this disease are ostracized by those around them. As it tends to occur in sailors, those who are affected are often thrown overboard or marooned before they can “spread” the disease.

Affected Groups

Only seems to affect Sailors.

Epidemiology

An outbreak often happens suddenly, with no person showing any visible symptoms beforehand.

History

No major outbreaks. If anything there are less than 5 cases of this disease per year. Due to this, many don't see it as necessary to study.
The most notable case, and one of the first documented, was Pirate Captain Lang, who was peerless in battle but died soon after the disease struck.

Cultural Reception

Most people don't know much of this disease. Those who do tend to be experienced sailors, all of whom have likely seen at least one person succumb to the disease. The ones unfortunate enough to see this become heavily wary, and consider it an ill omen.
Those who are affected by the disease are believed to have cursed lives or harboring deep seated wicked thoughts and personalities.

Type

Magical

Origin

Magical

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Unique