Lotus Plague

"Nobody is safe, but it is the hopeless who are the most vulnerable."

A Hatanese healer

The Lotus Plague is a novel disease that is severe, deadly, and highly contagious. It originated in a community of corsana in Mt. Hatan and has been rapidly spreading throughout the region ever since.
Though the Plague initially only spread between corsana, it is now beginning to infect other species, which may put all of Ohm at risk if it is not soon under control. It has not yet left the mountain, but the Hatanese worry that if a passing traveler wanders into the wrong village, the rest of the kingdom may be doomed.

Transmission & Vectors

Infection occurs when a corsana comes into contact with an infected person's respiratory droplets, bodily fluids, blood, or exposed vines. The disease becomes infectious when an infected person first experiences symptoms.

Symptoms

Symptoms typically begin mild but increase in intensity as more severe symptoms follow. A typical progression of the disease may look this:

1. The illness often begins with a mild, throbbing headache that beats to the heart's rhythm.
2. The afflicted may begin to feel dizzy, achy, and fatigued.
3. A sore throat may follow, accompanied by a runny nose and sneezing. The mucus may appear glittery and iridescent.
4. The afflicted may begin coughing up black lotus petals. This is a tell-tale sign of Lotus Plague; treatment should be sought immediately.
5. The afflicted will become weak, pale, and feverish. Fainting is common.
6. Psychological symptoms may occur, signaling the beginning of the emotional death.
7. Black vines begin to sprout and wrap around the heart, causing chest pain and wheezing.
8. Magical deterioration may occur, signaling the beginning of the spiritual death.
9. Finally, the afflicted's heart becomes completely blocked, and the vines burst through the skin, enveloping the chest and resulting in death.

by Meta AI

Treatment

There is no cure for the Lotus Plague. However, the talented Hatanese healers and herbalists are hard at work treating the ill so they may hopefully recover.
A standard treatment is a tincture made from special herbs and water from the healing springs. This concoction is cooling, sparkling, and aromatic and may help relieve discomfort from symptoms. Other treatments to improve mild symptoms include warm baths with rose water and frequent hydration with herbal tea.
The herbal tincture is usually paired with a corsana healing session, during which the corsana draws upon their holy magic to target and heal specific energy centers in the body. While it doesn't rid the body of the disease, it does help slow down its progression by boosting the afflicted's immune system.
Measures are also taken to control the severity of the disease and prevent fatalities. This may involve lowering fevers through cooling cloths, assisting their breathing through breathing exercises and gentle wind magic, and submerging a patient's body into the healing springs to stabilize them.
Patients in the advanced stages of the disease must be closely monitored at all times, not only for their physical well-being but also for their mental state. Late-stage Lotus Plague sufferers occasionally die from suicide, and emotional support is often an essential component of the treatment process.

Prognosis

Death

There are three stages of death for the disease.
The emotional death occurs when love, joy, and empathy become entirely drained from the afflicted. They become melancholy, paranoid, and mistrustful and begin withdrawing from others. All seems hopeless, and some may take their own lives if the illness doesn't take them first.
The spiritual death comes next as the afflicted's soul begins to slowly wither away. For a corsana, this may involve losing their healing powers and the ability to fly. Other species may lose magic or other abilities. All light evaporates through the afflicted's eyes, leaving behind a blank gaze.
The physical death occurs when the vines entirely block the afflicted's heart before bursting through the skin and enveloping the chest with thorny tendrils.

Recovery

Recovery from the Lotus Plague is difficult, but it is possible. The recovery process may be even more uncomfortable than the disease as the body purges itself from the illness.
Once a patient has reached a breakthrough in their recovery, the vines twisted around the heart snap as a glowing green light shines from the chest. They may feel an intense pulsating pressure in their heart, and their blood heats up rapidly.
The patient may become hysterical, laughing, crying, or even screaming uncontrollably as the grip the sickness holds on the person is released.
If the patient survives all of this, they will stabilize and make a full recovery.

by Meta AI

Art Disclaimer: I am aware of the controversy surrounding AI artwork, and I do not, nor intend to, profit from AI-generated work. These images are intended to convey ideas and concepts and will serve as placeholders until I obtain original and/or commissioned work to use in their place.

Type

Viral

Cycle

Short-term