Druncnian (/'druŋk.ni.ʌn/)
They say it only happens to those who spend too long at sea. That the ocean gets in you and brings you down into her depths. They say that those around them are inevitably cursed too. I wish that were true, for perhaps then my darling would still be here, or I would be with her.
Disease Information
Affected Groups
There appears to be no connection between those who are afflicted, no matter race, age, sex, profession, anyone can succumb at any time. After some time, it was discovered that those who died had recently eaten fish. Later still it was discovered that they all were caught near Oxaren. Why this disease only affects some is not yet discovered.
Carriers/Transmission Vectors
Fish that are caught near the coasts of Oxaren seem to carry the disease. There is no way of telling that the fish are afflicted and it does not appear contained to one species of fish. It is believed that repeated exposure makes it more likely that the disease will take hold but this has not been proven. There is some evidence to suggest that kin might pass on the ability to contract this disease but if the repeated exposure theory is true then this is explained by the fact that kin tend to eat the same food.
Prevention
Most ports have banned fish caught near the coasts of Oxaren. However, on occasion fish that originate from the coasts of Oxaren make their way into markets resulting in minor outbreaks of druncnian. Clerics and wizards are working together to find a way to discern the Oxaren fish from safe fish but have had no success so far.
Prognosis
It is extremely rare for someone to survive druncnian and those that do, well, they can hardly be called survivors. They are plagued by constant chest pains, trouble breathing, and coughing fits. They seem to be a shell of their former selves from the near death experience and in some cases struggle to perform everyday tasks. Though they can be taught these things again it can be an arduous process.
History
No one knows where it comes from, or where it began. Some say that it was a sailor who had spent too long in the ocean's embrace, or too long out at sea. That she got inside him and claimed him as her own. Others say it is a lingering curse of that war. What is known, is that the first victim was a sailor. He had been at a tavern, regaling folk with stories of the high seas when he began to choke. Spluttering and clutching at his chest, the man had fallen to his knees and heaved between fits of coughing. After a particularly severe bout of coughing and another heave, he had thrown up more water than should have been possible. The crowd had swiftly retreated, horrified eyes watching as the man convulsed once, twice, then collapsed and went still. The door burst open. Someone had fetched a cleric when it became clear this was not a mere case of drink down the wrong way. It was some time before the cleric addressed the crowd. 'Go home,' they said 'I must bring him to the temple and investigate further.' The crowd murmured uneasily but began to disperse. When the official cause of death was released as drowning, there was an uproar. The man had been on land, his drink had not touched his lips for some minutes before the choking began. Yet the temple said no more.
Within their walls rumors swirled regarding his death. The water found in him was as salty as the sea. Some speculated that he had offended an aether-user who had summoned water into his lungs, but surely traces of aether would have lingered as it always does. Perhaps the ocean itself resented his tall tales of conquering her waves. Did the divine do this to him? The answers seemed outside their reach. Since then, a mere dozen cases have been recorded over the years, always in coastal areas. Until a case appeared on a farm far from the coast. The farmer's wife had died, seemingly drowned on land, with salt water in her lungs. No one could explain it other than she had picked up fish at the market a few days before and the family had it for dinner the night she died.
Type
Magical
Origin
Magical
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired
Rarity
Rare
Comments