Sky Madness

Publius began his final ascent to the surface, and as he swam out of the shadow of the cave's mouth, finally saw that impossible object Tritonis had been abuzz about: the sun.
He thought it was bright beneath the water's surface, but was blinded when he breached it. For generations triton artisans had used magic to bring rainbows of light and color to their dark depths, but never had Publius imagined that anything natural could be so bright. The sun was almost obscene, so grossly incandescent.
But as his eyes adjusted to the light, he began to realize that the blue roof above him was in fact not a roof, but the endless expanse called "sky."
For his entire life, there had always been something above Publius. For untold generations his people had lived and died knowing with all certainty that their universe had a very definite "top" to it, safely enclosed by walls.
Yet this, this blue, was infinite. There was no top, no side. He could go in any direction forever and never touch it. His world was small. He was small. No, he was nothing. He was a spec of plankton, and that yellow was the eye of a blue monster that was devouring him without even noticing he exists.
Because he doesn't exist. He never did, because the sky is blue and the water is blue, he was always in the sky but thought it was water but he never knew it was blue, and now it's blue, water is smaller than sky yet water was so big but where are the walls, oh god, oh god, oh god the walls are gone and so is the roof and there's nothing that can stop him falling up and up and up and up into fire-

Transmission & Vectors

Sky Madness can be contracted when members of the various aquatic races first visit the surface world. It is not currently known why it affects some individuals and not others, however it has been anecdotally noticed that cephalids seem to be immune.

Causes

One is most likely to contract the madness if one first surfaces during the day, and even moreso when there are light clouds, perhaps because they drive home the vast and alien nature of the sky.

Symptoms

Typical symptoms include: fainting, increased heart rate, weakness in the limbs, paranoia, hallucinations, a powerful desire to hide, temporary loss of identity, acute overwrought poetry on existential themes.

Treatment

Given rest, the madness usually subsides within a day, two at the most. Frequent dousing of the head into water is reputed to speed recovery, though this remains purely anecdotal.

Affected Groups

Only aquatic races can suffer from Sky Madness, though cephalids appear to be immune.

Prevention

Making one's maiden surfacing during night or, to a lesser extent, overcast weather, seems to decrease not just the likelihood of one contracting Sky Madness, but also the time it lasts.

Type

Mental

Origin

Natural

Rarity

Uncommon