Febris Actua

Concerning Febris Actua, the Burning Malady of Miasma

The febris actua is a dire affliction that seizeth the body with grievous cycles of fever and chill, brought on by the foul vapours of miasmatic air, which oft rise from places of corruption, such as sewage pits and tanneries. These vapours, laden with malign humours, do unsettle the body’s natural harmony, particularly disturbing the phlegmatic humour. The malady is a cruel adversary, for it doth work in relentless cycles, striking the afflicted at appointed hours, and is made the more pernicious by the corrupted air of damp and squalid environs.

Causes

The chief cause of this malady is the foul and miasmatic air that riseth from the decay of organic matter and from unwholesome places such as sewers, marshes, and tanneries. These vapours do enter the body through the breath, corrupting the humours and upsetting their delicate balance. The malady is most grievous in those who dwell in damp, crowded cities or who toil in foul and pestilent trades.

The wise physicians and clerics of have long held that febris actua, though oft born of natural causes such as the miasmatic air, may also be stirred up by the accursed arts of the Oamenus halflings. These diminutive folk, known for their mastery of charms and enchantments, are said to consort with dark spirits that haunt the unwholesome places of the earth. By their wicked rites, they do call forth these malign spirits to afflict mankind with grievous maladies, chief among them being febris actua, the burning and cyclic fever. Such sorcery is accomplished through the corruption of the humours by supernatural means, as the spirits do breathe their malevolence into the air, twisting it to carry disease and suffering. The histories recount many such instances where the dark magick of the halfling was responsible for plagues of fever that struck down men in their prime.

The Cursing of the Aqueducts at Ibroca

In the 41st Year of the Refugium, when the Eknon legions sought to pacify the hill tribes of Ibroka, on the border of the Shayrid Empire, it is told that the halfling nomads of the region, in an act of perfidy against the Eknon Empire in service to their Arahani masters, did turn to their sorceries. The aqueducts that brought sweet water to the Eknon camp were found to be the site of strange rites performed by the halfling witches. Witnesses spake of blood poured into the waters and idols of blackened wood sunk into the cisterns. Not long thereafter, the soldiers of the legions began to fall ill with the febris actua. The fevers struck in relentless waves, felling even the stoutest men. The physicians of Lamus's order, unable to combat the disease, declared it to be unnatural, for the symptoms arose even in the cleanest quarters. The legions were forced to withdraw, and Ibroca was lost to the Empire. The chroniclers note that the waters of the aqueduct were later purified by rites dedicated to Lamus Sanator, after which the fevers abated.

The Pestilence of the Tanneries in Halcia

In the great city of Halcia in Ebros, famed for its leatherworks, a wave of the febris actua once swept through the tanneries and their surrounding districts. The air was already heavy with foul vapours from the curing pits, but the sickness grew worse when an halfling caravan was denied entry to the city and took to camping in the marshlands nearby. It is said that these halflings, angered by their exclusion, did call upon spirits of corruption to blight the city. Soon after, those who laboured in the tanneries began to suffer from unrelenting fevers, which spread rapidly through the district. The city elders, fearing that the sickness would engulf Halcia, employed their Tarqian madrikhim to counter the plague. It was only after a great exorcism was performed in the marshes, where offerings were made unto the Ar, as per their teachings, that the air grew clean once more and the sickness ceased.

The Haunted Fields of Aratorum

In the far province of Aratorum, a farming community near the edge of the Aeriscan frontier was ravaged by the febris actua after the arrival of a band of Oamenus halflings. The halflings, having been accused of theft, were driven from the village, but not before they cursed the fields with their vile magicks. The farmers reported seeing strange lights and hearing eerie whispers in the night, and soon thereafter, the men and women who worked the fields began to fall ill. The fever struck at regular intervals, with the afflicted trembling in their homes as their bodies burned with unnatural heat. The village elder, suspecting foul play, sent word to a nearby garrison, which dispatched both soldiers and a cleric of the Ordor of Lamus Sanator. The cleric identified the presence of malign spirits and performed a ritual purification, burning herbs and sprinkling the fields with sanctified water. The fevers subsided within days, but the memory of the curse lingered, and the villagers avoided the halflings ever after.

Whether natural or preternatural in origin, the air itself becometh a vehicle of disease, bringing forth the torments of febris actua. The faithful must remain vigilant against their arts, seeking always the protection of Maya and Lamus, for only their mercy and wisdom can shield mankind from the unseen malice of supernatural foes. Let these histories serve as a warning, that we may guard against the corruption of both air and spirit.

Symptoms

This affliction is a great disrupter of the humours, and its symptoms do vary in severity according to the humour most imbalanced. An excess of phlegm bringeth forth the most severe form, wherein the afflicted suffereth unremitting fevers and chills, oft without respite. Imbalance in the choleric humour causeth the fever to recur every fourth day, while an excess of melancholic humour maketh the fever return on the third day. Imbalance of the sanguine humour, being the least dire, bringeth fever every day but doth not wreak such lasting harm as the phlegmatic excess. Regardless of its form, the malady is marked by three stages that cycle without relent.

Treatment

To cure the febris actua, it is needful to expel the corrupt humours and restore the body’s balance. The afflicted should first be removed from the source of the foul air and placed in a warm, dry chamber, far from damp and decay. Let them drink infusions of herbs sacred to Lamus, such as absinthium, gentiana, and febrifugia, for these do purge the humours and strengthen the vital spirits. The juice of lemons and a decoction of salix bark may be administered, for they do cool the fever and cleanse the blood of its corruption.

A poultice of sinapi powder and acetum, applied to the soles of the feet, draweth forth the cold humours and bringeth warmth to the body. Likewise, a draught of acetum mixed with honey doth temper the burning heat. After the sweating fit, the patient should be given nourishing broths and light gruels to restore their strength, avoiding heavy or rich foods that inflame the humours further.

Prognosis

Though the febris actua bith a grievous malady, it is not beyond remedy for those who seek the aid of Maya and the wisdom of Lamus Sanator. If treated promptly and with diligence, the afflicted may recover, though their strength will be sorely tested. Yet if left untreated, or if the patient be weakened by other afflictions, the disease may linger long and bring about great suffering, even unto death. Thus doth this malady teach us to guard against the corruption of the air and to seek always the blessings of our merciful patrons, who alone can shield us from the perils of illness.