The Wart Charm
Cause
The disfiguring condition called the Wart Charm is brought about by the bite of a black adder more commonly known as The Dark Springer. The Dark Springer is an uncommonly huge adder that lives in the warmer sandy forests of Alven.There are particularly abundant in the south of the Cauldfell region in The Yella Fells and the whole of The Fellands. The adder is dormant in winter and comes out of hibernation at the start of the Light Months when the temperatures become warmer and the weather more clement.
The snake loves to bask in sunny clearings and is often found under logs and tree roots where it likes to shelter. Because of its dark colours, the snake is sometimes difficult to spot when walking in the undergrowth.
Most local clansmen always carry a long stick when they walk in the woods and make sure to tap the ground in front of them as they walk. The vibrations of the stick hitting the ground are usually enough to scare the adders away.
The Springers are named after the way they attack. Usually, the snakes lie in wait for their prey to pass by, and spring on them with all their strength and might. The adders can jump high enough to bite the face of a six or seven-year-old child.
Symptoms
The bite of the Springers takes its time to show its effects. First, a two-dot red mark appears where the adder has sunk its fangs. Within the next few minutes, the area becomes swollen and very painful.Next, after another 20 minutes or so, other swollen areas start to appear within 10 thumbs of the original bite. At that point, the victim's body can go into shock and a small child or animal could lose their life if not kept calm and the bite treated properly.
Over time, the swollen parts become pustulent due to a bacterial infection that the adder carries with its bite. After 24 hours or so, if the patient is still alive, the swollen areas start to 'deflate'.
However, the skin remains warted and disfigured where the swelling took place. If the adder's bite is found on the legs or arms, warts can be hidden by clothes most of the time. If the warts are somewhere more visible (face, shoulders, hands, etc.) Some people will try to hide the warts under tattoos and pieces of jewelry.
Treatment
There is really no effective cure for the Springer's bite. Sometimes, nicking the original infected area with a knife before it has time to act can reduce the extent of the poisoning and save the victim from anaphylactic shock.There are of course 'dark ways' into restoring one's skins to its former beauty: potions can be obtained which are said to magically cure the disfiguration. The potions are, of course, illegal and you would need to know someone in The Ambulant Men and The Banemongers to get access to such a drug.
Old Wives' Tales
Many tales in Cauldfell have the bite of the Dark Springer as its source. There is a well-known story on how the Springer got its venomous bite. Here it is in a gist. It was the dawn of times, and the sun was rising for the first time over the plane. Dona had started creating the creatures who would live in Alven, and she came to create the black adder. Once created, the adder was not happy with its lot.The snake said to Dona: 'I am small and black and I am afraid other creatures are bigger and brighter than me. I will never be seen, and will always live in fear of others.' Donna listened to the snake and moved by its inky, beautiful head and lithe body agreed to give it its poisonous bite so it could defend itself, and never be forgotten by anyone who crossed its path.
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