Bubonic plague, also known as the black plague,[1] was a dangerous mundane infectious disease.[2]
Acquisition[]
The disease was highly was infectious, and could devastate a realm as it seemed to travel through at a rate of over 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) per day. It was possible to become infected with the disease again after recovering from a prior infection.[4]
Effects[]
Symptoms of bubonic plague included buboes—swollen lymph nodes on the neck, armpits, and groin that could grow to the size of apples—and internal bleeding that caused black and red bruising all over the body.[3] The disease led to a steady decline in vitality, physical strength, constitution, and reflexes, with the sufferer getting noticeably worse every six hours or so. There was only a 1 in 3 chance of survival without treatment, and death usually came within 3 to 6 days of the onset of symptoms.[5] Those who survived were typically bedridden for a tenday and a half, and remained frail for ten to sixty days after that.[4]
Humans, dwarves, and elves were all equally susceptible to the plague, while halflings were about 40% less likely to die of an infection.[4]
Treatment[]
It was said that the plague was resistant to magical cures, such as spells or potions.[4]
History[]
The bubonic plague was known as the "black plague" on the Whamite Isles, where it was a threat to the people who lived there,[1] at some point prior to the mass death of the population by drowning, in the Year of the Gauntlet, 1369 DR.[6]
The halflings of Luiren had learned a special skill of medicinal cooking that involved making curative foods using Luiren spring cheese, and experienced cooks knew how to prepare meals that could cure many otherwise fatal normal diseases, including bubonic plague.[2]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
External Links[]
Bubonic plague article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 (1989). Designed by Tom Wham and Richard Hamblen. The Great Khan Game. TSR.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Tom Prusa (1993). The Shining South. (TSR, Inc), p. 52. ISBN 1-56076-595-X.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Eileen Lucas (October 1988). “The End of the World: Of plagues, player characters, and campaign worlds”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #138 (TSR, Inc.), p. 44.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Douglas Bachmann (August 1980). “Believe it or not, Fantasy has reality”. In Jake Jaquet ed. Dragon #40 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 54–55.
- ↑ Eileen Lucas (October 1988). “The End of the World: Of plagues, player characters, and campaign worlds”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #138 (TSR, Inc.), p. 47.
- ↑ Steven E. Schend (1999). Sea of Fallen Stars. (TSR, Inc), p. 74. ISBN 0-7869-1393-2.