Cackle fever, also known as "the shrieks", was a magical disease that caused uncontrollable and debilitating fits of laughter.[1][2][3]
Acquisition[]
The disease spread through the air[1] such as through the sneeze of an infected carrier.[4] It was highly contagious such that merely standing within 10 feet (3 meters) of an infected individual ran the risk of immediately catching it. Cackle fever only affected and spread between humanoids. Gnomes were immune to the disease for some unknown reason,[2] but could still act as asymptomatic carriers of it.[4]
It was also possible to contract cackle fever from ghosts[5] and from noxious gasses in the Great Swamp of Rethild.[6]
Cackle fever was one of several diseases that could be inflicted using the contagion spell.[7] Cheaply made potions were also said to sometimes be contaminated with the disease.[3]
Effects[]
Symptoms manifested within four days,[3] but often after just one day[1] and potentially in as little as one to four hours.[2] Often, infected individuals did not know they had cackle fever until they encountered a stressful situation that brought on a bout of inexplicable and uncontrollable laughter.[4] Sufferers of cackle fever experienced exhaustion,[3] disorientation, and high fevers alongside these frequent fits of hideous laughter, which could last up to a minute.[1][2][8] The most severe bouts of laughter could be completely debilitating and even cause psychological harm: these erupted in response to stressful or frightening situations, such as combat, being injured, or having a nightmare.[2][3][8]
As the disease progressed, it caused a steady deterioration in willpower, perceptiveness, and common sense,[1][9] and ultimately it could leave sufferers fully catatonic[8] or cause them to go mad.[2]
Treatment[]
Usually, healthy individuals could slowly but surely fight off the disease naturally,[1][2] requiring at least three days of rest and recuperation.[3] It could also be cured magically, however in its most advanced stages, spells and rituals like cure disease might only offer temporary relief to the sufferer.[10]
History[]
It was suggested that cackle fever may have been originally created by alchemists or potion brewers.[3]
Cackle fever was one of many diseases inflicted on the soldiers fighting in the Rotting War at the Fields of Nun in Year of the Queen's Tears, 902 DR. Centuries later, some roving undead still carried the disease.[11]
During the mid-to-late 14th century DR, cackle fever could be encountered in the Underdark.[12] During this same period, Black Wagon Alley in Waterdeep was haunted by a ghostly plague wagon that was said to spread cackle fever to those that beheld it.[5]
At some point prior to the late 14th century DR, the lich Zzarka created a disease she called "cacklefire" by combining cackle fever and mindfire.[13]
In the late 15th century DR, the disease was present on Avernus. The gnome archmage Pingle attended a grand ball hosted by the devil Qirozz and unknowingly spread it among the humanoid guests.[4]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Board Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
External Links[]
Cackle fever article at the Eberron Wiki, a wiki for the Eberron campaign setting.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 292. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (December 2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 257. ISBN 978-0-7869-6562-5.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (November 2024). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition (revised). Edited by Adrian Ng, et al. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 61. ISBN 978-0-7869-6952-4.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 Jared Fegan (2020). The Breath of Life (DDAL09-12) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Avernus Rising (Wizards of the Coast), p. 18.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 112. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- ↑ Thomas Reid (October 2004). Shining South. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 98. ISBN 0-7869-3492-1.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 213. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 James Wyatt (June 2008). Dungeon Master's Guide 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 49. ISBN 978-0-7869-4880-2.
- ↑ Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, Skip Williams (July 2003). Player's Handbook v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-2886-7.
- ↑ Brad Gardner (May 2009). The Lady in Flames (DALE1-4). Living Forgotten Realms (RPGA), p. 37.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (2001-12-19). “The Trail of Tears: The Scourge of Pestilence”. Perilous Gateways. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2004-02-23. Retrieved on 2020-04-19.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 110. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Ramon Arjona (2002-10-02). “Strongholds of Undeath Portals”. Perilous Gateways. Wizards of the Coast. Retrieved on 2020-12-01.