Throughout history, countless lives were claimed by disease. Some illnesses vanished with time, while others continue to haunt the kingdoms of Aetheria to this day.
Crimson Vein Fever
Crimson Vein Fever was a severe and deadly disease that affected almost exclusively women. It began with a high fever, intense abdominal pain, and general weakness. After several days, dark crimson patches would appear across the skin.
Many victims later suffered internal and external bleeding, loss of strength, and the gradual failure of vital organs. Some women managed to recover after several weeks, but for many, the disease proved fatal.
The physicians of that era never discovered the true cause of its appearance. During the worst outbreaks, entire villages lost dozens of women, and fear of the disease spread faster than the sickness itself.
Survival depended on physical resilience, age, and sheer luck, which is why Crimson Vein Fever came to be remembered as one of the most feared diseases in the history of Aetheria.
Treatment
Although Crimson Vein Fever was long considered an incurable disease, a rare remedy was developed over the centuries that could increase a patient's chances of survival.
The finest physicians in the Kingdom of Dravion were renowned for producing it, but the process was both complex and expensive. As a result, the remedy was extremely rare and usually available only to nobles, wealthy merchants, and other influential individuals.
In other kingdoms, it could occasionally be found through the black market, though at a price worth a small fortune.
Even so, the remedy was far from a guaranteed cure. The chances of survival were estimated at roughly six to four in favor of life, with the outcome largely depending on the patient's physical condition, age, and how far the disease had progressed.
Some victims gradually recovered after taking the remedy, while others experienced a sudden deterioration of their condition, leading to a quicker death. Because of this, many came to refer to it as "a gamble with fate."
Despite its risks, the remedy remained the only known hope against Crimson Vein Fever.
Verdant Blight
Verdant Blight was a disease that affected almost exclusively men. It was most commonly found in the mountainous regions of Serpentis, where it remained a persistent threat to local communities for centuries.
The illness caused abnormal internal fevers and inflammation throughout the body. Many victims developed greenish discoloration along the veins around the groin and testicles, often accompanied by reduced fertility. In more severe cases, a thick green mucus flowed from the nose.
The most dangerous aspect of Verdant Blight was that many sufferers displayed few or no obvious symptoms. As a result, countless men carried the disease without ever realizing they were infected.
In rare cases, the disease also affected women. The symptoms were similar, though many female victims developed greenish discoloration in their urine instead of the changes commonly seen in men. Like male carriers, some women displayed few or no visible symptoms for years.
Physicians believed the disease could affect unborn children. If an infected woman became pregnant, there was a chance the child would be born physically normal yet blind, deaf, or mute. If both parents carried the disease, the risk of stillbirth increased significantly.
Physicians believed that the disease could affect unborn children. If a man suffering from Verdant Blight fathered a child, there was a risk that the newborn would be physically frail, possess a weaker constitution, or be more vulnerable to illness.
Because the disease was particularly common in the mountain regions of Serpentis, many children with similar weaknesses were born there throughout the generations. One of the most well-known cases was the father of Edric Vaelthorne, who was believed to have carried the disease. For this reason, many people claimed that Verdant Blight was responsible for Edric's frail condition at birth.
Although it was most prevalent in Serpentis, the disease was not confined to that kingdom alone. On rare occasions, it spread to other lands through travelers, animals, or even powerful winds carrying infected particles across great distances.
No cure was ever discovered, and the true nature of the disease remained one of the greatest medical mysteries in the history of Aetheria.
Ash Cough
Ash Cough was most common in the deserts and mining settlements of Ashkar.
The disease began with a dry cough and irritation in the chest. Over time, victims developed blood-filled coughing fits, severe chest pain, and inflamed red eyes.
In severe cases, blood also appeared in the urine, accompanied by intense burning and pain during urination. The prolonged coughing often caused permanent damage to the tonsils and throat, leaving many survivors with a hoarse voice for the rest of their lives.
In mild cases, sufferers recovered after weeks of rest. In severe cases, the lungs slowly deteriorated until breathing became nearly impossible.
Although treatments existed to ease the symptoms, no true cure had ever been discovered.
Gray Fever
Gray Fever was among the most feared diseases in Aetheria.
Victims suffered from relentless fever that often lasted for weeks or even months. As the illness progressed, hearing and eyesight gradually weakened. Many survivors reported that sounds became distant and colors appeared faded.
Many victims also lost their sense of taste and smell. Survivors were often left with permanent damage to their sinuses, and few ever fully regained their lost senses.
The fever rarely broke on its own. Some patients survived through sheer endurance, while others slowly wasted away.
No cure was ever discovered.
Because of its long duration and high mortality rate, entire communities feared outbreaks of Gray Fever.
Frostblight
Frostblight was found almost exclusively within the Kingdom of Skeldor and the frozen lands of the north.
The disease caused hair loss, violent trembling, and an unnatural burning fever despite the cold climate. Victims often described the sensation as if their blood itself were on fire.
As the disease advanced, the body weakened and exhaustion became overwhelming. Without treatment, many sufferers eventually died.
A cure existed, but it was extraordinarily expensive and available only through skilled healers and apothecaries. For common people, obtaining it was often impossible.
Black Rot
Black Rot was a highly infectious disease most commonly found in Dravion.
The disease was usually spread through infected ticks or contact with diseased ravens. Early symptoms included dark discoloration around wounds, fever, weakness, and severe pain.
As the infection spread, blackened patches appeared across the skin. Flesh near infected areas slowly decayed, giving the disease its name.
Those who survived were often left permanently scarred. Many others died from infection before treatment could be found.
Several remedies existed, but none were fully reliable, making Black Rot one of the most dreaded plagues in Dravion's history.