Red Death

The Red Death is a plague which has swept through the Flanaess at various times - in 496 CY and from 576 CY to 583 CY.

Description

The cause of the disease is unknown, and though all manner of cures were attempted - "poulctices, infusions, draughts, quack medicines, potions from reputable herbalists, leeching, bleeding—all are ineffective." Even magical healing and other clerical or divine spells were unable to cure the affliction. There were many faux-remedies sold by hucksters, snake-oil salesmen, and even by people who simply thought the remedies worked - though none did.

The process of the disease varied from person to person, depending on their strength and health. The elderly and young were amongst the most vulnerable. Symptoms increase, and the worst phase of the disease usually comes within fewer than 72 hours.

Symptoms of the Red Death:

Initial, mild symptoms	Within hours	Final Stage
(-1 STR, DEX, CON) Lassitude or malaise Dull pain in joints Swollen lymph nodes Throbbing headache	(cumulative -5 to STR, DEX, CON or more) Lassitude worsens Mild fever	(after # of hours = CON x 4) (-4 WIS, -3 INT, 1/4 mov't rate, spellcasting impossible Red blotches or edemas appear Headaches become crippling Victim is unable to move, and incapable of concentration

The transmission method is unknown. The victim's condition worsens, until they eventually die. Eventually, if the victim of the Red Death made their way through the infection, it was possible to recover. Once the fever breaks (and the condition is eliminated), symptoms immediately begin to fade, and are gone entirely within 24 hours.

Note: The gravestones (or graves) of the victims of the Red Death were often decorated with a four-petaled flower motif.

History

The First known cases were in Rookroost in c.496 CY, and it swept through the Flanaess. More than 2,000 people died in Rookroost alone. Though, the plague burnt itself out. The reason for this is as mysterious as the disease itself.

The Red Death struck again, spreading eastward across the Flanaess. In 576 CY, the Red Death is known to have been in the Domain of Greyhawk in Diamond Lake, as well as in distant Rookroost and to have spread east. It would eventually spread as far as the Great Kingdom by 581 CY.

The original infection rate was approximately 10%, though "the percentage of infected citizens and the number of reported deaths both climb steadily." It is known to have persisted in the Domain of Greyhawk until at least spring of 583 CY, when the old village of Skorane was abandoned and deserted.

During the same period, there was an unknown disease spreading in Rauxes, believed to have been brought on by poor sewer management. It was not the Red Death, though many mistook it for such.

References

Bibliography

• Brown, Anne. Player's Guide. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998. Item code TSR9578.
• Findley, Nigel, Dan Salas, Stephen Inniss and Robert J. Kuntz. WG8 Fate of Istus. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1989. Item code TSR9253.
• Holian, Gary, Erik Mona, Sean Reynolds and Frederick Weining. Living Greyhawk Gazetteer. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2000. Item code 11743.
• Mona, Erik. "The Whispering Cairn". Dungeon #124. Bellvue, WA: Paizo Publishing, Jul 2005.

Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index

The Encyclopedia Greyhawkania Index (EGI) is based on previous work of Jason Zavoda through '08, continued by numerous other fans. The EGI article has a list of sources, product names, abbreviations, and a link to the full, downloadable index.

Topic	Type	Description	Product	Page/Card/Image
Red Death Plague	Calendar		Living Greyhawk Gazetteer	24
Red Death Plague	Calendar		WG8 Fate of Istus	6, 8, 12, 40, 45