Khorvad's Grip

Khorvad's Grip was a contagious illness that became widespread in The Fringe. The outbreak lead to many political and military changes amongst the nations, but fortunately it caused fewer deaths than the Plague of Asulon.

History

Khorvad's grip, as an illness, was widely overlooked by most as an illness until the outbreaks, some saying that it originated in the new realm of The Fringe. It spread quickly among the lands of Urguan and Alras, forcing the Dwarves from their capital and into a nearby fortress. Alras's citizens either fled to nearby towns or remained in their homes, attempting to avoid infection. The lands of Oren were quickly swept up by the outbreak, a certain traitor allowing the infected into their last bastions. Many of the nobles fled, while others hid in bunkers on Orenian lands.

Overall the nation least affected by the plague was Haelun'or, their tightly-guarded walls sealing the city from infection. This instilled the wrath of many who were denied refuge from the plague due to laws of 'purity' they did not abide to. The cave of Ker'Lomi was completely overrun, but it was temporarily sealed off until the cure was distributed. The Halflings of Ivybend also had an effective way of dealing with infected. They erected a massive pumpkin wall, sealing it off with a thick gate. Only three Halflings in the village were ever infected, as any interaction with the outside was done with a mask. No Halflings died from the plague, as Milo (a resident druid) healed them upon his visits, they disposed of infected animals and materials into the Bigmouth Basin.

The plague's cure was developed by the Dwarven Lord Onar Ireheart, using the flesh of a Eark Elven cadaver and a mythical compound known as Panacea. Soon after, by mysterious means, the High Elves of Tahn'siol developed their own variant of the cure for Khorvad's Grip. Until then, healing could only be enacted by Clerics of Tahariae, Orcish Shamans, and Druids.

Symptoms

Khorvad's Grip was perhaps best known for it's debilitating effects, which killed many and incapacitated others. The most notable symptom is intense fatigue, preventing anyone infected from being able to sprint or move quickly without considerable struggling and pain. Another symptom was excessive hunger, perhaps caused by the increased metabolism needed to fight the disease. At later stages it could lead to organ failure as the victim's innards ruptured. The bile spread around also led to sepsis and other such infections, killing off the victim if he or she somehow survived.