spire and bloat

Spire (Ladybug Disease, Spire Disease, Shooting Spire Disease) Location: Neck-Deep Mire Signs and Symptoms Early Symptoms of Spire include Fever Difficulty moving limbs Muscle pain Weakness Fungal growth originating from infection site Late Symptoms of Spire include Fungal growths covering the entire body Death Motion-seeking spine-throwers sprouting from corpse Diagnosis Spire is the only known disease to cause tendril-like fungal growths in its host. These growths, known as "spires", are an easy way to tell that the suspect disease is Spire. Transmission There are two methods of transmission: Spores and spines. The natural carrier of spores is the Spire Ladybug, found only in Neck-Deep Mire. The natural carrier of spines is any mammal over 30kg which has expired due to the disease. Spire Ladybugs constantly shed spores. When a Spire Ladybug lands on the exposed skin of a poorly-geared traveler, these spores on can fall into open wounds, such as small cuts, scratches, or rashes. It is recommended to apply an antiseptic as soon as possible to reduce the risk of infection. If no antiseptic is available, cauterization is an option. Any mammal weighing over 30kg and having passed away from Spire poses a serious risk to the safety of all other travelers. The disease remains within the corpse of the mammal, and the fungal spires (which give the disease its name) continue to grow, sometimes up to six feet in height. When these fungal spires detect movement, they fire spines coated in spores at the source. These spines are fired at a high velocity and have been known to penetrate light clothing and soft leather. Infection from being hit by a spine is guaranteed. Inhaling the spores does not lead to infection. The spores must enter the body through an open wound. Risk of Exposure Individuals traveling through Neck-Deep Mire with skin made of rock, wood, metal or other similar substance are not thought to be at risk of contracting Spire through contact with Spire Ladybugs. Spines fired from diseased corpses can still pose a threat, so wearing a layer of hardened leather or other protective material should be considered. Individuals with thinner, organic skin are at risk of contracting Spire through contact with a Spire Ladybug. It is recommended to cover all exposed skin, fur and scales with a layer of liquid wax or latex and reapply as needed. Spines fired from diseased corpses pose a serious threat, so wearing a layer of hardened leather or other protective material is highly recommended. Prevention Liquid wax or latex applied over the body have proven effective in preventing infection by Spire Ladybug spores. Hardened leather of at least half an inch in thickness can stop a fired spine, but care must be taken when removing the spine, as it is razor-sharp. Treatment - Spores Remove the Spire Ladybug as soon as possible. Apply a liberal amount of antiseptic everywhere the Spire Ladybug came into contact with. If antiseptic is unavailable, intense heat will destroy the spores. Vigorous scrubbing with soap of any kind will also destroy the spores. Should immediate treatment fail and infection occurs, do not panic. A fungal spire will begin to grow from the infection site within 2-7 hours. Once this spire is at least two and not yet five inches long, it and its root system must be surgically removed. Do not act before this, as the root system of the spire is fragile and will break apart, resulting in several more infections in the immediate vicinity. Only when the spire is at least two inches long is its root system durable enough to be removed without breaking up. If the spire is allowed to grow to more than five inches in length, recovery is impossible, as the spores and root system will have spread throughout the individual's entire body. At this point, the individual must be euthanized and cremated. Informing the individual of this may cause them a modest amount of panic, so care should be taken to perform the act swiftly, with mercy. Treatment - Spines If the spine has not penetrated the skin gently remove the spine and discard. Do not touch the spine with bare hands, as the spine is razor-sharp. If the spine has penetrated a nonessential limb, such as a hand, arm, foot or leg, leave the spine alone and amputate the limb immediately. Touching or applying pressure to the spine may cause more spores to be injected into the bloodstream. If the spine has penetrated an artery, organ, or other vital area, the struck individual must be euthanized and cremated. Prognosis - Spores If treated quickly with antiseptic or heat, infection will almost never occur. If infection does occur and the spire and root system is surgically removed at the correct time, the infection is fully cured. If the spire is allowed to grow to over five inches in length, death is inevitable, and the body must be cremated. Cremation is the only guarantee the disease will not grow spine-firing spires from the corpse. Prognosis - Spines If the spine has not penetrated a vital body part, the body part must be amputated immediately. If done quick enough, infection of the rest of the body will not occur. If the amputation fails, or if the spine is handled in any way, death is inevitable, and the body must be cremated. Cremation is the only guarantee the disease will not grow spine-firing spires from the corpse. Bloat (Giant-Lung Disease, Ribcracker Disease) Location: Deep Mountain Signs and Symptoms Early Symptoms of Bloat include Increased stamina, strength, vigor Minor convulsions Involuntary twitching of the lips, eyes and fingers Dizziness, vertigo Late Symptoms of Bloat include Major convulsions, seizures Gigantism of all respiratory organs, especially the lungs Lungs bursting through the chest, crushing the ribs and heart Death Diagnosis The very beginning symptoms of Bloat are not seemingly detrimental, so great care should be taken to memorize what they are. Bloat only occurs in Deep Mountain, so any individual exhibiting abnormal vitality should be monitored for the later symptoms of Bloat. If minor twitching of the eyes, lips and fingers occur after the bout of abnormal vitality, the individual should be assumed to have contracted Bloat. Transmission Bloat is found only in Deep Mountain, and is the result of extremely high oxygen levels in the air infused with environmental Air magic. This high-magic, high-oxygen air is referred to as "eO". eO is responsible for the large (and sometimes massive) wildlife found in Deep Mountain, but outsiders not acclimated to eO can suffer significant damage from inhaling eO for prolonged periods of time. Bloat affects smaller individuals more quickly than it does larger individuals; this is thought that a larger body requires more eO than a smaller body does to be physically influenced by it. Risk of Exposure At the surface of Deep Mountain, eO levels are negligible, and protective equipment is not needed. The lower into Deep Mountain one travels, the level of eO grows, and the threat of contracting Bloat grows with it. Individuals without the need to breathe or without a traditional respiratory system are thought not to be at risk of contracting Bloat. These individuals do not need any sort of protective equipment to guard against it. Individuals with a traditional respiratory system (most mammals) are highly likely to contract Bloat when venturing into the lower levels of Deep Mountain without proper protection. Prevention Acclimation to eO is possible, but takes a very long time, and is highly dependent on the individual and their affinity for environmental Air magic. There is one documented case of a witch who took a year to become fully acclimated to the highest concentrations of eO, and was able to travel to the lowest levels of Deep Mountain without suffering from Bloat. For those without an extreme talent for Air magic or simply don't want to take a year or longer to explore Deep Mountain, breathing masks connected to an oxygen tank are available. For longer explorations, masks equipped with magical filtration systems designed to remove eO from the air can be purchased. Care should be taken not to damage any kind of breathing apparatus, as venturing into Deep Mountain and having your oxygen tank burst or filtration system fail can result in an almost instant case of Bloat. Treatment Remove the individual from Deep Mountain immediately, or apply an oxygen mask or mask outfitted with a filtration device to the individual. eO is the cause of Bloat, and removing it from the individual will halt the process of Bloat. If the individual is no longer exposed to eO, the symptoms of Bloat will gradually reverse themselves. Prognosis If caught and treated immediately, the individual will be fine. Side effects are vertigo and headaches lasting a day or two, but once these dissipate the individual is considered fully recovered. If treated in the middle or late stages, when organ enlargement has begun, the individual should be evacuated to a hospital or other medical site immediately. The organs will shrink to their normal size, but during their enlargement they may have become damaged. They may have bruised other organs during their growth, or they may have been punctured or damaged by the bones that were once protecting them. If the lungs have become so large as to burst through the individual's chest, crushing the individual's heart in the process, death is usually predicted. No special measures need to be taken with the corpse; Bloat is not contagious.