Winterchill fever, also known as windchill fever, winter fever, pneumonia, or simply winter chill, was a well-known disease in Faerûn, and was one of the so-called Five Fevers.[1][2][3]
Acquisition[]
For humanoids, the disease was transmissible through the air, and symptoms manifested within 6 days.[1]
Extended exposure to the cold could also cause the disease,[4] especially if precautions to stay warm were not taken.[5] In cold climates, ordinary horses were prone to catch and die of the disease in a matter of days if pushed to travel. It was advised to ride heartier mounts, such as Rashemaar ponies, in such climates.[6]
Effects[]
Sufferers of winterchill fever experienced fever[1][2] and a steady loss of their stamina and endurance.[1] With luck, a healthy individual could hope to fight off the disease in a matter of days,[1][7] but it could alternatively lead to death.[1]
Treatment[]
Non-magical treatment of pneumonia required thrice daily ingestion of dangerously potent herbs under the frequent observation of a healer.[8]
History[]
Pneumonia was a major concern for travelers and their mounts in the cold reaches of Rashemen.[6]
Irithra Dawntanthra, a Magister who reigned in the 7th century DR, lost her mother to a winter fever.[9] It also claimed the life of Iriskree, mentor to another Magister, Ohland Grethgar, who reigned in the 13th century DR.[10]
Amry Wolover, builder of the infamous Wolover's Keep in the Veilstone Peaks, lost his wife to winterchill fever.[11]
Winterchill fever took the life of Urda Malo, famous for establishing the Eveningstar Bakery.[12]
Lathintel of Athkatla, author of the Libram of Lathintel, died circa the Year of the Smoky Moon, 1287 DR of a winter fever.[13]
Lady Maraeve Skyhawk, a shrewd politician who was instrumental in raising the Skyhawk family to prominence in Raven's Bluff, died of a winter fever.[14]
In the Year of the Adder, 1328 DR, Eaerdran Tarmagus—a Waterdhavian businessman who ran the House of Tarmagus—experienced what he called the "Big Change" in his life when his mother passed away from winterchill fever.[15]
The Waterdhavian adventurer Tzarrakyn the Younger lost the grandparents who raised him to a winter fever when he was fourteen years old.[16]
During the mid-to-late 14th century DR, the "Comptor's Hole" at the Nevin Street Comptor prison in Ravens Bluff was infamous for the droves of prisoners who died of winterchill fever and frostbite during the winter months.[17][18]
In the Year of the Wrathful Eye, 1391 DR, Lord Randal Morn of Daggerdale died from pneumonia that he caught while on one of his celebrated hunting trips.[19]
In the Year of the Fallen Friends, 1399 DR, Lord Deremoz Keskrel of the Marsember Keskrels died of winterchill fever.[3]
Mreljassa Belasko, a government clerk in Luthcheq who ascended both to overseeing the city's harbor as well as settling its legal disputes in the 15th century DR, died of a winter fever.[20]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (March 2006). Power of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 94. ISBN 0-7869-3910-9.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Ed Greenwood (October 2012). Ed Greenwood Presents Elminster's Forgotten Realms. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 14. ISBN 0786960345.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Ed Greenwood (June 2012). “Eye on the Realms: The Thing in the Crypt”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #412 (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 32, 34.
- ↑ John Terra (November 1997). Four from Cormyr. Edited by Kim Mohan. (TSR, Inc.), p. 100. ISBN 0-7869-0646-4.
- ↑ David Tillery (June 1978). “Weather in the Wilderness”. In Timothy J. Kask ed. Dragon #15 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 14–15.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Throne of Deceit”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 19. ISBN 978-0786901395.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Owen K.C. Stephens (March 2000). “Herbcraft”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #269 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 39.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 2000). Secrets of the Magister. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 46. ISBN 978-0786914302.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (January 2000). Secrets of the Magister. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 67. ISBN 978-0786914302.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1991). Nightmare Keep. (TSR, Inc), pp. 3, 20. ISBN 1-5607-6147-4.
- ↑ TheEdVerse on Twitter. (3-8-2020). Retrieved on 31-3-2022.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Steve Perrin (May 1988). The Magister. Edited by Karen S. Boomgarden. (TSR, Inc.), p. 12. ISBN 0-88038-564-2.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 59. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ TheEdVerse on Twitter. (27-2-2021). Retrieved on 31-5-2023.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1987). Waterdeep and the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 56. ISBN 0-88038-490-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (October 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. Edited by John D. Rateliff. (TSR, Inc.), p. 72. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- ↑ David Cook (May 1994). “The Living City: In the Compter”. In Jean Rabe ed. Polyhedron #95 (TSR, Inc.), p. 10.
- ↑ Eric Menge (July 2011). “Backdrop: Daggerdale”. Dungeon #192 (Wizards of the Coast) (192)..
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (April 2013). “Eye on the Realms: Barlar’s Bucket Helm”. In Steve Winter ed. Dragon #422 (Wizards of the Coast), p. 38.