DiseasesinW arhammerFantasyRoleplay

ByM ichaelA nderson

Forreasonsoflengthwehadtocutsomepartsofthediseasearticlethatappearsin
CorruptingInfluence.Theseincludedanumberofdiseasesandsomeherbsusedfor
curingdiseases.Wepresentthemallhere.

A lzheimer's(SenileDementia)
Description:Degenerativediseasecausingcelllossinthebrain.Itisoftenaninherited
disease.Thediseasestartsataround4065yearsforHumans,andalsoinlatestagesof
lifeforDwarfsandHalflings.Thediseasegraduallygetsworse,anddeathiscausedafter
someyearsofspirallingmentalhealth.ThemainsymptomisDementia.Thismanifests
itselffirstasagrowingrestlessnessandeventuallyastotalDementia,leavingtheperson
helpless.
Thediseasedoesnotcontaminatelikeotherdiseases.Alzheimer'sitselfisn'tknownin
theWarhammerworlditisonlyviewedasasetofsymptomscharacteristicofoldage.
Treatment:Nil
Last:d6+4years(untildeath)
Gameeffect:ThecharactersuffersfromDementia(seeWFRPrulebookpg.84),which
developsgradually.Inthebeginningthepersonisrestless(takeWPtestsonlyifthe
characteristictestisfailed).Then,Dementiapropersetsin,untileventuallytheperson
becomestotallydemented,permanentlysufferingtheeffectsdescribed.Additionally,d10
randomskillswillbelostwhilstthediseasedevelops.
ElvesarethemselvesimmunetothisdiseaseitisnormalforElvestoforgetthingsfrom
earlierintheirlife(ANpg54).Dwarfscangetthediseaseintheagesbetween121170
years,andHalflingsbetween61100years.
DeathRate:100%

A nthrax
I ncubation:AcuteimmediateSubacuteD3+1days
Description:Contagiousepidemicdiseaseofwarmbloodedanimals.Iscontracted
eitherthroughcutsorabrasionsbythosewhohandlecarcassesorhidesofinfected
animals.Itcanalsobecontractedthroughthelungsbyanimalhairandwool.The
symptomsarefever,prostration,andmalignantpustulesonexposedskinareas.
Treatment:CureDiseasereducesthechanceofdeathby5%.
Last:D3+3days
Gameeffect:Normalfever,andpusoozingpustules.SurvivorssufferFel10dueto
scarring.
DeathRate:20%Acute,15%Subacute.

A phonia
Description:Lackofspeechbecauseofdiseaseinthelarynx.Aphoniaisactuallycaused
byotherdiseaseslikecolds,Influenza,andthemoreserious(butunknown)cancerof
theLarynx.ColdscauseAphoniaforadayortwo,ofteninmildcasesastemporarily
diminution.Aphoniacausedbycancerisgainedfromcombinedheavytobaccoand
alcoholuse.Sincecancerisn'tknown,Aphoniaisviewedasa"standalone"disease.
Treatment:Partialortotalsurgicalremovalofthelarynxpreventsthespreadofthe
disease.Thismakesthecharactermute,butinsomecases(25%chance)thecharacter
mighteventuallylearn(thesethingstakestime)tospeakwithoutthelarynx.Thisisdone
throughswallowingairandbringingitupagain(speakingwiththe"stomach").Thisisa
tiringtask,andthecharacterwillquicklygetexhaustedbylongconversations.When
casuedbyacoldthesypthomsjustneedtimetoheal,duringwhichtimethepatient
shouldavoidtryingtospeak,andkeepwarm.
Last:Colds&Influenza:d31days(lessthan1meansahalfday).Cancer:permanent
Gameeffect:Thecharacterisunabletospeakfortheperiodofthedisease(magic
wieldingcharacterscan'tspeakouttheirmagicrituals,andarethusunabletocast
spellssamegoesformagicartifactsrequiringtriggerwords).

Bronchitis
Description:Acuteandchroniccatarrhinthewindpipecausedbyinfection.Theacute
versioniscausedbybacteriainfection,whilethechronicversioniscausedbyirritations
inthewindpipe,suchassmoking.Thediseasecausesbreathingproblems.
Treatment:Acute:lotsofliquids,preferablywarm.Chronic:Asacute,andremove
irritant.
Last:Acute=D3daysChronic=2d10months
Gameeffect:PneumoniaismorefrequentinBronchitispatientstoindicatethis,the
sickcharacterhasa10modifiertodiseasetestsvs.Pneumonia.CharacterswithChronic
BronchitisgetsM1,T1after3months.
Follow up:Acute:25%Pneumonia,10%MildFeverChronic:Heartproblems,50%
Pneumonia,20%MildFever.

DengueFever
Description:Denguefeveriscausedbyanyoffourdifferentviruses,andcanbe
transmittedfromonepersontoanotherbythefemalemosquito.Outbreaksofthe
diseaseusuallyoccurinthesummerwhenthemosquitopopulationisatitspeak.The
infectioncannotbetransmitteddirectlyfrompersontoperson,andnotallpeoplewho
arebittennecessarilycontractthedisease.
I ncubation:D4+4days
Treatment:Nil
Last:D6+2days
Gameeffect:Thecharactersuffersfrommildfeverduringtheperiodofthedisease.

Epilepsy
Description:Chronicbraindisordercausedbyunderlyingbraindamage,characterised
byrepeatedconvulsionsorseizures.Seizuresdifferwiththetypeofepilepsyandmay
resultinlossofconsciousness,convulsivejerkingofpartsofthebody,emotional
explosions,orconfusion.Canbecausedfromaninjurytothebrainatbirthora
disturbanceinthebrainlaterinlife.
Last:Permanent.
Gameeffect:Thecharacterbecomessubjecttoseizures.

GallopingConsumption
I ncubation:1d3+4days
Treatment:MedicinesuccessfuluseofCureDiseaseskill
Last:Untilcured
Follow up:15%VonAddison'sdisease
DeathRate:Coveredbygameeffects.
Gameeffect:EveryweekafterthediseaseisacquiredaToughnesstestismade,witha
onepointpenaltyforeachweekwhichhaspassedsincethediseasetookeffect.Thefirst
failedtestleadstoaonepointdropinMandS,anda5%penaltyonallpercentage
characteristics.ThesecondfailedtestgivesaonepointpenaltytoTandA,andafurther
5%topercentagecharacteristics.Thethirdtestislikethefirst,thefourth,likethe
second,andsoon,alternatingbetweeneffects.WhenSorTreaches0,thecharacter
dies.Ifcured,thevictimwillneedtospendtwiceaslongrecoveringastheyspent
sufferingfromit.Onlyhalfofthelostcharacteristicswillberecovered(roundingdown),
andthesewillberegainedataquarteroftheratetheywerelost.

GreyCataract
Description:Indistinctnessofvision.Inrarecircumstancesitisinherited,butismostly
asymptomofage.Itcan,however,alsobetheeffectofeyeinjurieswithpointed
objects.Glasseshavenoeffectonthesightinthiscase,andthediseasecan'tbetreated
orprevented.
Treatment:Surgery,failureindicatesthattheillnesscouldn'tbecured(nofurther
attemptswillworkasthelenshasbeenforceddownintheeye,greycataractspersist).
Failureby30+meansdevastatingeffectcausingpermanentblindness.
Last:Permanent,unlesscured.
Gameeffect:GMshouldgivemodifierstoallsightbasedskills.Theseshouldbeupto
30%,unlessthetestisbasedonBS,inwhichcaethecharacteristicscoreshouldbe
replacedbyaquarter.

Lycantrophy
Description:Lycantrophyisadiseasewhichcontaminatesinmuchthesamewayas
Rabies,andcanbecaughtfromthebiteofalycanthrope.Treatthebiteascausing
infectedwoundswhich,ifnottreatedimmediately,leadtolycanthropy.Thediseases
enablestheafflictedpersontochangeintoawerecreature(seeWFRPpg.247).
WerecreaturesareconsideredoutlawedcreaturesexceptinNorsca.
I ncubation:1d3+3days
Treatment:Nocureisknown.(Althoughsomemightsaycoldsteel)
Last:Permanent
Gameeffect:ThecontaminatedcharacterbecomessubjecttoFrenzy.Whileinfrenzy
thecharactermustpassaWPtesteachround,orturnintohiswereform.Whenthe
frenzysubsidestheymustpassaWPtesttorevertintohumanform.Different
lycantrophicformsexist:80%ofallcasesarewerewolves,butWereboars,Werebears
andWerecatsalsoexist.

M utations
Description:InmanyareasoftheOldWorld,mutationisconsideredadisease.Ifitis,
noeffectivecureisknown.Mutationscanbecausedbyexposuretowarpstone,andmay
evenlieinactiveinthebodyandinsteadmutatetheperson'schildren.Mutationscanbe
inherited(anewbornchildgainshalfhisparents'combinedCorruptionscores,forthose
with"TheBookoftheRat"(ReviewedinIssueThree).Othermutationscanbeimposed
byChaosGodsbothaspunishmentsandrewards.Alotofchaoticbeastscancause
mutationsthroughinfection.
I ncubation:Various
Treatment:Curesusuallyinvolvequicklyseveringthemutatedpart(atleast).Thereis
thenan80%chance(at5foreveryhourafterthemutationtookeffect)thatthiswill
haltthespreadofmutation.CureDiseasecannotbeusedtotreatmutations.The
renegadeChaosGodZuvassinisabletocurehisworshippersforbothwarpstone
corruptionandmutationsLookinSRiKforfurtherdetails.OtherGodscanalsodothis,
butrarelychoosetodoso.
Last:Usuallypermanent
Gameeffect:MutationscanbefoundintheRealmsofChaosvolumes,variousissuesof
WD,TEW,orWFBsourcebooks.

M alaria
Description:Coldfeverorswampfever.Agroupofinfectiondiseasescharacterisedby
frequentlyreturningcoldshivers,followedbyhighfevers.Thediseaseiscausedbythe
malariaparasite,abloodparasiteofthesporozoansclass.Thediseaseisnotcontracted
bycontactwiththesick,butbybitesfromthefemalemosquito.Aftersometime,the
attackedredbloodcellsdieandthevirusspreadstoattacknewcells.Coldshiversand
feversarecausedbecauseofthelossinredbloodcells.Thebodytemperaturewill
suddenlyriseto4041degreesandfallsagainaftersomehours.Thediseaseismostly
knowninthetropicalareas,butitisalsoknowntoinfectinotherareasaswell.
I ncubation:1d6+4days
Last:Usuallyforlife.Canliedormantuntiltimesofbadhealthorstress.
Treatment:ExtractfrombarkoftheCinchonatree,knownasQuinine.Quinine,amild
toxic,requiresManufacturedrugtomake/prepare.
Gameeffect:Whenthebodytemperaturerises,thecharacterwillsufferaheavyfever
everyd3+1days.AplayerwithMalariaisunabletodoanythingduringthefevers.
Follow up:ThediseasemayleadtoJaundice.
DeathRate:Normally20%,however,themoreviolentMalariaattackknownas"Jungle
Fever"hasa70%ofcausingacomaandthenadeathrateof85%.

N urgle'sRot
Description:Nurgle'sRot,orTheRot,isastrangedisease.Itseekstoturnitsvictims
intooneofNurgle'splaguebearingDaemons.Unfortunately,themortalformcannottake
thistorturousmetamorphous,andmusteventuallyperishunderthestrain.Only
ChampionsandBeastmenofNurgleareimmunetoitseffectstheseserveonlyas
carriers.Itcanbecontractedfromcontactwithabearer'spus/slimeorblood,orbysome
magicalmeansgrantedbyNurgle.
I ncubation:1d6+2days
Treatment:ThereisnoknowncureforNurgle'sRot
Last:8months
Gameeffect:Victimsgraduallymutateuntiltheircharacteristicisidenticaltothoseofa
PlagueBearer,attherateof1or10points(asappropriatefortheaffected
characteristic)permonth.Selectaffectedcharacteristicrandomlyeachgamemonth.
Follow up:variousdiseases.AsoneofNurgle'splaguebearers,thecharacterbecomes
muchmoreexposedtodiseases,butcanalsosurvivethem.
DeathRate:100%

P oliomyelitis(P olio)
Description:Acuteviralinfectionthat,initssevereform,invadesthenervoussystem
andcausesparalysis.Initsmildformthediseaseproduceslessersymptoms(e.g.,low
gradefever,malaise.)Alsoknownasinfantileparalysis,itisfoundworldwide,occurring
mainlyinchildren.Thesymptomsarefatigue,fever,vomiting,constipationandstiffness
oftheneck.Cancausepermanentparalysis
I ncubation:3d4days
Treatment:Moistheatcoupledwithphysicaltherapytostimulatemusclesbackto
healthagain(CureDiseasetestwitha20%penalty).
Gameeffect:1%chanceofparalysis.Ifthecharacterisparalysed,thereisa15%
chancethatnervecellsintherespiratorycentresaredestroyed,whichcausesdeath.
DeathRate:seegameeffects

TombRot
Description:AdiseaseoftencarriedbyUndeadandscavengers(vultures,etc.).
I ncubation:1d6+1days
Treatment:CureDiseaseskill
Last:untilcured
Gameeffect:AnycharacterwhoiswoundedbyacreaturecarryingthediseaseTomb
Rotmustmakeadiseasetestafterthefight,witha5%modifierforeachwoundpoint
lostinthefighting.Ifthetestisfailed,thecharacterisinfectedbytherot,andmust
makeasimilartesteverydayorlose1pointfromTand10%fromdexterityand
Fellowship.Characteristicpointsarelostpermanently.TombRotcanbecontracted
severaltimes,asitisn'tpossibletogainimmunity.

Typhus,RedP ox(Febristyphoid)
Description:AcuteinfectioncausedbythebacteriaSalmonellaTyphi.Thesediseases
onlycontaminatebycontactwithapersonwhoiscurrentlyafflictedorwhoisacarrier.
Symptomsarehighfevers,headaches,diarrhoea,physicalweakness,andredblotches
onthebody.ThediseaseisoftencomplicatedbyPneumonia.
I ncubation:
RedPox:Incubationtime1d10days
Typhus:Incubationtime2d4daysonaresultof8,1d121daysshouldbeadded.
Treatment:TheSpeckledRustwortherb,andsuccessfuluseofCureillness.
Last:2d10days
Follow up:40%Pneumonia
DeathRate:20%
Gameeffect:Duringthedisease,charactersdeduct1pointfromSandT,10fromWP,
and20fromLd,ClandFel.TheFellossispermanent,andiscausedbyscarsandblotchy
skin.Testsagainstthediseasearemadeat10%.

VonA ddison'sDisease
Description:Achronicdiseaseinwhichthebrownpigmentoftheskinfailsinexposed
areas.Thediseasecausesphysicalandpsychologicalweakness,eatingtroubles,low
bloodpressure,anddisturbanceinthemetabolism.Ittypicallyfollowsonfrom
Tuberculosis,severeinfection,oraftersurgeryaffectingtheglands.
I ncubation:1d3+2days
Treatment:Dietandsalt(butstillhardtocure).CureDiseaseat20.
Last:Untilcured
Gameeffect:Thecharactersuffersfromdepression(WFRPpg.86),weightloss,
Weakness,andFel5,Int10,Cl10&WP10duringthediseaseperiod.
DeathRate:10%

Toothache
Description:OnlyafewpeopleintheWarhammerworldlookaftertheirteeth,and
manypeopleareinpermanentpain.Whenatoothacheisacquired,thepainissostrong
thatthetoothwillhavetoberemoved.Thiscanmakeeventhebravestwarriorbehave
likealittlefrightenedchild.Wearetalkingaboutpainwhichmakesithardforthe
charactertodoanything.
Treatment:Removalnoskillrequired.
Gameeffect:Whenapersonhasseveralmissingteeth(orsomeofthefrontteeth),the
GMshouldimposeminorFelmodifierswhenthecharactertriestocommunicate
(especiallysmiling).Furthermore,untreatedtoothacheswillimposemodifiersofupto
20%onsituationsneedingconcentration.

N EW HERBS

Cochlearia(ShallyaRose)
Standingfifteentothirtycentimetreshigh,theplanthasarosetteoflongstalked,almost
circularleaves.Itsflowersarewhiteandpleasantlyfragrant.Thecommonname
ShallyaRoseisderivedfromthestoriesofKlaustistis,famousforsailingtheworld.
LegendhasitthatShallyagiftedtherosetohimafterhewasshipwrecked,andwascast
ashoreillanddying.Herecovered,eventuallyescapinghisislandexilewithagroupof
pirates.
Availability:Common,LateSpringtoearlyautumn,meadowsnearbeaches
Price:5/to1GC
Application:Ingest
Preparation:None
Dosage:Twiceaday
Skills:Curedisease
Tests:None
Effects:Typically,theplantgrowsnearbeachesandcanbeusedasapreventative
againstScurvy.Theherbmustbeadministeredtothepatienttwiceadayforonetotwo
weeks.Thisgives+20toCureDiseaseagainstscurvy.(Citrusfruitshavethesame
effect.)

Fieberhitzen
Alightbrownfungigrowinginshadowyanddampplaces.Itissaidtobeusedbythe
Fimir,buttowhatendisunclear.CertainlythetalesofDwarfsusingitintheirbeer
makingprocessesarefalse.
Availability:Scarce,spring,summer,andautumn.Denseplantedmarsh,bogorswamp.
Price:2GCand20GC
Application:Brew
Preparation:2weeks
Dosage:1day
Skills:Curedisease
Tests:Intelligence
Effects:TheFungiitselfispoisonousinlargequantities,butthepreparedbrewisableto
minimisetheeffectoffevers.Allfevermodifiersarereducedby1or10points,as
appropriate.Thebrewisnotcumulative,anddeathcanbecausedfromheavy
overdosing.Thebrewonlyworksforoneday.

StellariaM edia(Feverfoil)
Famedforitswhiteflowers,thisisoneofthemostcommonplantsinTheEmpire.It
standstwotofourcentimetrestallandhasbeenpopularwithherbalistsandhealers
sincebeforethetimeofSigmar.Itiswidely,andfalsely,believedtobeabletoease
fever.
Availability:Common,almostwholeyear.Meadows.
Price:5/GCand1GC
Application:
Rash:Smear
Eyeinfections:Smear(eyedropping)
Lungtuberculosis:Inhale.
Preparation:2days,Inhaling:1day
Dosage:Onceeachday
Skills:Curedisease
Tests:Intelligence
Effects:Thisherbhasmultipleuses.Thefirsttemporarilyhealsrashesontheskin
throughbandagingwiththeherb.Thesecondusestheplant'sjuicestotreateye
infections.Italsoeaseslungtuberculosis(buthasnoeffectonGallopingConsumption).
Successfuluseoftheherbonapatientwithplaintuberculosisexpandsthediseasetests
requiredtoeverythirdmonth.

Liverw ort
Asmall,flowerless,primitive,mosslike,greenlandplantcharacterisedbyhorizontal
growth.Itsabilitytoeasekidneycomplaintshaslongbeenknown,andhasbeen
enshrinedinitsname.
Availability:Scarce.Usuallyfoundgrowinginmoistplacesallyearround.
Price:2GCs
Application:Brew
Preparation:4weeks
Dosage:3days
Skills:CureDisease
Tests:None
Effects:Adds+20toallCureDiseaserollsagainstdiseaseseffectingtheliver.

Hysspous(Bauchbaum)
"Hysspousinhisstew,likethewindheflew."Sogoesthe(ratherpoor)translationofa
linefromaTileanrhyme.Neverthelessitencompassesthetwowidelyknownusesofthe
herb:asaspiceandasalaxative.Itisatreelikeherbfoundintheareasaroundthe
SouthernandtheTileanseas.Itsleavesareshiny,andwhenitflowers,itdoessowitha
beautifulblueflower.
Availability:Common,LateSpringtolatesummer.Lightwoodsandmeadowsinthe
southernOldWorld.
Price:15/and5GC
Application:
Stomachdiseases:Ingest
Infection:Smear
Preparation:1week
Dosage:Twiceeachday
Skills:Curedisease
Tests:Intelligence
Effects:Itisusedasamedicalcureagainststomachdiseases(includingbowelworms)
andinfections.Itdoesactalaxative,butonlywhenusedinheavydoses.Asadried
spice,theherbcountsasbeingunprepared(ofcourseitdoesn'trequireCureDisease
skilltouseitasaspice)andonlyhasaminorcurativeeffect.Asacureagainst
infections,thisherbgivesa+5bonustoToughnesstestswhendeterminingifwounds
arelostpermanently.

Verbena
Oftenmistakenformanyofitssimilarlooking(andmorecommon)cousins,Verbena
growsuptothreefoothighplant,coveredinsummerwithsmallbluelilacflowers.Itis
typicallyfoundaroundthelesswelltravelledroadsandvillagesofTheOldWorld.
Availability:Rare,summer.
Price:3GCand20GC
Application:
Stomachdiseases:Ingest
Infection:Smear
Preparation:1week
Dosage:Onceeachday
Skills:Curedisease
Tests:Int
Effects:TheherbisusedasauniversalmedicineagainstJaundice,menstruation
problemsandScabies.