Names & Nicknames
Formal Name (used by scholars/historians): Implies something unnatural or alchemically tainted; "cerulean" refers to the rare, vivid blue coloring.
Common Names: Blue Plague, Blue Death, Blue Spots, etc.
Named for: The glowing cerulean veins visible under the skin.
Origins & Blame
Common belief: The Nexari mages of Wakova helped spread the Blue Plague.
Political fallout: Public backlash contributed to the push to overthrow the Nexari.
Religious interpretation: Some claim the plague is divine punishment—Marrah’s anger at Teno.
Propaganda: The Nexari were easily framed due to their secretive nature and refusal to admit their own deaths, to maintain an illusion of power and benevolence.
Conspiracy rumors:
Possibly created by scholars working for powerful factions (e.g., House Areyus).
The water supply in poor coastal towns may have been deliberately contaminated.
Targeting the impoverished may have been intentional, but it remains unproven.
Spread & Geography
Primary zones: Coastal areas, harbors, and seaside settlements hit hardest.
Initial outbreak areas: Not the docks (as expected), but the slums and impoverished districts of Eilaear.
Historical pattern:
The original outbreak may have lasted a decade.
Smaller resurgences have occurred for centuries.
Continues to influence history, policy, and fear.
Current situation:
A new wave is emerging in Wakova.
The Ascendency's response: mass incineration.
Official silence adds to the uncertainty and fear.
Symptoms & Carriers
Symptoms:
Deep blue skin lesions.
Glowing cerulean veins.
Victims wander in a daze, clutching old belongings or retracing familiar paths.
Seem docile at first, but turn aggressive if restrained or denied.
May beg for help, whisper names, or show glimpses of former self.
Carriers:
Elves might be asymptomatic carriers—complicating moral decisions (e.g., NPCs like Ael).
Treatment & Response
Magic:
Ineffective in curing the plague.
Some shielding spells (e.g., Mage Armor) help avoid direct contact.
Use of telekinesis, Mage Hand, or familiars to maintain distance.
Alchemy:
Only viable method of prevention or cure.
Alchemical herbs used in plague masks to filter air.
Rare cures exist but are controlled by secretive individuals or groups.
Cost of a cure:
Reserved for the wealthy or powerful.
Payment may include:
Noble estate collateral.
Lifelong service to orders like the Order of Teno.
Extreme or personal sacrifices.
Social & Economic Impact
Alchemical industry:
Suppressed or persecuted along with arcane practices.
Even if legal, it’s gutted by fear and regulation.
Demand: High for alchemical knowledge, especially as magical healing proves useless.
Plague scholars: Some alchemists capture infected for study—both controversial and secretive.
Mystery & Uncertainty
True origin: Unknown.
Possibly mutated or spread beyond intended scope.
Unclear whether it was created, released, or evolved naturally.
Fear and paranoia: Spread through society due to lack of clear answers.
Formal Name (used by scholars/historians): Implies something unnatural or alchemically tainted; "cerulean" refers to the rare, vivid blue coloring.
Common Names: Blue Plague, Blue Death, Blue Spots, etc.
Named for: The glowing cerulean veins visible under the skin.
Origins & Blame
Common belief: The Nexari mages of Wakova helped spread the Blue Plague.
Political fallout: Public backlash contributed to the push to overthrow the Nexari.
Religious interpretation: Some claim the plague is divine punishment—Marrah’s anger at Teno.
Propaganda: The Nexari were easily framed due to their secretive nature and refusal to admit their own deaths, to maintain an illusion of power and benevolence.
Conspiracy rumors:
Possibly created by scholars working for powerful factions (e.g., House Areyus).
The water supply in poor coastal towns may have been deliberately contaminated.
Targeting the impoverished may have been intentional, but it remains unproven.
Spread & Geography
Primary zones: Coastal areas, harbors, and seaside settlements hit hardest.
Initial outbreak areas: Not the docks (as expected), but the slums and impoverished districts of Eilaear.
Historical pattern:
The original outbreak may have lasted a decade.
Smaller resurgences have occurred for centuries.
Continues to influence history, policy, and fear.
Current situation:
A new wave is emerging in Wakova.
The Ascendency's response: mass incineration.
Official silence adds to the uncertainty and fear.
Symptoms & Carriers
Symptoms:
Deep blue skin lesions.
Glowing cerulean veins.
Victims wander in a daze, clutching old belongings or retracing familiar paths.
Seem docile at first, but turn aggressive if restrained or denied.
May beg for help, whisper names, or show glimpses of former self.
Carriers:
Elves might be asymptomatic carriers—complicating moral decisions (e.g., NPCs like Ael).
Treatment & Response
Magic:
Ineffective in curing the plague.
Some shielding spells (e.g., Mage Armor) help avoid direct contact.
Use of telekinesis, Mage Hand, or familiars to maintain distance.
Alchemy:
Only viable method of prevention or cure.
Alchemical herbs used in plague masks to filter air.
Rare cures exist but are controlled by secretive individuals or groups.
Cost of a cure:
Reserved for the wealthy or powerful.
Payment may include:
Noble estate collateral.
Lifelong service to orders like the Order of Teno.
Extreme or personal sacrifices.
Social & Economic Impact
Alchemical industry:
Suppressed or persecuted along with arcane practices.
Even if legal, it’s gutted by fear and regulation.
Demand: High for alchemical knowledge, especially as magical healing proves useless.
Plague scholars: Some alchemists capture infected for study—both controversial and secretive.
Mystery & Uncertainty
True origin: Unknown.
Possibly mutated or spread beyond intended scope.
Unclear whether it was created, released, or evolved naturally.
Fear and paranoia: Spread through society due to lack of clear answers.