BehindTheTables: DISEASES and HEALERS by lotrein and Orkish Blade (orkish.blade@gmail.com) Originally posted at www.reddit.

com/r/DnDBehindTheScreen

DISEASES: BRING OUT YOUR DEAD...

d12 This disease is spread by... d20 In rare cases, symptoms may include... MAGICAL MALADIES
1. Inhaling contaminated air. 1. Amnesia; partial or complete.
2. Drinking contaminated water. 2. Blindness or deafness. d20 The disease is associated with...
3. Consuming contaminated food. 3. Coma; short-term, long-term, or indefinite. 1. Belching up vermin.
4. Skin-to-skin contact. 4. Complete changes in personality. 2. Demonic or ghostly possession.
5. Saliva, sweat, mucus, and/or blood. 5. Concurrent vomiting and diarrhea. 3. The desire to consume humanoid flesh.
6. Sexual contact. 6. Coughing up blood. 4. The desire to consume rocks or dirt.
7. The bite of a fly or tick. 7. Delusions and paranoia. 5. The desire to consume pixies and sprites.
8. The bite of a rat or bat. 8. Extreme, persistent nausea. 6. The desire to dig a deep hole.
9. Nothing; it’s a genetic condition. 9. Fits of narcolepsy. 7. The desire to build an immense wall.
10. Nothing; it’s a chronic condition brought on 10. Hallucinations. 8. Gaining memories from a long-dead mage.
by lifestyle choices. 11. Insomnia. 9. Gradually morphing into a wild beast.
11. Mysterious, magic-related means. 12. Lengthy fits of high fever. 10. Gradually morphing into a puddle of ooze.
12. Unknown means. 13. Loss of muscle coordination. 11. Imitating the behavior of a common beast.
14. Paralysis; partial or complete. 12. Loss of the power of speech.
d8 Once exposed to the disease, a person 13. Periodic spells of befuddlement.
15. Periodic, temporary loss of consciousness.
develops symptoms... 14. Purple or green splotches on the skin.
16. Sleep walking.
1. Almost immediately (1-8 hours). 15. Rapid growth of facial hair.
17. Susceptibility to other illnesses.
2. Very rapidly (4-24 hours). 16. Rapid growth of fingernails or teeth.
18. Tumors or tumor-like growths.
3. Within a few days (1-4 days). 17. Rapid hair growth.
19. Wild mood swings.
4. In the next week (2-8 days). 18. Uncontrollable fits of laughter or tears.
20. Sudden aversion to one or more familiar
5. In the next few weeks (1-4 weeks). 19. Uncontrollable singing or dancing.
foods, individuals, or objects.
6. Some time in the next 2 months (2-8 20. Overactive libido.
weeks). d4 Symptoms are...
7. Some time in the next year; (2-12 months). 1. Acute and curable; once the afflicted is
8. Some time in the person’s life (2 to 40 yrs). cured, the symptoms never return. HEALERS
2. Acute but recurring; once the afflicted is
d10 This disease is most frequently d12 Profession: The healer is...
cured, symptoms may return later in life.
encountered in regions with... 1. A devoted acolyte.
3. Chronic but completely curable; once the
1. A warm climate. 6. A cold climate. 2. A skilled alchemist.
afflicted is cured, symptoms rarely return.
2. An arid climate. 7. A damp climate. 3. A religious fanatic.
4. Chronic but treatable; once the afflicted is
3. A mild climate. 8. Swamps or bogs. 4. A talkative herbalist.
cured, symptoms will likely reoccur every
4. A coastal climate. 9. Dense jungles. 5. A devout knight.
few years.
5. A temperate climate. 10. High altitude. 6. A soft-spoken monk.
d6 If untreated, the disease is... 7. An academy-trained physician.
d10 Common symptoms affect the...
1. Rarely serious; running its course in a few 8. A self-taught shaman.
1. Eyes (d8): 1. blurred vision; 2. light
days or weeks. 9. A medical scholar.
sensitivity; 3. puffiness; 4. poor night
2. Rarely lethal; fatal complications occur in 10. A practiced surgeon.
vision; 5. watery eyes; 6. yellow discharge;
less than 1% of cases. 11. A battle-tested warpriest.
7. double vision; 8. difficulty focusing.
3. Sometimes debilitating, but rarely lethal; 12. A quirky witch-doctor.
2. Brain (d8): 1. changes in mood; 2.
permanent disabilities occur in
dissociative fugues; 3. dizziness; 4. d10 Mannerism: The healer has...
approximately 10% of cases, and fatal
drowsiness; 5. headaches; 6. insomnia; 7. 1. A likable grin.
complications in less than 1% of cases
nightmares; 8. shortened attention span. 2. Kind eyes.
4. Sometimes lethal; fatal complications
3. Chest (d8): 1. chest pain; 2. congestion; 3. 3. Alert eyes.
occur in approximately 10% of cases.
coughing fits; 4. hives; 5. wheezing; 6. 4. A sympathetic smile.
5. Often debilitating, and sometimes lethal;
shortness of breath; 7. coughing up blood; 5. An arrogant smirk.
permanent disabilities occur in more than
8. tightness in chest. 6. A thoughtful frown.
50% of cases, and fatal complications in
4. Ears and throat (d8): 1. hearing loss; 2. 7. A humorless visage.
approximately 10% of cases.
difficulty swallowing; 3. excessive ear wax; 8. An easy laugh.
6. Often lethal; fatal complications occur in
4. sore throat; 5. swollen glands; 6. vertigo; 9. A habit of sighing.
more than 50% of cases.
7. bleeding from the ears; 8. loss of voice. 10. A habit of muttering to himself or herself.
5. Head and nose (d8): 1. dry scalp; 2. hair d8 The disease can be cured with...
d10 Possessions: The healer carries...
loss; 3. pimples; 4. sinus pressure; 5. 1. A simple herbal remedy.
1. A clean, sharp knife.
sneezing; 6. swollen cheeks; 7. runny 2. A complex herbal potion or salve.
2. A wooden staff.
nose; 8. bleeding from the nose. 3. A widely available healing potion or balm.
3. A sturdy cudgel.
6. Limbs (d8): 1. achiness; 2. joint pain; 3. 4. A rare alchemical concoction.
4. A needle, thread, and some healing balms.
muscle spasms; 4. restlessness; 5. stiff 5. No known earthly substances.
5. A pocketbook of sacred texts and prayers.
joints; 6. weakness; 7. bruising; 8. 6. Basic healing spells and incantations.
6. A notebook of hand-written potion recipes.
discoloration of the fingernails or toenails. 7. Advanced healing spells and potions.
7. A variety of healing potions and bandages.
7. Mouth (d8): 1. bleeding gums; 2. canker 8. Extremely powerful and rare magic.
8. Scales, glass vials, and delicate tools.
sores; 3. cracked lips; 4. dry mouth; 5.
d6 The time-course of treatment is... 9. A small field guide to diagnosing illnesses.
foamy, excessive salivation; 6. tooth pain;
1. Rapid; the afflicted is cured within 1 day. 10. A wineskin.
7. tooth discoloration; 8. tooth decay.
2. Short; the afflicted is cured within a few
8. Sex organs (d8): 1. loss of desire; 2. pale d10 Goal: The healer is looking for...
days of receiving treatment.
discharge; 3. inability to climax; 4. open 1. The translation of an ancient text.
3. Typical; the afflicted is cured within a few
sores; 5. pain during urination; 6. warts; 7. 2. Individuals in need of his or her services.
days of receiving treatment.
itchy bumps; 8. bloody discharge. 3. Someone to purchase a potion or two.
4. Lengthy; the afflicted is cured within a few
9. Skin (d8): 1. black or purple spots; 2. boils; 4. A dangerous substance for a potent elixir.
weeks of receiving treatment.
3. itchiness; 4. pale or yellow hue; 5. 5. A location where a rare herb grows.
5. Long-term; the afflicted is cured within a
peeling; 6. rash; 7. red spots; 8. scales. 6. Proof of a god’s existence.
few months of receiving treatment.
10. Stomach and gut (d8): 1. bloody stool; 2. 7. The recipe for a legendary potion.
6. Erratic; the time-course of treatment varies
constipation; 3. excessive flatulence; 4. 8. A chance to earn a little coin.
greatly among individuals or among
loose stool; 5. loss of appetite; 6. nausea 9. A chance to tell a tale of woe.
outbreaks of the disease.
and vomiting; 7. ulcers, 8. vomiting blood. 10. The bottom of a goblet.