What is a winter campaign without some frostbite? Or a curse that makes you a bit merry –maybe more than a bit merry. Share the gift of these winter ailments and your players will surely appreciate the gesture.
You can add the Frostbite Plague to a boss and turn that victory trip home into a whole new nightmare. Discovering the origins of the plague could lead to a cure and its permanent eradication, saving future towns.
The Jovial Curse is perfect for a whimsical mystery illness that has stricken a small town in need of help. It could be used by a swindler who visits towns to relieve them of their valuables and move onto the next victims.
Frostbite Plague
The Frostbite Plague is a rare and highly contagious disease that slowly turns the skin of its victims into ice. It is said to originate from the frozen tundras of the north, where it has plagued the native populations for centuries. Unknown to most, an arcane mishap created the original plague, permanently scarring the land with veins of purple and red far beneath the ice and permafrost.
Some rare individuals have been known to survive the Frostbite Plague, their bodies adapting to the icy transformation. However, most who contract the disease are quarantined and left to succumb to its icy embrace. The Frostbite Plague can be devastating to a community if not handled quickly.
Frostbite Plague is spread through close contact with infected creatures, and there is no known cure. The incubation period for the disease is 1d12 days. When the infected creature finishes a long rest, it must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or take 1d4 cold damage and the disease progresses to the next stage. On a successful save, it reduces the stage of the disease by 1. If the infected creature is at stage 1 and succeeds on the saving throw, they are cured of the disease. If the infected creature rolled a 20 on the die, it gains resistance to cold damage. Each stage of the disease increases the damage by an additional 1d4 cold damage beyond the first stage.
Stage 1. The infected creature begins to feel a strong aversion to heat and a craving for the cold.
Stage 2. The infected creature’s skin takes on a bluish tinge and becomes cold and clammy to the touch.
Stage 3. The infected creature’s skin turns to ice and becomes brittle and prone to cracking and breaking, making it vulnerable to piercing damage.
Stage 4. The infected creature’s body is completely transformed into ice, and they become vulnerable to shattering if subjected to significant physical trauma.
Jovial Curse
The Jovial Curse is a magical affliction that fills its victims with an overwhelming desire to spread joy and cheer. The curse is transmitted through contact with a cursed object that has been touched by a shnoggle.
The effects of the curse include causing the cursed creature to become irresistibly jolly, constantly seeking out opportunities to give gifts and make others happy. The cursed creature becomes fixated on gift giving and may neglect its other responsibilities and duties. It may give away valuable possessions or resources in its pursuit of spreading joy. In addition, the cursed creature may become careless and prone to accidents as it goes about its jolly tasks, putting itself and those around it at risk.
The curse lasts for a period of one month, after which it wears off on its own. It can also be removed by a remove curse spell or similar magic.
The origin of the Jovial Curse is unknown, but it is rumored to be the work of a mischievous fey. The consequences of the curse vary, depending on the victim’s circumstances and the extent to which they are affected by the curse’s negative effects.
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