Table 8: Disease Check Modifiers

+1	Opened a sealed coffin or sarcophagus
+2	Searched a decomposed corpse
+2	Hazard is located in a moist environment
+2	Retained clothes after emerging from hazard
–4	Waited for fresh air to circulate in hazard
–2	Wrapped cloth around mouth and nose
–2	Hands and feet covered with gloves and boots
–4	Bathed after emergence from disease hazard

The full course of the disease may last from 5–20 days, during which time, the character may become incapacitated. Each day the illness progresses, the character (temporarily) loses 1 point from one (or more) ability score. Either choose or roll 1d6: 1) Str, 2) Int, 3) Wis, 4) Dex, 5) Con, 6) Cha. When one of the scores drops below 3, the character has been effectively incapacitated. After the disease has run its course, lost points are regained at a rate of 1 point for every 2–5 days.

Unless you are in a punishing mood, don’t inflict fatal diseases on your players. It is far more interesting (and character building) for them to suffer strange permanent handicaps as a result of their affliction (as listed on Table 7), or to incur a permanent one-point loss in an ability score.

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