He was gone for so long and in that mist. I can’t imagine what horrors he’s endured. Or the state of his mind. Poor bastard.|Doctor, remarking on the condition of Fergus the Mad
History
The Legend of the Orwalts is deeply ingrained in the region’s lore. The family was powerful and wealthy but lost everything, and nearly everyone, in The Cataclysm While an exact timeframe for when the appearance of the fog began is not recorded, it has been present long enough that the locals cannot remember when it was not a feature of curiosity.
But not all locals fear it. For example, many point out that animals do not seem to be affected by it. It appears that creatures and beings with higher intellects are the most affected, while farm animals are not. Most individuals are happy to let their animals stray into the area at night, grazing on the fertile lands of the valley, then retrieve them in the morning. They are unafraid of the animals being poached or stolen as the consequences to those who would act as a deterrent.
Many tales are used as cautions to young children not to go into the valley at night. The most prominent is Fergus the Mad, a trader who decided to try to enter the Oswalt Mausoleum under the cover of darkness. He entered the valley just as the fog rolled in and got lost as it thickened. He was in the fog for the night, a total of 8 hours. The effects of the fog lasted until the next evening, and he had not found his way out of the valley. This caused him to be enveloped by the fog for a second night. While getting a straight story out of Fergus is nearly impossible, he tells that he was lost in the valley for nearly two weeks in rare moments of lucidity. His madness is all-consuming, and he is currently housed in the Lawcrane Royal Infirmary. All manner of treatment has been tried, but none have had any effect. His most wild ranting (although he seems absolutely lucid in those moments) is that of a “sea elf” hiding in the mountains at the north end of the valley. However, these mountains are nearly two weeks’ trek from the ocean.
Causes
Unknown. But it is believed that the fog has a magical origin and that it is a warning sign to any who try to enter the mausoleum and crypts after dark. The mausoleum sits in the bottom of a depression in the land west of Tremer and the Aca Forest. At nightfall, the fog begins to creep in, low-lying and hugging the ground. However, due to the shape and depth of the depression in the surrounding land, the fog fills the area after a short time until the mausoleum itself is engulfed. From areas above the mausoleum’s elevation, all that can be seen of the area is the fog.
Epidimiology
Prevention
The simplest form of prevention is to avoid the fog. If, however, that is unavoidable, there are rumors that some doctors at the Lawcrane Royal Infirmary are working on a breathable gas created from the local fungi that may provide some measure of protection.
It must be pointed out that a small percentage of individuals (another 5%) seem to be immune to the effects. At this time, it is unknown why or how this comes to pass.
Prognosis
Symptoms
Transmissionvectors
A deep violet fog fills the valley near the Orwalt Mausoleum on a nightly basis. Those who enter this fog for more than a few minutes are reported to see strange apparitions and begin to feel a chill overcome them. The fog appears to be the only means of transmission of this malaise.