File: jayose/Jayose Library: Important Medical Facts.txt

by Raul Ursino

For the education and interests of the people of Yliakum, the following are important medical facts one should know. I shall begin with the typical lifespan, gestation period and most common diseases of all the races of Yliakum. It shall be noted that when referring to gestation periods, this rate is standard for the mother, not the child, regardless of the race the mother is bearing. For example, if a Lemur father and a Dermorian mother produce a child, the mother will stay pregnant for the term of a Dermorian’s pregnancy, whether the child is elf or Lemur.

While Ylians are a highly adaptable species, they are not blessed with as long a lifespan as most of the other races. The typical Ylian will live for about eighty years. Their gestation period is roughly nine months. Their most common disease is blackspot fever, an ailment characterized by black spots on the face and chest. While this disease is curable, most Ylians prefer to let the disease take its week-long course to build an immunity against future infections.

Xacha, having developed their mental capabilities at the expense of physical frailty, live slightly less long: about seventy years. The gestation period of a Xacha is equivalent to that of Ylians. I am most likely to need to heal a Xacha for cloudy eye, a treatable but inconvenient disease that comes on suddenly and impairs vision temporarily.

Elves are the longest-lived of all the species at two hundred years. However, with such a lifespan comes an increased gestation period. Dermorians can expect to stay pregnant for twenty four months. Dermorian youths (those under thirty years of age) often suffer from Dermorian measles, a relatively harmless disease when contracted in childhood, but possibly quite serious if an older elf is afflicted. Presently there is no known treatment but time and the body’s resiliency.

As previously stated, elves may live to be two hundred years old and the Nolthrir are no exception. Because of the ease of underwater childbirth, Nolthrir normally only gestate for eighteen months. Nolthrir who spend too much time swimming rapidly may develop an infection of the ear and suffer from impaired hearing. Affected Nolthrir are asked to spend time on land until the infection subsides.

Dwarves of both Hammerwielder and Stonebreaker clans are medically identical. Both live to be approximately one hundred sixty years old, and dwarven women will gestate for about twelve months. They are a hale and hardy species, but as they are hard workers they are likely to overexert themselves and develop joint strains, particularly in the wrist.

Krans are unique specimens. They typically live one hundred fifty years before they grow still and cease to function. They reproduce on their own, using a gemmation process that takes about ten days. In order to keep the Kran population in check, Krans will generally reproduce once, and never more than twice in their lifetime. Their most common ailment is internal erosion. The stomach of a Kran contains strong acids used to digest the sand and crystals they consume, and a buildup of this acid can erode other parts of the kran’s body. If diagnosed in time, it is nothing that an alchemical neutralizer and a few days of rest cannot fix.

The cold-blooded Klyros is shorter-lived than nearly all the other races, living a scant fifty years on average. Being a reptilian and oviparous (egg-laying) race, Klyros are unable to reproduce with any of the other species on Yliakum. After the egg is laid, it must incubate for forty-five days; the incubation is shared by both mother and father. Their most common ailment is wing spasm, in most cases brought on by exposure to strong winds. Wing spasm tends to keep a Klyros grounded for two weeks or more, for it is far too dangerous to glide while so afflicted.

Lemurs tend to live to about one hundred years of age. The female Lemur will be pregnant for about ten months. Having a steady diet of rich foods can often cause intestinal distress in the Lemur, and cause a disease that has become popularly known as Talad’s Revenge. The details of Talad’s Revenge are best left unwritten here.

Enkidukai live relatively short lives, only sixty years on average. However, their gestation rate is also shortened, spending only four months in pregnancy. They are also the most likely species to be born as twins, triplets or more. In terms of diseases, the recent plague in Ojaveda notwithstanding, it is a good possibility for an Enkidukai to suffer from an infestation of fur mites at least once in his or her lifetime, as their furry covering is a suitable habitat for such vermin.

Diaboli are the shortest-lived race of all. Diaboli live an average of but forty-five years although this number has been steadily increasing over the past few generations. History indicates that when first arriving in Yliakum, Diaboli would generally live only forty years, and fifty was unheard of, whereas now it is rare but possible. Combined with their short lifespan is an incredibly short gestation period of a mere two months. It is for these reasons that Diaboli tend to take multiple partners as well as prefer the company of the long-lived elves. The Diaboli’s diet of exotic foods from distant places (such as shellfish from the Great Lake imported to the upper levels) puts food poisoning from spoiled meats at the top of the list of Diaboli ailments.

Ynnwn are the only known half-breed race. Perhaps it is the will of the gods that a union between the shortest-lived race and the longest-lived one should not produce one or the other, as is the case with all other race pairings. Ynnwn live to be approximately one hundred twenty years of age, although this varies wildly. An Ynnwn is just as likely to die of old age at ninety as he or she is at one hundred fifty. The gestation rate for an Ynnwn is also varied and therefore not printed here; further, the Ynnwn’s racial makeup is such that it can only produce children with Ynnwn, Diaboli or elves. By far the most common malady affecting an Ynnwn is gold rash, caused by close contact with those who bear any precious metals.

And now, the 63 fundamental differences between eagles and megaras.

1. The smell.

 
(The book goes on like this and rapidly becomes illegible.)