Spellsick

Spellsick, or Spellsickness, is the condition where something or someone has consumed too much magiotrophic material.

Transmission / Vectors

Ingestion.

Cause

Due to the way in which magiotrophic species (those that consume magic as a primary means of nourishment) absorb or ingest magical energy an abundance of magically remains within the body. Species of flora and fauna which either primarily or secondarily nourish themselves on magic will suffuse that magic within their flesh. Leaves, stalks, scales, muscle, organs, etcetera are enriched with the magic to the point that even a magiotrophic species that ingests too much may become ill or conceivably die from too much. A non-magiotrophic species is often guaranteed death.

Symptoms

Devouring too much magiotrophic material often disrupts the body's own natural magical abilities. Spellcasting is either impossible or wildly unpredictable and often extremely dangerous both to anyone around and the caster. Abilities or spells may go off on their own at seeming random.

More physiological concerns include bloating, aching body/pain, chills, fever, hallucinations, constipation, and aphasia as the main symptoms.

Treatment

The main, immediate treatment is to get the one who ingested it to regurgitate the material as quickly as possible before it begins digesting further into the body.

Prognosis

If adequate treatment is provided in a timely manner and an excessive amount of enriched material is not ingested than a patient may be able to recover within a week. If a certain threshold is reached on material digested into the body, then death is nearly always the case.

Prevention

When preparing magiotrophic species for dining, whether flora or fauna, it is important to limit the portions and avoid certain parts of the species. This differs based on the species and is not a carefully studied area of academia. Some species of flora and fauna seem to have developed their own understanding of what can and cannot be eaten.

Those who choose to dine on magical beasts or plants do so at their own peril and should not trust any cook who says there is nothing to worry about.

Cultural Reception

There are some cultures where devouring enriched magiotrophic flesh is seen as a symbol of status or rite of passage.

For example, ogres or the jotun often seen the devouring of a winged dragon's heart and surviving it as a necessary rite of leadership when competency is in doubt. Needless to say, this is often a fatal rite and savvy leaders will do whatever they can to avoid it.