Cinder Skin

With minerals in higher demand than ever before, mining is fast becoming the number one profession in the kingdom. As such, many standards that have protected the health and safety of workers in the past are shed. Cinder Skin is the result of the constant inhalation of mineral dust and direct skin contact with various mineral elements such as chromium, lead, nickel and sulfur. Such minerals can be toxic to the body, and can cause serious skin irritation and respiratory issues.

The condition begins with a faint, iridescent sheen on the skin, particularly on the arms and face. This shimmer, often dismissed as a trick of the light or a byproduct of the sooty air, is the first symptom. Slowly, painfully, this sheen deepens into a network of fine cracks across the skin as it flakes. This is the first symptom of Cinder Skin: a painful rash that makes the skin resemble charred wood or dark, flaky slate.   Sufferers report a constant, low-grade fever and a deep, bone-weary exhaustion. Symptoms often include muscle and joint pain, headaches, stomach cramps and breathing problems. They experience feverish dreams and their bodies feel heavy, as if made of metal.   Ultimately, the afflicted will be consumed by a kind of madness.   the common folk believe that the fire of the forges has somehow seeped into their very souls.

The painful rashes that develop on the surface of the skin will often get infected if they are agitated by incessant scratching. If the rashes are around the eyes, one may end up losing some or all of their sight. Issues in the lung or esophagus can result in death by asphyxiation.   Ultimately, the victim will be subject to a kind of madness brought on by their weakened condition and fevered mind.

There is a misconception among the common folk that too much time around a fire or forge can cause Cinder Skin, that the fire of the forges has seeped into their very souls.   Medical professionals understand that this affliction is brought on by regular exposure to minerals without adequate protection. However, as the demand for these minerals grows, the resilience of the Isturian miners continues to be tested by the rich and powerful magnates that profit off them.