Diagnose Ailment (sage ability)

Identifies the nature and cause of disease or the presence of insidious poison inside the body by virtue of the subject's signs and symptoms.

When correct, the ability grants the character knowledge of what area of the body is being affected, the extent of damage or loss of attributes likely to occur and the chance that the condition is terminal. For terminal cases, the character can make an estimate of the time left to the patient, but of course cannot name the exact length of time the character has left. Take note that this diagnosis can include correctly describing ailments resulting from magical or supernatural causes.

The character can also suggest the correct solution to the condition suffered (what must be taken, what treatment must be given). Unfortunately, unless the character has other abilities, this is the extent of the aid they can give having diagnosed the ailment. Even if the medicant has the necessary herbs or drugs, knowledge of how these must be prepared will not be known to the character and thus administration of these drugs will not be effective.

Note: While an incorrect diagnosis made by the medicant might supply drama to the campaign, the difficulties in keeping track of incorrect diagnoses without a system for doing so (which I have not created at this time) does no substantially support this instance within the game. For simplicity's sake, at this time it will be presumed that the diagnosis made is correct (until such time as I choose to expand the game structure with regards to medical conditions).

See Medicine