Disease and Illness
31.1
There are 3 levels of illness between fully healthy and dead : minor, serious and terminal. An ill person has a chance each month of their condition improving or worsening one step depending on their circumstances. An improvement from minor illness leads to a recovery, while a worsening of a terminal illness leads to death. Illness may start at the minor or serious stage depending on the cause.31.2
If there is disease in Paris, all in the city have 3d6 rolled, and contract a minor illness if that number equals or exceeds their CON. Each whole month spent in foreign captivity or in a civil gaol gives a 1 in 6 chance of contracting a serious illness. A missionary who rolls his death roll exactly returns with a serious illness. A soldier who suffers an infected wound on campaign is treated as having a serious illness.31.3
Contracting a serious illness while already ill worsens it to a terminal one, unless already terminally ill, in which case death ensues.31.4
A minor illness has no effect other than the possibility of it worsening. Serious and terminal cases do not heal from wounds at all but may freely decline duels without penalty and are not subject to penalty for lack of FC. Serious and terminal illness also affects escape chances.31.41 A member of the military suffering from a serious or terminal illness does not have to do military duties. A member of the military suffering from a serious or terminal illness does not accompany his regiment on campaign nor may he volunteer. A spy suffering from a serious or terminal illness does not have to spend a week spying if in Paris.
31.5
Each month spent suffering from an illness gives a chance for getting better or worse. One die is rolled and on a 1 or 2 the illness gets worse by one step. The illness is reduced one step in severity on a 3-6 if the whole month is spent resting at the monastery, on a 4,5 or 6 if the whole month is spent resting (doing nothing) elsewhere, or otherwise on a 5 or 6.31.6
Resting can not be done at the front, on expedition or in gaol.31.7
The effects of contracting a second illness (30.3) and recovering/getting worse (30.5) are cumulative and simultaneous.