Rockjoint (3.5e Disease)

Rockjoint (also known as clostridium tetani) is a terrible bacterial disease which tends to exist on rusted and oxygen-poor surfaces. Most get it by injuring themselves with a rusted implement. Initially, the victim takes 1d6 Dex damage each day and suffers from a +10% spell failure chance as they experience lockjaw. This adds to any spell failure they currently have and applies to all spells, not just arcane spellcasting.

The victim may have facial spasms, stiffness of the next, difficulty in swallowing, and rigidity of the pectoral and calf muscles. Temperature may also rise, with sweating, elevated blood pressure, and episodic rapid heart rate. Spasms occur often, lasting from several minutes to lasting up to 4 weeks. After failing the save three times, it moves onto stage 2.

The second stage has the victim suffer from severe episodes of opisthotonos, the arching of the back due to a state of hyperextension and spasticity of the head, neck, and spine. If the victim was not already paralyzed, they are considered to have a Dexterity of 1 regardless of their actual ability score, and randomly 1d6 times a day they enter states of opisthotonos, which last for 1d4 hours. They are paralyzed and helpless during these spasms, and their throats tighten rendering them unable to swallow or speak for the duration.

The disease usually does not progress beyond this point, but if the victim does not receive medical care, they may be unable to feed or care for themselves and die soon after.