TEXT: Mess and Malnourishment
  Sea Rations and Sea Borne Illnesses  
  In The Forgotten Realms and Beyond
  
  Biscuits and Sickness
  Written by: B. Wraven Wright
  Scurvy, Editing and Proofreading: Niklaus Evron
  Historical Research and Analysis: Lisa Amy
  Cover Illustration: William Claez Heda
  Layout: Niklaus Evron
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  material is used with permission under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters 
  Guild. All other original material in this work is copyright 2019 by B. Wraven Wright and published 
  under the Community Content Agreement for Dungeon Masters Guild. Any similarity to actual people, 
  organizations, places, or events included herein is purely coincidental. 
  Still Life with Lobster (17th Centruy), by William Claez Heda and “Black Bart’s Flag” have been 
  identified as a public domain work of art, being free of known restrictions under copyright law, includ-
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  Purpose of This Supplement
       This supplement is meant to be used in 
  conjunction with the optional crew rules that are laid 
  out on page 196 of the Ghosts of Salt Marsh 
  hardback adventure and is meant to provide more 
  realistic mechanics in terms of the types of 
  malnourishment related diseases that can occur on 
  board ships during the normal course of sea travel. 
  We also wanted to provide an example of a sailor’s 
  allocated rations based on a British ration manifesto 
  from 1670. Although we’ve tailored some of the food 
  and the cycle of days to fit with sailing in the 
  Forgotten Realms, this inventory of rations can be 
  easily tailored to fit within the world that your 
  campaign takes place in.
  Magic
       In most campaigns, the use of magic or some 
  other situational solution that comes up in a fantasy 
  campaign usually solves the problem… or does it? 
  What happens when the wizard is slain? What if 
  magic doesn’t work in the world? What would the 
  crew face in a real situation, not unlike the ocean 
  going sailors in the late 17th century, where more 
  sailors died from the conditions of sailing as opposed 
  to naval combat?
  What Actually Happens Without Magic
       With no wizard or cleric to create food and water, 
  PC and NPCs alike are forced to preserve their food. 
  In preserved food there are no vitamins, so a variety 
  of nutritional diseases would be likely: lack of vitamin 
  B1 would cause beriberi; no vitamin B3 would cause 
  pellagra; and vitamin C, of course, scurvy.
  Nutritional Diseases
  We have provided a table of mechanical effects for the 
  crew and ship itself, but want to go into detail about 
  specific symptoms for purposes of possible effects 
  that the DM could inflict upon a PC or NPC. Please 
  note that these diseases are not mutually exclusive 
  and that their effects can be cumulative to crew and 
  ship saves. 
  Beriberi results when one doesn’t consume enough 
  Thiamine (B1). Thiamine can normally be found 
  in beef, liver, dried milk, nuts, oats, oranges, pork, 
  eggs, seeds, legumes, peas and yeast. Modern foods 
  that are also fortified with thiamine are rice, pasta, 
  breads, cereals and flour but for consideration would 
  not be in medieval times. Symptoms of Beriberi in-
  clude: Difficulty walking, loss of feeling (sensation) in 
  hands and feet, loss of muscle function or paralysis of 
  the lower legs, mental confusion/speech difficulties, 
  1
  rapid eye movements (nystagmus), strange, 
  increased heart rate and swelling of the lower legs.
  Pellagra occurs when one doesn’t get enough Niacin 
  (B3) in their diet. Most meats, fish, poultry, beans 
  and seeds are good sources of Niacin, but lose their 
  nutritional value during the preservation process.  
  Symptoms of Pellagra include sensitivity to sunlight, 
  dermatitis (characteristic “broad collar” rash known 
  as casal collar), hair loss, smooth, beefy red glossitis 
  (tongue inflammation), trouble sleeping, weakness, 
  mental confusion or aggression, ataxia (lack of 
  coordination), paralysis of extremities, peripheral 
  neuritis (nerve damage), diarrhea, dilated 
  cardiomyopathy (enlarged, weakened heart), and 
  dementia.
  Scurvy is what happens when one doesn’t supply 
  their body with enough Ascorbic Acid (C).  Most 
  peppers, vegetables in the cabbage family, peas, and 
  melons provide Vitamin C. Scurvy, like the other 
  diseases can be fatal, with a long list of symptoms 
  that normally preclude death. Symptoms include: 
  anemia, gingivitis, skin  hemorrhages, bruise-like 
  raised bumps at hair follicles, large areas of reddish-
  blue to black bruising, often on the legs and feet, 
  tooth decay, tender, swollen joints, shortness of 
  breath, chest pain, eye dryness, irritation and hem-
  orrhaging in the whites of the eyes (conjunctiva) or 
  optic nerve, reduced wound healing and immune 
  health, light sensitivity, blurred vision, 
  gastrointestinal bleeding,  and when left untreated, 
  can result in severe jaundice, hemolysis, fever, tooth 
  loss, internal hemorrhaging, neuropathy, convulsions, 
  organ failure, delirium, coma, and eventually death.
  
  2
  Malnourishment Diseases At Sea: Ship and Crew Effects
  Disease
  D4 Result
  Symptom
  Crew Quality or Ship Impact
  Stage 1
  Month 1
  Scurvy
  1
  Sun Light Sensitivity
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -1
  2
  Reduced Healing Speed
  -1 From Current Crew Quality Score
  3
  Irritabilty
  -1 From Current Crew Quality Score
  4
  Gingivitis
  -1 From Current Crew Quality Score
  Beriberi
  1
  Nystagmus
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -1
  2
  Tingling
  -1 From Current Crew Quality Score
  3
  Aches and Pain
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -1
  4
  Fingernails Turn Black
  -1 From Current Crew Quality Score
  Pellagra
  1
  Light sensitivity
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -1
  2
  Disentary
  -1 From Current Crew Quality Score
  3
  Hair Loss
  -1 From Current Crew Quality Score
  4
  Excessive Salivation
  -1 From Current Crew Quality Score
  Stage 2
  Month 2
  Scurvy
  1
  Tender, Swollen Joints
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -2
  2
  Tooth Decay
  -2 From Current Crew Quality Score
  3
  Blurred Vision
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -2
  4
  Reddish Brusing On Feet
  -2 From Current Crew Quality Score
  Beriberi
  1
  Difficulty Walking
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -2
  2
  Increased Heart Rate
  -2 From Current Crew Quality Score
  3
  Mental Confusion / Speech
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -2
  4
  Drooping Eyelids
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -2
  Pellagra
  1
  Demitius - Casal Collar
  -2 From Current Crew Quality Score
  2
  Backs of Hands Darken
  -2 From Current Crew Quality Score
  3
  Glossitius
  -2 From Current Crew Quality Score
  4
  Mental Confusion / Speech
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At -2
  Stage 3
  Month 3
  Scurvy
  1
  Jaundice
  -3 From Current Crew Quality Score
  2
  Delerium
  -3 From Current Crew Quality Score
  3
  Numbness In Hands
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At Disadvantage
  4
  Organ Failure
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At Disadvantage
  Beriberi
  1
  Swollen Legs
  -3 From Current Crew Quality Score
  2
  Shortness Of Breath
  -3 From Current Crew Quality Score
  3
  Vomiting
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At Disadvantage
  4
  Fluid In Lungs
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At Disadvantage
  Pellagra
  1
  Dementia
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At Disadvantage
  2
  Axtaxia
  -3 From Current Crew Quality Score
  3
  Enlarged Heart
  Ship Makes All Dex Checks At Disadvantage
  4
  Severe Derragement
  -3 From Current Crew Quality Score
  
  3
  Waterdeep Naval Quartermaster 10 Day Provisions Schedule cir. 1491 DR
  Provision
  Unit
  1
  2
  3
  4
  5
  6
  7
  8
  9
  10
  Total
  Total Units
  Sea Biscuit
  Pounds
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  10
  Pounds
  Ale
  Gallons
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  10
  Gallons
  or
  Wine
  Pints
  2
  2
  2
  2
  2
  2
  2
  2
  2
  2
  20
  Pints
  or
  Rum or Cherryfire
  Pints
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  5
  Pints
  Beef
  Pounds
  2
  2
  2
  6
  Pounds
  or
  Flour
  Pounds
  2
  2
  2
  6
  Pounds
  or
  Flour + Raisins
  Pounds
  1 1/2 + 1/2
  1 1/2 + 1/2
  1 1/2 + 1/2
  4 1/2 + 1 1/2
  Pounds
  or 
  Mutton
  Pounds
  1 1/2 + 1/2
  1 1/2 + 1/2
  1 1/2 + 1/2
  4 1/2 + 1 1/2
  Pounds
  or
  Flour + Pickled Beef
  Pounds
  1 1/2 + 1/4
  1 1/2 + 1/4
  1 1/2 + 1/4
  4 1/2 + 1 1/2
  Pounds
  Salted Boar Fry
  Pounds
  1
  1
  1
  3
  Pounds
  24 inch Jacksmelt
  Length
  1/8
  1/8
  1/8
  1/8
  1/8
  5/8
  Length
  or 
  Salted Eel
  Pounds
  1
  1
  1
  1
  1
  5
  Pounds
  or
  Oatcakes
  Pounds
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  1/2
  2 1/2
  Pounds
  Peas
  Pints
  1
  1
  1
  3
  Pints
  Butter
  Ounces
  2
  2
  2
  2
  2
  10
  Ounces
  or
  Olive Oil
  Pints
  1/8
  1/8
  1/8
  1/8
  1/8
  5/8
  Pints
  Waterdeep Arrow Shot Ounces
  5
  5
  5
  5
  5
  25
  Ounces
  or
  Arabellan Cheddar
  Ounces
  4
  4
  4
  4
  4
  20
  Ounces
  or
  Olive Oil
  Pints
  1/8
  1/8
  1/8
  1/8
  1/8
  5/8
  Pints
  
  Trail Rations (Hardtack)
  “Behold, wanton of adventurer of pen and paper! Feast your eyes on the victory meal that every adventurer 
  feasts upon after slaying that dragon, defeating that lich, or whatever far-fetched stlarning miracle thy Ed of the 
  Greenwood chapbook says…What? Aye… no roasted beasts, no sprawling plates of sweet and savory pies to stuff 
  yer mouth with, nor towering tankards of dark ale to slake thy victors thirst. That cup of water and that palm 
  sized square you can chip your tooth on... that’s what the seekers of power, wealth, and fame eat for most of their 
  lives…”
  -Elminster Aumar 
  Hard tack; 10cp/dozen
  Every major military force in history has used hardtack. When properly stored, it lasts for years and is an easily 
  portable source of calories when traversing any environ. Try re-hydrating with water, broth, or coffee prior to 
  eating. Hardtack can also be smashed added to soups or stews as a thickener.
  Hardtack
  Yield: 9 biscuits
  Prep Time: 15 minutes 
  Cook Time: 60 minutes 
  3 cups of white flour
  2 teaspoons of salt
  1 cup of water
  A common nail or assassin’s stiletto (wait for it)
  Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
  Mix the flour and salt together in a mixing bowl.
  Gradually mix in the water until you form a dough that does not stick to your hands. 
  Transfer dough to a lightly floured surface
  Note: this part is really important
  Use a rolling pin to flatten the dough into a square, ensuring the thickness is around half an inch. 
  Using a sharp knife, cut the dough into 9 squares.
  Using the nail, make a 4×4 grid of holes in each of the squares.
  Put all the pieces on an ungreased cookie sheet and bake them for 30 minutes.
  Take the squares out of the oven, turn them over and bake for another 30 minutes.
  Remove them from the oven and let them cool off. 
  19
  Mess and Malnourishment
  Sea Rations and Sea Borne Illnesses  
  In The Forgotten Realms and Beyond
  
SOURCE: textdata/thevault/Dungeons & Dragons [multi]/5th Edition (5e)/3rd Party/DMsGuild/Mess and Malnourishment Seabourne Illness and Naval Rations [5E].pdf