Radiation Sickness

Radiation can be naturally or artificially produced. All stars produce radiation in some variety, and planets closer to these stars typically suffer more severe effects than worlds farther away. Many starships and other pieces of technology incorporate radioactive parts and fuel cells that can flood an area with harmful radiation when ruptured or exposed. Ancient alien civilizations might leave behind powerful artifacts that emit harmful radiation. Whether the source of the radiation is natural or artificial, any character in an environment rich with radiation may suffer some negative effects for exposure.

When characters are exposed to radiation, they may be afflicted with radiation sickness. Radiation sickness functions exactly like exposure to any other disease, following the normal rules for diseases. The Fortitude save DC and the effects of radiation sickness vary with the dose of radiation to which a creature is exposed. Radiation exposure has five degrees: mild, low, moderate, high, and severe. To determine the degree of exposure, start with the type of exposure: either an irradiated area (such as the area near a nuclear explosion, after the fact, or a lab that has been flooded with radioactive gas), or a specific source of radiation (such as a lump of radioactive material). Then consult Table: Radiation Exposure to determine the degree of exposure based on the total time of exposure within a given 24-hour period (rounding up).

Table: Radiation Exposure
	————————— Time of Exposure (Minimum) ————————
Situation	1 round	1 minute	10 minutes	1 hour	1 day
Character in irradiated area:
Lightly irradiated	mild	mild	mild	mild	low
Moderately irradiated	mild	mild	low	low	moderate
Highly irradiated	low	low	moderate	moderate	high
Severely irradiated	moderate	moderate	high	hig	severe
Character exposed to radiation source:
Lightly radioactive materials	mild	mild	low	low	low
Moderately radioactive materials	low	low	moderate	moderate	moderate
Highly radioactive materials	moderate	moderate	high	high	high
Severely radioactive materials	high	high	severe	severe	severe

The degree of the exposure determines the severity of the radiation sickness, as indicated on Table: Radiation Sickness. At low levels, radiation sickness is a slow disease. Often, a sick character suffers no severe short-term effects. This is reflected in the fact that even with a failed Fortitude save, the character might not suffer any Constitution loss.

Table: Radiation Sickness
Degree of Exposure	Fortitude Save DC	Incubation Period	Initial and Secondary Damage
Mild	12	1 day	1d4–2 Con*
Low	15	4d6 hours	1d6–2< Con*
Moderate	18	3d6 hours	1d6–1 Con*
High	21	2d6 hours	1d6 Con
Severe	24	1d6 hours	2d6 Con
* Minimum damage 0 Con.

Treating Radiation Sickness

Radiation sickness is considered a treatable disease that can be cured using the “treat disease” aspect of the Treat Injury skill. Treating radiation sickness requires a medical kit. Advanced medicine (such as neutrad) and advanced technology (including nanites and cybernetic implants) can also eliminate radiation sickness or obviate its harmful effects.