I suffer from seasonal allergies, things like: pollen, dust, mold, and dogs and cats.

This got me to thinking. What if adventurers had a defect of being allergic to something in the dungeon? Normal molds and other airborne fungus in the depths will lead to constant blowing of the nose, coughing, and sneezing. I sneeze very loudly and I would alert the entire level of a moldy or dusty dungeon of my presence with a single sneeze.

Perhaps monstrous molds and fungi would also provoke a similar reaction, perhaps serving as a warning to a party. I can’t tell the difference between all the pollen that makes me react. I can smell mold when my basement is damp. I can taste mold in tea from fountain machines, so I don’t order it if it isn’t brewed.

What spells and precautions could be taken to help alleviate an adventurer’s allergic reaction to irritants in the dungeon, tomb, or other location? How does the adventurer convince the party to let them tag along?

Perhaps a hireling is the one with allergies and they don’t mention it until their in the dungeon coughing and sneezing.

In addition to normal allergies, what if the person is allergic to monstrous creatures? How do they know until they encounter it? They have to survive the encounter long enough to use the knowledge, if they are sure what it was that cause their reaction.

What if the monsters are allergic to humans or something the players carry?

What happens when a dragon sneezes? Does it trigger an involuntary use of their breath weapon?

Does another type of creature with an allergy have one of their abilities triggered, like invisibility, cause fear, or fly?

There are too many possible combinations of things for a list of all possible allergens. The only ideas I have for tables is effect on the sufferer, range that the effect reaches the sufferer, etc.

Allergic Reaction d6

1. Watery Eyes – Vision Affected
2. Scratchy Throat – Clearing the Throat and/or coughing
3. Runny Nose – Lots of sniffles or Blowing the nose
4. Post Nasal Drip – Gagging, hacking, coughing, blowing the nose
5. Hives
6. Anaphylactic Shock (Anaphylaxis)

Remedies d6

1. Nasal Irrigation (Neti Pot, etc.)
2. Roots with anti-histamine properties
3. Berries with anti-histamine properties.
4. Herbs with anti-histamine properties.
5. Two of the Above.
6. Nasal Irrigation plus two more. (May include using a substance for irrigation made from one or both of the other items.)

Cures

Heal is obvious. Will Cure Disease cure an over active immune system, such as with allergies? Will Remove Poison only clear the substance causing the reaction until the next occurrence? Slow Poison would be nearly useless with allergies, since their effect is almost immediate. For anaphylaxis slow poison would be helpful in keeping the person alive.

Will wizards and alchemists have concoctions that work?

What folk cures actually stop and prevent future reactions?

Perhaps fresh honey from giant bees will cure pollen allergies.

Eating a rare giant mushroom might cure fungal allergies. What if it’s a sentient mushroom, is it an evil act?

Surviving a monstrous mold attack might cure mold allergies. I mean being affected by the mold and managing to survive. Surviving in spite of a failed saving throw.

Eating a displacer beast’s tentacles might cure cat allergies.

Eating part of a monstrous fish or other water or ocean dwelling creature might cure fish allergies.