Dehydration
Dehydration is the consequence of not drinking enough water, which must be replenished every day, particularly in hot, dry weather. The amount of water that must be drunk to remain healthy is determined by the character's weight, adjusted by the day's peak temperature grade. This water need not be pure, though even mildly impure water may have unpleasant results.
In most northerly climates, dehydration is a comparatively minor concern; temperate and sub-arctic environments abound in fresh water, while humanoids need comparatively little water to maintain themselves. In hot climates, however, the lack of a fresh supply of water can quickly become dire, leading to shocking effects on the body and an unpleasant death.
| temperature grade | fl.oz./lb. of weight, per day |
|---|---|
| pleasant and below | 0.5 |
| warm, balmy or sweaty | 0.6 |
| sweltering to feverish | 0.7 |
| baking | 0.9 |
| scorching | 1.2 |
For those unfamiliar with fluid ounces, there are 16 fl.oz. in a pint, 32 fl.oz. in a quart, 128 fl.oz. in a gallon and 33.8 fl.oz. in a litre.
Water Requirements
The table indicates the amount of water that a character needs, depending upon his or her weight and the relative temperature. A 100-lb. character, for example, in pleasant conditions (up to 69°F/21°C), would need to drink about 50 fluid ounces of water to remain hydrated, which is a little more than 1½ quarts. In warm, balmy, or sweaty conditions (between 70-99°F/22-37°C), that same character would need to drink 60 fluid ounces each day, nearly two quarts.
A goatskin bag or a winesack, used to carry fluid, each has a capacity of two quarts, showing that characters must find a source of water nearly every day when travelling. Common sources of water that even outsiders may access include natural springs, rivers, streams and wells, as well as rainwater collected in cisterns or barrels. Thus, every thorp or hamlet becomes an important place for characters to stop at.
It's beneficial if a party carries along a keg, which has a capacity of five gallons, for extended travel to places where there might not be an immediate water source. This, of course, requires a donkey or other pack animal, as a full keg weighs more than 33 lbs. Additionally, it's advisable to have other portable containers that can be easily carried and refilled, ensuring a constant supply of water for hydration needs.
