Burden fatigue is the weariness produced by carrying a load — whether walking under it, standing watch in it, or simply sleeping in armor too heavy to shed. The body pays the weight every hour, scaled by effective Encumbrance after the Strength modifier. A character bearing nothing pays nothing; a character bearing much pays much, even at rest. ENC fatigue per hour.
Symptoms
Aching shoulders and lower back, slight stoop in posture, slower turning, heavier footfall, persistent muscular soreness that doesn’t release with brief rest.
Progression
Unrelieved burden compounds with other weariness sources — a march under heavy load accrues both Marching and Bearing fatigue simultaneously. Beyond a threshold, the bearer can no longer maintain the load and must drop it or collapse under it.
Treatment
- Set the load down; remove armor where the tactical situation permits
- Stretch the shoulders, neck, and lower back
- Eat and drink to replace what postural effort burned
- Recovery is faster from burden than from active exertion, because the strain is local rather than systemic
Recovery
Four hours of rest reduces weariness fatigue by 5; eight hours of sleep reduces it by 15.