Caused by a small, otherwise harmless parasite that resides in the cavity behind the eye, the Watchman’s Blink is the bane of nightguard and hunter, impairing their ability to timely spot threats and quarry with a persistent desire to close their eyes to dull the mild but quite distracting pain the parasite’s presence causes. Reactions are slower, if barely so, and getting the jump on someone becomes harder thanks to such unwelcome companions. Extraction is a simple matter, if unpleasant for the host, and aside from a small scar around the eye the parasite leaves no lasting damage.

A mercy, compared to some more voracious creatures. The parasite is a certain species of fly larva, its species rare but widespread across a variety of climates. The parent lays its eggs, nigh invisible, as close to the eye as it can.

Any animal exposed to these eggs must succeed at a DC 7 Constitution save or be infected with the larva. While infected, such animals feel slow to react and must roll twice and take the worse result for all initiative rolls or with Disadvantage in any skill check requiring their rapid reaction to something else. The larva is quick to grow and depart, leaving in 1d6 days as a tiny fly.

A DC 15 Medicine skill check by someone with medical tools can remove the parasite sooner.