The Black Fever was a plague that devastated the Westlands over the course of several years, culminating in FY 939. The plague moved across the continent from east to west and killed over ten percent of the population, including the King and Queen of a small kingdom named Shandalle. Their deaths allowed their son, Artur Paendrag Tanreall, to assume the throne. The plague left much of the continent weak and divided, and the false Dragon Guaire Amalasan was able to take advantage of this to conquer vast stretches of territory before opposition could assemble against him.