Vague Descriptions

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

No, but actually, you are far, far closer to the correct answer than all of those who posted here this far have been. You are very, very close, from several aspects.

[The Might]

Cleptomania?

Well, actually I was going to say Sméagol curious "disease" of greedily wanting mroe presents for himself.

After all this affected all Hobbits, and because of it he eventually had to move far away from his home place, but did not die because of it... well ok, maybe he did.

But anyway, since you said the person did not belong to the group of people affected by it by default it cannon be right...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Indeed, it isn't Sméagol. You are heading in the right direction, though. Now I think this is the time to emphasise the important thing from the original question: it is really explicitely said in the book that this person was vulnerable to some sort of disease. In the italicised part, I am not making up any metaphores of my own, I am merely recounting what the book says at some point.

And the person about whom this whole question is, just to remind of it because all the hints may have created a bit of confusing atmosphere, did not die because of this disease - at least it is not said in the books.

[The Might]

Wait, wait, you're tricky.
Looking for what you speak of, I cam across this quote from the UT:

In a letter written in September 1954 my father said: "At the beginning of the Second Age he [Sauron] was still beautiful to look at, or could still assume a beautiful visible shape – and was not indeed wholly evil, not unless all 'reformers' who want to hurry up with 'reconstruction' and 'reorganization' are wholly evil, even before pride and the lust to exert their will eat them up. The particular branch of the High Elves concerned, the Noldor or Loremasters, were always vulnerable on the side of 'science and technology,' as we should call it: they wanted to have the knowledge that Sauron genuinely had, and those of Eregion refused the warnings of Gil-galad and Elrond. The particular 'desire' of the Eregion Elves – an 'allegory' if you like of a love of machinery, and technical devices – is also symbolized by their special friendship with the Dwarves of Moria." ~ note 8 of Concerning Galadriel and Celeborn

Ok, so this a kind of "disease", somewhat like Sméagol's greed for treasure, their greed for knowledge.

Now, who could still be like that... Saruman?

[Thinlómien]

Wow, Might, I would think you're right, except that I'm not sure if this hint

Originally Posted by Legate

6. We actually don't know anything about the person since it caught this disease.

fits. And what about this hint?

Originally Posted by Legate, bolding mine

One of the group mentioned above died recently before the person in question left its home place. These events were closely related (not totally, like one being consequence of the other, but simply related to each other). And, to add, the death of this one mentioned above was not a result of the disease. The disease itself is not lethal. But very often throughout the history of M-E, somebody died as an outcome of that disease. However, it was not the disease itself that killed them.

It almost fits, but doesn't. Or then I'm just a little slow.

I guess we must just wait for Legate to come and tell you whether you're correct or not...

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

Exactly, it doesn't fit at all.

Originally Posted by The Might

Wait, wait, you're tricky.
Looking for what you speak of, I cam across this quote from the UT:

Ok, so this a kind of "disease", somewhat like Sméagol's greed for treasure, their greed for knowledge.

Now, who could still be like that... Saruman?

And again, I did not possibly emphasise enough, or express clearly what I wanted to emphasise: I am stating only what is in the books. If I say it is a disease, it is a disease according to the books. In the context you quote, there is nothing about the lust for knowledge being a disease, or is it? It isn't. If you found it being called a disease, fine. But since you didn't, keep looking for a disease.

[The Might]

Aha!

I think I have it... you truly are tricky with your questions, but I enjoy them I must admit.

Ok, so my answer is the the Master of Lake Town.

The old Master had come to a bad end. Bard had given him much gold for the help of the Lake-people, but being of the kind that easily catches such disease he fell under the dragon-sickness, and took most of the gold and fled with it, and died of starvation in the Waste, deserted by his companions. ~ TH

1. There was a person.
2. This person was vulnerable to a certain kind of disease.
3. This disease is a kind you won't usually find in a medic's handbook.
4. It caused this person, eventually, to move far from this person's home place.
5. That person did not die because of the disease, as far as we know.

It fits with all, as he did get the disease, it is in no medic's handbook, it caused him to go to the Northern Wastes and nothing was heard of him afterwards. Although he did die of starvation, it was not the disease which caused it. And since it is said he was "of the kind" he did belong to people having this by default.

If this is wrong too, I'll first buy me a hat, then eat it.

[Legate of Amon Lanc]

No need to buy a hat, and the less to eat it Well done! The Master of Laketown, what a nice figure, eh?

And... eeeeek... only now I looked at when the question was posted here in the first place... two days ago, it was exactly a year Oh my, I didn't think it was that long...

Please post a new one, Miggy. I hope it will take less time to solve...