The Death of Hope

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The "Death of Hope" was an epidemic of a mental illness that affected nearly all Humans to some degree after the tragic events of The Fall from the Stars. It manifested as a severe situational depression and survivor's guilt caused by the loss of loved ones, an extreme change in environment, intense stress from basic problems in survival (starvation, thirst, cold, lack of adequate shelter and sanitation), loss of purpose and direction, and illnesses and injuries that could not be treated.

Causes

As a result of the Praxis Cogendi, the landing ships of the Human settlers descending from orbit crashed onto the surface of Derkomai. All of their equipment was destroyed and their advanced technology stopped functioning. Thousands died or were severely injured. For those that lived through the The Fall from the Stars, all lost friends and family and were forced to try to survive on an unfamiliar planet. For centuries accustomed to relying on their advanced technology, most Humans did not have even basic wilderness survival skills and were unable to adapt to much more primitive conditions. Along with all the other trauma they faced, it was more than many could bear. They fell into deep depression and despair. Unable to function even minimally, many starved or froze to death. Others took their own lives, seeing no way to end their feelings of hopelessness.

Symptoms

The Death of Hope presented as situational depression, from moderate to severe. Given the losses suffered by nearly every Human at The Fall from the Stars and the dire survival circumstances in which most found themselves, the loss of will to live and depression led to death by starvation, thirst, injury, and in some cases, suicide.

Prognosis

Humans are nothing if not resilient and adaptable. Over time, the Humans of Derkomai overcame the Death of Hope; though, it took two or three generations for the survivors to deal with the trauma they had suffered and to adapt to their new planet and environment. The population of Human settlements on Derkomai stabilized, then began to grow. Over time Humans became the most numerous sentient species on the planet.

History

All of the Human settlers that survived the initial crash of the landing ships would have died if not for two factors.
First, at several of the crash sites, Elvirim and Dwarvirim assisted the survivors, giving them shelter, treatment for injuries, and sustenance. It was the first contact that any Humans had ever had with non-Human sentient people, and the fact that the Elvirim and Dwarvirim were willing to help them shaped relations between Humans, Elvirim, and Dwarvirim for centuries into the future. On the other hand, initial contacts with aggressive Orkrim ensured that Humans would, at the very least, always be wary of Orkrim. In fact, most of the time Orkrim were hostile to Humans (though less so than toward Elvirim and Dwarvirim), and Humans returned their hostility.
Second, at several of the crash sites, individual Humans manifested empathic healing abilities. People like Kelini Daskar saved countless lives, both from physical injuries and from mental trauma. Their presence in the small communities of survivors at the crash sites scattered all over Derkomai enabled the survival of those communities, dispelling their hopelessness and bolstering their will to live. Those people became known as Agapyel Healers.

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Common

Affected Species

• Human