Chaos Syndrome
Chaos Syndrome is a condition where the afflicted victim is driven mad by chaos, an element known in the Eon universe that's used extensively by voidseeds (and by that extension as well, anything in relation to them). Chaos syndrome can also relate to something being afflicted by a negative ailment which is done by a voidseed or an extension of a voidseed.
Void or shadow magic is necessary to ensure proper balance in the universe, being the counterpart to light. But if a victim gains too much chaos, they risk falling into troubles beyond measure that risk their lives and the people around them. This can even be a curse that is passed down through a family's generation, and will continue to cause ill for the family. For example, Catastrophe's behemoth form is a curse he had inherited from Coraxol. However, him becoming Thorn is him actually having chaos syndrome, as he's feeding into the negativite -and chaotic- nature that his behemoth has.
People dealing with chaos syndrome or having a chaos curse are called The Afflicted. An easy way to tell someone has the condition of chaos syndrome is their eyes being swirled.
Transmission & Vectors
Malevolent voidseeds are the most common vectors of chaos syndrome, which is another reason why they need to be eradicated.
Voidseeds that do not realize that they have a greater purpose, rather than ending up as black holes in space one day, risk causing infection to other beings and either making them gain a horrible curse, or even worse, becoming full blooded voidseeds if they're really infected. Voidseeds who are attracted to destruction, tragedy, chaos or vengeance can also spread the syndrome a lot more easier.
The most frequent cause of the diseases can be ichor, a nasty black blood or fluid voidseeds - along with affiliated species- can leak out. Ichor contains a high concentration of chaos and is even used in rituals to create voidseeds if the proper magic and practicing is used. The more dangerous aspect of ichor is that it can leak out even without wounds - if a voidseed is bleeding, it can easily leak out ichor. It can even drool ichor if it's far more feral. Ichor can also be what symbiote voidseeds are made out of, which is why its particularly dangerous for it to get into a grevious wound. They can take hold of a person and eat them from the inside out. One individual has one, but has a very symbiotic relationship with her voidseed.
Chaos syndrome can also be caused if someone is around a voidseed for too long - indeed, voidseeds give off chaotic energy, which many historians believe has to happen if they're willing to give into their own chaos and wish to spread it. While it may take far longer than drinking their ichor, or even having it injected in the veins, it can happen if some individual wants to be around a feral voidseed; to which they are driven into madness. Hunters, merecenaries or people who attempt to combat a lot of the problems with voidseeds or daevahs believe that this is seen in the Cult of the Quasar; their dark lord has penetrated their minds and sowed the seeds of chaos. And because of this indoctrination, they do anything in their power to appease their almighty leader.
Symptoms
Symptoms of Chaos Syndrome can vary from person to person, but the most common symptoms listed amongst the afflicted are the following:
- Depression (Very common)
- Anxiety (Very common)
- Extreme mood flucation (Common)
- Abnormal exhaustion (Common)
- Constant mumbling outloud (common)
- Shortness of breath
- Prolong sweating
- Feeling lightheaded
- Hallucinations (usually seeing dark creatures, or corners looking darker than they normally should) (Severe)
- Bloody nose (especially bleeding black blood, severe)
- Joint achiness/stiffness
- Loss of taste (uncommon)
Treatment
Treatment for chaos syndrome is usually done by calming the individual with harmony, the opposite to chaos and the perfect remedy.
Harmony treatment is usually having a person sit in a calming room, and be bathed by peaceful, holy magics that wash away the energy. There may even be members of The Divine Light clergy apart of the treatment plan by waving their censers and praying for the individuals healing to go smoothly.
Soaking in divine baths is the most common and easiest treatment, with the expenses not being too great for a person (treatment baths can run someone for $100 per soak, over a 2 month period, biweekly). If the chaos syndrome is much more intense, then it may be possible for a person to have personal attention from a priestess or priest, as they're capable of handling it directly with their bodies. This is also pretty costly for treatment, as there are many things that constantly tug at a priest's attention.
People who are good with making potions and tonics can find a way to calm down a person's chaos curse and prevent their chaos syndrome symptoms from starting - the method to making the tonic is typically all the same, by combining some of the recipe's ingredients. This could be dead man's wish king's fingers, moonwater, and/or vanilla. By having the person drink - or even inject the tonic - they'll be able to calm down. Typically, this kind of treatment is used for immediate results. (Catastrophe tends to make this tonic in general for aid, which he can share with Belphie. This can also help with void-based curses, like his behemoth curse.)
Prognosis
People suffering from chaos syndrome ultimately pass away at some point. The condition is 90% fatal, with many sufferers either dying from the complications of having it, the treatment being too much, or becoming a Daevah or Voidseed outright. Stages of the suffering can happen as quick or as slow depending on how fast the treatment plan is, and if the person is aware of what's going on. More awareness to what's going on speeds up the death much faster.
Cultural Reception
Regardless of the culture, the afflicted are seen as omens, terrors and an example of what the depraved minds of voidseeds are capable of in twisting and corrupting someone of heart. Many people try to bargain and have denial when they're starting to descend into madness from this syndrome, and that can make the situation far worse. Some cultures are much more easier about handling it, like the western kingdom helping the person through potions or religious therapy. Other cultures are far more aggressive, such as exeuctions in Ni'Avan or Leslave.
Type
Supernatural
Children
Origin
Magical
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired
Rarity
Common
