Emerophobia

Deadly loneliness

Fhrothing spit stains the floor of the tent as the queen enters followed by the messenger seeker who informed her. The two drones at the edges of the pelt blanket look up to acknowledge her but make no move to stop holding down the figure lying under them.
- We found him like this, my Queen. should we... - The seeker stops as the queen gestures harshly.
The queen stands relaxed, gazing at the white drone rambling and spitting on the floor threatening to tear her apart, to make her eggs his, to burn the tribe and curse all her offspring. She looks at the master surgeon, who curls his antennae negatively.
- He's beyond hope, end his misery. I'll inform her myself - She decrees before storming out.
Her subjects obey, and thus is the Matron's struggling firstborn killed by his own tribe

The oorgolian race is so dependent on the tribe that loneliness becomes a disease. Once an individual finds themselves alone for extended periods of time, his physiology and psychology starts being affected by what foreigners may call emerophobia but is known as "loneliness" among the oorgolians. This condition starts with discolouration of the exoskeleton and ends in ferality and death by burnout. The disease is usually a non-issue as the constant physical and social contact maintained by the tribes is more than enough to keep it at bay.

Causes

The condition occurs in any oorgolian spends a certain amount of time alone or unable to make physical contact with others. The amount of time depends based on the initial psychological condition of the individual, their caste and their age.
Pupae may start showing symptoms of emerophobia after 12 hours without contact, whereas non-alpha drones may be able to stave off the condition for three to five days without contact. The disease seems to affect matrons the slowest, with a matron needing contact every 90 to 100 days before any symptoms show.

An oorgolian does not necessarily require the presence of other oorgolians. Interaction with any other social species is enough to prevent the onset of any symptom, but they still require actual physical contact regardless of species.

Symptoms

Emerophobia starts as a general discolouration of the exoskeleton. At this stage, no other physical functions are affected. The disease evolves in the following order if the subject cannot seek company (time of onset of symptoms varies from individual to individual as related above):

• Second stage: Discolouration continues. The individual starts presenting depression and lack of energy;
• Third stage: Discolouration continues. Lack of energy subsides, appetite increases drastically to the point of constant hunger. Signs of psychosis emerge with paranoia, pronoia or auditive and sensorial hallucinations being reported in some cases;
• Fourth stage: The exoskeleton has become stark white, with individual markings starting to vanish. The individual may start feeling hunger pains even if they feed correctly. Psychosis worsens, mental and social capacities start to vanish. Language starts to degrade;
• Fifth stage: Individual markings vanish completely. Constant frothing salivation and a strong aversion to non-violent physical contact sets in. Involuntary muscle spasm may occur in some individuals. At this point, the disease is considered irreversible;
• Sixth stage: Language skills and higher mental functions vanish completely. Exoskeleton thickens and hardens with partial moulting occurring in some individuals to facilitate the process. Mouthpiece mutates to a larger aperture with sharper and more specialized teeth, along with overdevelopment of claws. Both strength, speed and agility increase drastically;
• Seventh stage: Frothing stops and the individual starts producing highly corrosive saliva and blood. Physical capacities reach their maximum;
• Final stage: The body starts metabolizing itself and the corrosive fluids start invading inner tissues. The individual dies in gruesome agony, screaming as his lungs are dissolved in their blood.

Treatment

The only known treatment is physical contact and social interaction with the individual. First and second stages are easily reversible with some activity and conversation.
Third stage cases may require constant attention and contact. Some tribes will task drones with caressing the affected individual on a very regular basis.

Oolaardin suddenly regains awareness lying on a bed of bluegrass. His face felt as if it had been slapped multiple times and his chest was heavy as if someone were sitting on him.
- Hey, are you there - Said Orgash, sitting on Oolaardin's chest. - I found you chanting in challenge. I had to slap you a few times to bring you back.
- What - Oolaardin opens his eyes and his antennae jitter in confusion - who?... hey, get off of me.
Getting up, Orgash extends an arm to help the seeker up.
- I'm Orgash. Remember me? We were pupae together. looks like you lost your partner too. - he watches as a confused Oolaardin gets up. - I've been lost for two days. I don't suppose you know where we are?
- Yes.... south of the tower. The one that moves... - Oolaardin's tone is still groggy and dreamy.
- Right... I guess we'll have to find our way back after getting you back to health. Try not to wander too far from me, ok!

Sequela

Being affected by emerophobia is a traumatizing experience which, in turn, causes the individual to become more upset and stressed if he finds himself alone again. This accelerates and worsens future manifestations of the disease. Such is the instinctual effect of the disease that witnesses of late-stage affected individuals may also become susceptible to a more rapid manifestation of the disease.

Cultural Reception

The disease is somewhat of a taboo among oorgolians. They don't like to talk about it, yet every member of the tribes seems to have an almost instinctual knowledge about the condition.
Any individual in the early stages is immediately collected and nursed back to health, even if they belong to another tribe. Late stage individuals are considered horrendous and are usually put down on sight (this is considered an act of mercy).

Type

Physiological

Origin

Natural

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Common

Affected Species

• Oorgolian