Haemoarcane Degenerative Disease

TW: Mental illness, degenerative disease, mistreatment of the sick or mentally ill, outdated views on mental illness and psychosis, blood

The name "haemoarcane psychosis" was coined around 13,000 SA to describe the series of incrementally intense pyschosis caused by haematic magic, better known as "blood magic". Before this time, the condition was well known but poorly documented or described, often referred to in death certificates and other documentation as "arcanely frenzied" or "mage psychosis"- a term that poorly describes the condition and causes the underinformed to misunderstand the problem and cause. Magic alone rarely causes any form of mental degradation and requires other forces to do so. Usually these forces are external, such as the surrounding environment, or patron entities gifting power and energy. Outside of these forces, it may be caused by the overuse of a mage's own internal resources, as is seen in hemoarcane psychosis.

A long-stigmatised and demonised condition, the disorder was understudied for thousands of years due to the practice of blood magic being outlawed or highly taboo in many cultures and countries. For the last few decades, the newer term "Hemoarcane Degenerative Disease" (HDD), first used in Virias , has been more commonly used. As the condition and its long-term effects on the entire body are better understood, potential treatments and prevention are being studied under a new light in places such as Virias and The Osmeni Empire , where haemoarcane enhancement is more commonly practiced in spellwork.

"The allure and power of hematic magic are walled off behind the terror of losing one's self to madness. It has been this way since medical history was first written, and this way it should remain. It is natural, for magicians especially, to try and push the edge and climb the reaches of what is safe and possible, but with this climb comes the inevitable folly of falling. Hematic magic is not safe, and never will be safe."

— - Heratti Lousenia in his book "Magically Induced Ailments", 9998 SA

Stages

HDD can be categorised into three (or arguably, four) stages. These stages were coined by Sedian Professor of Arcane Biology, Heratti Lousenia and are used widely across the world to this day. While it is commonly used, some leading researchers question Lousenia's stages, arguing the disease process is not as "neat and tidy" as portrayed and that it leads to a lack of treatment for more deeply affected, but still treatable patients.

Stage I:

Stage 1 psychosis is often called haemoarcane paranoia and is easily mistaken for severe unrelated mental illnesses. It is thought that the psychosis causes symptoms already present to become stronger, complicating diagnosis.

Paranoid people will become more paranoid. Stressed people will become more stressed and work harder, and people who have a tendency for melancholy will find themselves unbearably depressed. At this stage, particularly usage of a patient's craft or high-stress situations may cause them to suffer bursts of more severe symptoms.

Stage 2 Categorisation Requirements:

• Both mental and physical symptoms not present before practicing haematic magic
• All damage is reversible if practice is ceased

Typical symptoms at this stage include:

• Paranoia
• Heightened emotional state and dysregulated emotions, easily misinterpreted or disguised as stress
• Identity loss and identity crisis
• Depression
• Itching, discomfort on the skin and scalp
• Lack of appetite
• Suggestibility
• Gastrointestinal sensitivity, stomach ulcers
• Increased sensitivity to senses. Brighter colours, more sensitive touch, and more detailed sound processing. Smells become stronger and sometimes overwhelming.

Stage I is usually entirely reversible if all practice of haematic magic is ceased at this stage. Reintroduction of supplemental blood magic in other spellwork is not recommended for at least a year, to allow neural paths and damage to heal. At this stage, some damage has usually been caused to the gastrointestinal tract, but this is usually minor.

Stage II:

Stage II is what most people commonly think of when they think of HDD. Stage II is hallmarked by some irreversible damage while still being treatable. According to Lousenia's writings, this stage is easily spotted without in-depth testing because of two hallmark symptoms that are always present when a patient has progressed:

• Increase in respiratory rate and heart rate, even at rest
• Hallucination (most commonly auditory, but can be in other forms)

As neurons are broken apart due to high magical flow, and the body begins to try to adapt to the increased bleeding and unsustainable arcanoelectrical presence caused by practice, blood cell production is rushed and warped, and platelet production cannot keep up.

Other symptoms may include:

• Reduced platelet count resulting in delayed blood clotting
• Malformed red blood cells
• Over-production of red blood cells (often hidden by an increase in bleeding)
• Nosebleeds, bruising, pink-tinged sweat, haematuria (see above)
• Neurological symptoms such as twitching, shivering, head tilt, nystagmus, sluggish or excited pupil response, slow or excited reaction times
• Extreme emotional dysregulation, emotional responses appear amplified
• Paranoid delusions
• Fever
• Muscle and joint aches and pain
• Kidney disfunction, beginnings of kidney failure
• Arcanoelectric overcharge static(AOS)

Stage II is often recognised in its early stages, and with prompt treatment and cessation of haematic magic practice, can have a similar prognosis as Stage I with very little permanent damage. However, the dysregulation of blood cell and platelet production quickly causes a snowballing effect on the body and organs. Often, kidney failure due to the accumulation of proteins and waste from the blood can be irreversible. Multi-organ failure can, at times, kill a patient before they can pass into stage III.

Mentally, there is usually some lasting damage too. Neurons are "burned out" by an overuse of haematic magic, in the same way a wire might be burned out by too much electricity passing through it. These neurons can't always recover, and once a patient has progressed to stage II, they will have some irreversible damage to carry wit them, even if their practice ceases.

Stage III:

Stage III is diagnosed by a marked turning point where the patient's body arcanically adapts to heal spontaneously. The body becomes a charged magical conduit, enabling the user to utilise extremely powerful magic, and because of the body's increased healing powers, allows them to tap into more blood to fuel it. This turning point extends the life of the patient and prevents early organ failure for some time. Almost always, the neurons in the brain have disintergrated to a point that the patient is unable to tell right from wrong, cannot distinguish between reality and their hallucinations or delusions. They will often have delusions of grandeur or become overwhelmed with a great sense of purpose; a culminating side-effect of the lingering paranoia from the previous two stages. This combination leads to an incredibly dangerous situation of a person who can't safely navigate reality while wielding incredibly powerful magic.

In the past, Stage III HDD has always been regarded as terminal and untreatable. In Sedia, police are trained to utilise lethal force on those exhibiting signs of Stage III HDD to this day. If captured, they are not required to be trialled and are restrained for life in an arcane holding facility such as Arkevas Arcane Prison. Though other countries do not have laws in place like these, the common consensus amongst the public and the traditions of the people of other places are not dissimilar. Unable to be reasoned with by police and too powerful to safely capture, most people suffering from stage III HDD are killed by locals or law enforcement with no repercussions, and this is considered unavoidable.

In some recent years, studies in Virias have indicated potential treatments for those suffering from HDD, but these processes include severing one's connection to magic entirely or mentally "quieting" a patient (removing all emotions by physical or chemical means) and are considered inhumane by many, and not feasible by others. Virias continues to be a leader in research toward utilising hematic magic safely, and holds out hope for more effective treatment and prevention of HDD.

According to Lousenia's writings, stage III is recognisable by three distinct symptoms, often called the "Three by Three" cycle.

1. Uncontrollable haemorrhage; nosebleeds, leaking pores and bruises are usually visible, as well as old wounds opening and continually bleeding
2. Uncontrollable arcanoelectric overcharge static (AOS) phenomena; a sometimes normal phenomenon a variety of mages as particles of magic flicker and float around the caster, this is seen in this case as droplets of free blood floating around the patient as they become arcanoelecritically overcharged.
3. Uncontrollable, spontaneous magical healing

The Dying Process:

Sometimes known as Stage IIII, few victims of HDD suffer the long process of dying from the disease. Most are killed by authorities, succumb to accidents, or die by their own hands. Some victims with lower levels of arcane training, smaller bodies or low levels of arcane potential do not manage to compensate and heal quickly enough, and expire from exsanguination or exhaustion. More rarely, sufferers are restrained and treated, or withdraw from society to hide out in seclusion, and slowly proceed into organ failure.

The kidneys are usually the first to fail, and their failure leads to a chain effect of failure in other organs.

Type

Magical