Hollowing
"You all know how this shit works. You get a bite, you get any kind of wound from these things, something from them gets in you... and you fucking die." -Lilith ArundelThe Hollow is a sort of infection born from the prototypes of lab-made creatures known for their high adaptability, polymorphism, and ability to sense even the most minute of magical energy, among other things. Originally the CRWN Foundation created these creatures to save humanity, to create the perfect being to kill Reveniri or drive them off. Still, when man tries to play god and is wholly unprepared for what may come, then ruination is bound to appear.
"It's... Superpowers at a cost, really. Calling upon it is an exhausting tug of war." -FinchInfected individuals, or hosts, that survive the initial symptoms gain power at a price. Since the Hollow is polymorphic, hosts controlling the physical manifestation can use it as additional limbs, armour, or crude sensory appendages. Hosts can also sense magical energies at a great distance, even the most minute. It is perceived as a beacon or a flare in the mind's eye, easily distinguishable from regular sight but can be overlayed for better triangulation- it is incredibly distracting, causing the Hollow to physically manifest in response, regardless of the host's willpower. Feral hosts are linked to a hive mind, and all act, even if animalistically, in a coordinated manner amongst themselves. Living hosts cannot communicate with this hive mind under normal circumstances, only perceiving its existence as vague premonitions, feelings, and sensations. Those attuned to the hive mind can listen in but not respond to communication- in this case, the words expressed by the feral hosts are simplistic and sound like many whispers layered upon one another: "Run!", "Hunger...", "Feed.", "Eat.", "Need.", "Want." etc. etc. The wellspring of the Hollow is thought to be the Umbra Mare, the oceanic dimension housed within Ucarro in which the Wraithe that was used in creating this infection resides, as all Hollows and the patient zero PAWNs/KNGTs are drawn to him and reside there alongside him when inactive. All of TX08-C's bodies of water are connected extradimensionally to Umbra Mare, and 'bridges' between them are created when magic is used in the vicinity of water, or a Hollow comes into contact with said water. (For more information on Umbra Mare, please see it's respective article.)
Transmission & Vectors
Waterborne, bloodborne, and via direct contact with infected individuals— however, it is not infectious so long as the person exposed does not have any fresh and exposed wounds. A healthy individual is safe to swim in infested waters or make physical contact with infected individuals so long as any injuries they have are well covered and do not make contact.
The use of excessive magic in hives or areas of high infestation also runs a risk of the healthy individual casting it becoming infected. Magical or elemental energy will generate a miasma, allowing the disease to temporarily become airborne so long as the area remains suffused with energy.
Causes
The cells of the prototype PAWNs/KNGTs are genetically modified and spliced with the DNA of a Wraithe to make the creatures highly adaptive and able to sense the presence of magical energy up to a certain distance depending on its intensity. These prototypes were highly aggressive, however, and any wounds inflicted by them caused their highly adaptive cells to try and integrate with the target of their aggressions- giving rise to the condition known as Hollowing. The cells of these prototypes act much like a virus, invading the infected's cells, merging and replicating with its host's cells until an equilibrium is met, it is held back, its host dies and is consumed, or it is removed before it can spread further.
Symptoms
Initially, the symptoms are similar to that of extreme exhaustion. Newly infected individuals will feel faint or too weak to move— this is the first stage of the disease, and the most harmless, as it only causes the infected to sleep for more extended periods.
The next stage brings about paranoia and anxiety, high-stress levels and a general feeling of being on edge. From a dead sleep to restlessness. The infected startles at the simplest of sounds.
The third and most fatal stage takes symptoms from the initial stage, bouts of extreme inactivity and lethargy— on top of this, the infected also experience a burning, boiling sensation inside their chest and stomach. Hematemesis and hemoptysis occur frequently, and the blood expelled is vicious and dark, almost black. It’s hypothesised that this is the point where the Hollow attempts to assimilate the infected individual, blending with their host’s cells. The blood expelled from their coughing and vomiting is the waste of either the infected’s rejected cells that could not withstand fusing or dead cells that the Hollow has replaced. There is actual blood expelled and mixed in as well, making the risk of fatality attributed to how much blood is lost and how frequently the progression of this disease.
The fourth and final stage of Hollowing is when most infected physically manifest the Hollow. The Hollow assimilates the weaker infected that did not survive the previous three stages. For all intents and purposes, the subject is dead, and the assimilation phase ‘reanimates’ the corpse. Memories, thoughts, feelings— everything that made up who the infected once was is no more. In its place is a wild, aggressive, mindless thing with an insatiable appetite for magical energies and a heavy fondness for water and the cold.
Those that DO survive the previous stages can manifest the Hollow at will. Although it will forcibly display when the host loses concentration, is emotionally compromised or is in the presence of magical energy or bodies of water. Manifestation of the Hollow varies between individuals; it is polymorphic and behaves like a fluid matrix— although there is often a form, or elements of one, that each host subconsciously prefers that the Hollow will build itself off of. Hollow manifestations are often jumbled masses of limbs, teeth, eyes, organs, and/or fungus-like structures with little coherence besides an ability to move. The Hollow can regenerate itself even if it is fully vaporised, even going as far as to repair its living host’s tissue, not just its own. Thus a Hollow (and by extension its host) can not be killed by conventional weaponry, although they can be immobilised for a significant amount of time if damaged with something such as shrapnel.
There is still danger to hosts that have survived; they can still spread the infection if their manifestation comes into contact with the wounds of healthy individuals— In addition, stage four hosts will, on occasion, go back through the third stage. Alive stage four hosts also have to contest with the Hollow whenever it manifests, willingly or forcibly. Any faltering in control can cause a shift and allow the Hollow to temporarily (or permanently, depending on severity) take over their host completely- much like if the host had instead died during stage three. The same feral, aggressive state of mind takes hold, and the host flies into a frenzy. The Hollow will, if this state is maintained for too long, attempt to kill the host and reanimate it- the ‘grace period’, so to speak before this happens and the threshold that the frenzied host must reach for it to begin is known as the Cauchy Limit.
Treatment
There is no cure for Hollowing as of yet, the thought is that because it is an adaptive condition, attempts to get rid of it pose more problems than just allowing it to remain. If caught in time though, cauterization or amputation of the entry point will stop the spread— although reinfection is still possible.
Infected individuals can have their physical manifestation of the Hollow subdued when exposed to fire-aspected energy and magic.
Prognosis
The initial stages are often the most fatal due to their symptoms, although those who make it past that point are not out of the woods— any time a physical manifestation of the Hollow occurs it is often quite painful, and that’s to say nothing of weaker individuals who become feral and permanently manifest the Hollow.
Those with the strength and willpower to do so can hide their Hollowing- although in the presence of magic they are powerless to do so, making spotting of the infected easy, but dangerous as it can frenzy them too.
Hosts & Carriers
The primary carriers for this infection are the prototype PAWNs/KNGTs.
Prevention
Check yourself for any cuts, scrapes, punctures, etc. Any damage to the skin that can lead to contact with your blood is a hazard around infested waters and other infested individuals currently manifesting the Hollow physically. Keep injuries wrapped and protected.
Check waters for infestation by observing any change in the water’s transparency, motion, or temperature change. If the body of water is completely black and opaque, moving strangely, or suddenly frigid, it is likely actively infested! Remember that ANY body of water can be infested, regardless of size! Infestation within water goes through changing periods of activity, and thus a body of water that is infested one day can be perfectly safe the next.
Never use magic in or around infested waters or Hollowed individuals (whether they are actively manifesting the Hollow or not) as this can aggravate the infestation and cause it to release spore-like particles, called a Miasma, causing it to become airborne. Something to cover the mouth and nose will negate this hazard, provided it is thick, like a scarf or mask. Breathing this Miasma in will not lead to infection, but it will cause respiratory problems, among other maladies. The spores are only infectious, much like other forms, when coming into contact with fresh wounds.
History
The first recorded case was in CRWN Foundation's Labs, Site A, where research on Project PAWN began. The prototypes, as mentioned previously, were extremely hostile, and any wounds they inflicted on the scientists staffing the lab that created them to become the very first Hollows. These first Hollows are also infectious, and upon evacuating the lab before the symptoms started, they turned and infected others- and the cycle continues.
Type
Fungal
Origin
Engineered
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired
Rarity
Common
Affected Species
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