Lost Soul Syndrome

Lost Soul Syndrome is a debilitating disease characterised by an individuals soul becoming disconnected from their mortal body. In advanced cases the condition leads to death, followed almost always by immediate possession of the corpse by ethereal entities.

Causes & Symptoms

Originally known as "Ambula Insanum", literally "The walking madness" due to the diseases early symptoms of discoordination and rambling. Many people originally assumed the disease to be an apocalyptic omen in many communities given the inhabitation of the recently deceased by infernal creatures. While a specific cause remains unknown, many speculate the entities which take possession of the dead in advanced cases, are themselves the instigators of the sickness, though this has yet to be proven. The disease manifests most often in metaphysical scientists and those involved with occult research, though cases outside these professions are not unheard of.
Initial diagnosis of the disease is characterised through the following symptoms;

• Weakness & Fatigue - Often leading to muscle wastage, despite a increased appetite in many cases.

• Discoordination - Lost sense of balance and direction, demonstrating poor spatial awareness.

• Temporal dissociation - Individuals lose track of time frequently. Most commonly they will possess vivid memories of carrying out an action while having not actually done anything in the real world.

• Sensory Aphasia - Auditory and visual hallucinations (possibly as a result of their soul experiencing different things to their mortal body)

Diagnosis & Treatment

With advances in technology and understanding, a diagnosis can be made by almost anyone with the technological access to the Veiled Realm. While accessing the realm any non-mirrored movements in relation to the patients mortal form confirms a positive diagnosis. The greater the displacement of the soul from there mortal counterparts location, the more advanced the disease. While there is currently no known treatment, several studies are ongoing into possible ways to slow down the progression of the disease or reverse the effects entirely.

Possession

The possession of individuals following death is not categorised by possession by any particular ethereal entity type and usually do not appear premeditated, but rather as possessions of opportunity with infernal posessions being amongst the most common. Depending on the strength of the entity, the vessel can continue to exist in a stasis-like state indefinitely, or degrade rapidly over the course of several days before the entity is forcibly banished back to its realm with the loss of its vessel.

Type

Supernatural