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[artificise]

I heard you were a researcher studying the void infection. Could you tell me all you know about it so I could best treat it? I don't want amputation to be my best option

@med-e

I have gathered knowledge of late-stage void infection and symptoms of void infection upon the human body, including subsequent bodily shutdowns. It manifests as dark purple-black lesions under the skin, mimicking thickened varicose veins. The sclera grow dark, and eyes begin to change colour to unnatural cool hues, often growing second eyelids. The blood turns a metallic purple-black.

The body becomes paler and skin hues turn towards purples, blues and blacks - any armor or clothing worn by the afflicted is cemented onto the skin and is grafted on the body by the infection, becoming impossible to remove. At this stage, you can expect the breathing system to gravitate towards a circular breathing style, as the lungs become useless and the heart stops and begins to calcify. Instead, gill-like growths appear on the skin, most commonly on the throat, and digits on the hands and feet elongate, alongside various bodily mutations. These strange evolutionary traits allow the individual to adapt and survive in the deep void; from what I know and have experienced, the lifeforms and environment are brutal in their fights for survival.

The traits seem to bring a curious bodily nature to the individual; they no longer feel the need to consume to survive, and any damage doesn't last- though, scars and wounds upon the body that were present before the infection do not heal.

As for treatment.. I haven't found anything conclusive - Petrichor V seems to have been struggling with this blight since before the first humans stepped upon this planet, and.. treatments given to afflicted have seemed to prove ineffective, as inscribed upon scrolls and written text. Warnings of void-touched areas are written everywhere.

I am trying to uncover a cure myself- these stages are slow at first, and thus the only suggestion I can provide for now is to remove the individual from any void-touched areas, and confiscate any items that have been corrupted. The individuals seem to retain lucidity despite their appearance, which shows that the mind - despite the affliction, seem intact - if not somewhat damaged by the ordeal, often carrying symptoms of deep amnesia.

As for now, I'd suggest treating the individual with green items- it does enough to slow the beginning stages, but will not stop the infection.

I.. wish I knew more, I'm.. I'm sorry.