Culicidae: The Cure Found In Immortal Cadavers
Preface
Legends say the Gods bleed gold. Ichor, they call it. In today’s medical textbooks, it means nothing but the watery discharge from a wound. Yet, in this supposed golden ichor lies the essence of divinity, the pulse of eternity, the very elixir that could elevate us beyond the chains of our current existence.
Ethics and honor are the enemies of medicine. They are the shackles that bind our progress, that keep us tethered to mediocrity. What good is a doctor who hesitates? Who allows the lesser beings to fester in their inferiority, polluting the purity of our species with their weakness? Inferiority is a cancer to be excised from the flesh of fellow mortals. It is a blight upon the body of Hive, a disease that I intend to cure.
You see, I am not like the others, bound by the quaint traditions that demand a cure before vectorizing. No, I am not content to wait, to sift through the autopsies of our predecessors in the hope of finding salvation. I am the one who will find the cure for inferiority in immortal cadavers. And I will not hesitate to dissect, to drain, to cull what is necessary. Perfection demands sacrifice, and I shall brew it from the blood of the undeserving.
They will call me mad, a heretic, a butcher. But I ask you, what is a surgeon if not all these things? What is medicine if not the art of cutting away the diseased, the malformed, the weak? To this end, I alone dare to put the deities on my operating table. I alone have the vision, the fortitude, to do what must be done. To take my scalpel to the flesh of the soul.
The Plague Doctors understand this truth. We are not bound by the outdated ethics of our kind. We do not seek to cure the weak; we seek to eradicate them. To cleanse the world of its imperfections, to forge a new order where only the strongest, the most perfect, may thrive. We seek not to heal, but to purge, to perform a grand excision upon the body of our world, removing the peccant and preserving only the vital.
Mortality is nothing more than a disease, a flaw in the grand design. And I, Bathory Bundchen, shall find the cure in the blood of the divine. I shall bathe in the ichor of gods, purging the world of its inferiority, and in doing so, I shall ascend to a level beyond comprehension.
Ichor is a lie. Even the Gods bleed red.
- Culicidae: The Cure Found In Immortal Cadavers
- The Culicidaen Context
- The Plot
- The Ten Plagues
- Aedes aegypti (Female) - Nerve Damage / Blut (Blood)
- Anopheles gambiae (Male) - Cardiology / Frösche (Frogs)
- Culex quinquefasciatus (Male) - Oncology / Stechmücken (Gnats/Lice)
- Aedes albopictus (Male) - Rheumatology / Fliegen (Flies)
- Toxorhynchites rutilus (Female) - Pediatrics / Viehpest (Pestilence on Livestock)
- Sabethes cyaneus (Female) - Dermatology / Beulen (Boils)
- Aedes japonicus (Male) - Endocrinology / Hagel (Hail)
- Culex tarsalis (Female) - Orthopedics / Heuschrecken (Locusts)
- Wyeomyia smithii (Male) - Ophthalmology / Finsternis (Darkness)
- Mansonia uniformis (Male) - Pulmonology / Erstgeburt (Death of the Firstborn)
The Culicidaen Context
Broodchild
Culicidaen Broodchild
The extant Culicidaen Broodchild is Vladimir Tepes, also known as Vladimir The Impaler or Vladimir Dragul. From a bygone era, he was the inventor of the syringe, the father of medical diagnostics and the conqueror of plagues. He unified the Culicidae species into their pharmacratic social order and created and enforced their honor code.
Culture
Oath
Culicidaeic Oath
The Culicidaeic Oath is an oath of ethics and honor taken by all practicing Culicidaen physicians. It states that a Culicidaen shall not vectorize the malady or condition of a patient until after curing them.
Government
Caste
Implications On Caste
Caste is determined by a Culicidaen's 'vectors', the fluid cavities inside their fangs. By drinking the blood of a patient with a malady or medical condition, the Culicidaen permanently amalgamates it into a vector fluid. This vector fluid is like venom, and can reproduce as the medical conditions of patients with infinite capacity. Under the Culicidaeic Oath, the potency of vector fluid becomes indicative of your patient portfolio, professional development and reputation in your field of specialization.
Biology
Reproduction
Vectors
Vector /ˈvɛktər/ (noun)
In the Hive world, a "vector" refers to the specialized fluid cavities within the fangs of Culicidae humanoids. These cavities have the unique ability to permanently subsume and thereafter replicate the medical conditions or diseases of any patient whose blood they consume, acting somewhat like venom sacs. The plural form is vectors, referring to both at once, and it's most common usage.
Vector Fluid /ˈvɛktər fluːɪd/ (noun)
In the Hive world, "vector fluid" refers to the specialized liquid secretions contained within the vector cavities of Culicidae humanoids' fangs. Unlike normal venom sacs, however, the secretion of vector fluid is conscious. Therefore, at the time of secretion, a Culicidae can consciously secrete vector fluid as either a complete amalgamation of all subsumed conditions or as targeted replications of one or more subsumed conditions.
Venom & Anti-Venom
Vector fluid secretions can replicate and reproduce vectorized conditions. This can be in the form of a venom, afflicting the target with the condition/s, or as an anti-venom, a direct cure for the aforementioned condition/s.
Vectorization /ˌvɛktəraɪˈzeɪʃən/ (noun)
In the Hive world, "vectorization" refers to the process by which a Culicidae humanoid subsumes and permanently incorporates a medical condition or disease into their vector fluid. Consumptions of blood quantities below 500ml will have no effect. Vectorization can target specific conditions of a patient, and a Culicidaen can consciously ignore other conditions present.
According to the Culicidaen Oath (to cure the condition before vectorizing it, and to only consume certain amounts), it is standardized practice to draw 500ml of blood from a new patient for use in testing. After curing the patient (to do so before would violate the honor code), the Culicidae may vectorize the condition from this 500ml. Optimally, because vector fluid potency is diluted, 500ml corresponds to to the ability to reproduce approximately 0.05% of the potency of the original condition. For reference, a Culicidae would need to vectorize blood from approximately 200 patients with identical conditions to replicate the condition at 100% potency.
Vectorizing a condition will in turn increase your understanding of the condition. For more information on this phenomena, read "Chickens, Eggs and Culicidaen Oaths" further below.
Vectorization Efficacy Factors
The "efficacy of vectorization" denotes the successful subsuming of a condition into a Culicidaen's vectors. It is the main reason behind the existence of the Culicidaen Oath (to cure the condition before vectorizing it, and to only consume certain amounts). This is because vectorization comes with a chance of backlash, permanently inflicting the Culicidaen with the condition and preventing them from ever vectorizing the condition again. As stated before, the "optimal vectorization" of 500ml of blood is 0.05% condition potency in a Culicidaen's vector fluid.
This "optimal vectorization" and "vectorization backlash risk" involves several factors, such as: understanding of the condition, the severity of the condition, the complexity of the condition, the amount of blood consumed and the Culicidaen's aptitude for the disciplinary field.
Chickens, Eggs and Culicidaen Oaths
The Culicidaen Oath is subscribed to by almost all practicing Culicidaen physicians. While it covers an extensive sphere of medical ethics, honors and obligations (see the culture section), it has two core tenants. As mentioned before, these are: only vectorize after curing a patient, only vectorize 500ml of blood within any given 48hr period. This is because depending on a Culicidaen's understanding of the condition, the severity of the condition, the complexity of the condition, the amount of blood consumed and their aptitude for the disciplinary field they run the risk of backlash (permanently inflicts Culicidaen with condition, prevents them from ever vectorizing it again).
The Culicidaen Oath is a precautionary measure to ensure practicing physicians do not suffer backlash. However, as mentioned before, vectorizing a condition will in turn increase your understanding of the condition. For those who don't subscribe to the Culicidaen Oath and have confidence in their aptitude for the disciplinary field, this is something to be exploited.
E.G
Physician A subscribes to the Culicidaen Oath, and seeks to understand the complexity, severity and nature of the condition. After curing the condition, the best show of this understanding, they will vectorize 500ml of blood and undergo a successful vectorization at a high efficacy (near 0.05% potency) regardless of their innate aptitude for the disciplinary field.
Physician B does not subscribe to the Culicidaen Oath, and relying on their confidence in their innate aptitude for the disciplinary field will vectorize 500ml of blood and risk backlash instead of first understanding the complexity, severity and nature of the condition. If they undergo a successful vectorization, it will be at a comparatively low efficacy (e.g near 0.01%). However, their understanding of the condition will then improve as a result of the vectorization. This creates a snowball effect, and they can then continue to vectorize the condition at increasing higher efficacies.
Other Derivations Of Vector Fluid
The venom anti-venom properties of vector fluid aren't the only abilities derived from blood consumption. When the potency of a Culicidaen's vector fluid passes a certain threshhold, they will begin to unlock other capabilites. The most important is to make any malady in the venom fluid infective. Examples include: blood manipulation, strength, speed, stamina, agility, durability, heightened senses, regeneration, immunity and longevity. Other uncommon abilities unique to Culicidaen individuals include things like hypnosis and dream manipulation.
Immunity
As the potency of the vector fluid increases, the Culicidae will gain immunity to the condition or disease vectorized. This is simple to understand, as 0.05% potency corresponds to 0.05% immunity and 100% potency corresponds to 100% immunity.
The Plot
Hive's Plot
Eventuality One
The Brood Mother is dying - the chaotic cells that once remained deep in The Comb with few incidence are creeping closer to the surface. As queen honey bees age, their egg-laying abilities decrease, and they lay their eggs in less organized patterns. When an old queen begins to falter in performing such responsibilities, workers will induce her replacement, or supersedure. The aging queen is killed after the supersedure process.
Eventuality Two
Lastly, when a honey bee queen suddenly dies, an urgent and unplanned supersedure occurs. Worker honey bees identify several larvae within the proper age range and begin to condition these larvae to become queens.
So, What Do We Do?
The Broodchildren are potential Brood Mothers or Brood Fathers. If the apocalyptic event of the Brood Mother's death occurs, most living entities will be wiped out and a Broodchild will immediately succeed in the ensuing chaos. Let's not have it comb to that. The aim is for a Broodchild to find and kill the Brood Mother in The Comb's core and take over.
Culicidae's Plot
Dr. Bathory Bundchen
Dr. Bathory Bundchen is a researcher into Nerve Damage, the effects and conditions inflicted upon an individual after "striking a nerve" in Hive's cells. Most often, she diagnoses, operates on and cures individuals who by some means either voluntary or involuntary ventured into the deeper regions of The Comb and were afflicted. Over the course of her career, she became disillusioned with the Culicidaen Oath. She began to think the the Culicidaen Broodchild Vladimir Tepes purposefully placed the limitations on physicians to prevent them from accruing power and usurping his position as the deity of their species.
Initially, the erosion of the Culicidaen Oath was first observed in humans. The original Culicidaen Oath set by Vladimir Tepes extended to humanity, and afforded them the same respect and rights as other patients. However, with the Broodchild's long absence from the Culicidaen society and apparent disregard for subsequent developments, this changed. Culicidaen's began to use the weaker and more easily acessible second-class citizens, humans, as lab rats and experimental tools. Human experimentation became rife. It is here that Dr. Bundchen makes her first important discovery - by fully consuming the blood of a human, it was still largely insufficient to form a full anti-venom for that malady.
Moreover, Dr. Bundchen hit an impasse after realizing that Vladimir's Culicidaen Oath contained a kernel of wisdom. As it happens, the successful vectorization of a malady is dependent on the Culicidaen's knowledge of the malady. If the Culicidaen is not knowledgeable of the malady, it would be vectorized at a lower efficacy compared to full comprehension. Moreover, a Culicidaen can instinctively begin to comprehend maladies inducted into their vector, but if said malady surpasses their comprehension it will cause a backlash.
So, was that the end of her rebellion against the Oath?
Not at all. See, the key is in the words surpasses their comprehension. True geniuses in a field, specialists of their department, could completely comprehend a malady and vectorize it even without prior learning, so long as it aligned with their predisposed intelligences. So, Bundchen made an era-defining revelation. Quantity outweighed quality. She began to feed en mass on humans. Bathed in their blood. And, with each victim, she comprehended more. The more she comprehended, the better she comprehended further. It snowballed, until she touched upon the most intrinsic secrets of the mortal form.
What Constitutes A Malady?
Is it illness? Disability? Parasites? Stupidity? Deformities? Or... is it mortality itself? Why do some individuals live longer than others, with seemingly no explanation save what lies incomprehensibly at the genetic level? No, not incomprehensibly. Not anymore. She began to comprehend. Fed, fed more, and comprehended. And she reached a conclusion. Mortality... inferiority... it's all curable. There existed a true perfect standard, and the more she fed, the more she encroached upon it! Drew closer and closer to a panacea in her vector fluid that could transform even the most mediocre mortals into superior beings.
Humans weren't enough. Humans were already evolutionarily impaired, left behind during the sixth mass extinction where the rest of the insect humanoids progressed to greater heights. In secret, she began to amass likeminded individuals who were willing to hunt down and feed on both the healthy and infirmed. Everyone is diseased. Mortality is diseased. And, where there exists the vectors, there exists a cure.
The Plague Doctor Philosophy
The next turning point came in the form of the Plague Doctors. The reason why Culicidaens are spoken about with such infamy and notoriety among other species. Renegades who would intermingle with the populations of other cells, and execute a specific modus operandi. See before, when I said that the vectorized fluid of a single human's malady was insufficient to form a cure? Then, what about ten? What about a hundred? The Plague Doctors began to bite from the shadows, purposefully infecting populations with their venom and leaving it to fester. Like matured livestock, they would return later to feast on the festered maladies once more and further their comprehension and vectorization.
For a while, this continued, until Dr. Bundchen was reported back to with strange occurrences. A higher rate of anomolies to the blood of individuals who fell into the deeper regions of The Comb. And, with alarmingly increasing rates. It seemed that the incidents of veins to the deeper regions randomly appearing was surging. And not just anywhere. As the Head of Department of Nerve Damage at at St. Nachtstich Research Facility, how could she not be privy to the identifiable trend.
Could it be... they were all veins to the same place?
A Turning Point
Dr. Bundchen had long been unsatisfied with the progress of the Plague Doctors. Working in secret in fear of prosecution despite their lofty goal. And, certain imbeciles screwing up and getting caught, leading to hysteria and distrust. But, this opened a new avenue. Dr. Bundchen realized two things immediately. The first is that with these deep comb veins occurred in nine cells centered around Skeeterhafen City, as well as Skeeterhafen City itself. After sending some scouts (few of whom returned alive, and those that did were better off dead), she reached the conclusion that the deep comb cell these veins were leading to was the one inhabited by the reclusive Culicidaen Broodchild, Vladimir Tepes.
The second realization was that if The Comb itself is the flesh of the Broodmother, what was to say that this increasing deterioration of it's cell boundary integrity was not a malady. If the Broodmother is an organic, sentient entity... it can be fed on.
Dr. Bundchen did the unthinkable, and she sunk her teeth into the Broodmother itself. Almost died in the process. But, she managed to vectorize a small portion of the malady. In her capacity as the Head of Department of Nerve Damage, she launched an "investigation" into the growing number of deep comb veins. Really, she rallied her willing Plague Doctors and bid they do as she did. Drink of the Broodmother. Together with those nine others who survived, they form the Ten Plagues.
Under the leadership of the Ten Plagues, the Plague Doctors continue to wreak havoc in the ten cells. With no regard for subtlety, they grow more and more emboldened. They have one goal. Use their vectorized venom to expedite the deterioration of the cell boundaries and cause a cellular collapse. In anticipation, they continue to feed on the increasing number of Nerve Damage maladies so that when this Doomsday happens, they will be invulnerable to the nerves of the newly collapsed cell. They spread it as plagues. Feed, grow stronger, and prepare.
Doomsday
When Doomsday comes, it's deities on Bathory's menu.