SC2020 - Ocean blood

Chemicals released by SC2020 - Octhulu during the mating season enhances human aggression, blocks pain receptors and increases the strength and endurance in humans. This was first discovered when people came back from the sea after swimming or spear fishing in a mad rage. The settlers have since learned to stay above water. The Bright Siders later developed a way to detect the presence of the chemical and during when levels are high enough, they take tons of water into large basins from where the water evaporates. The salt and other minerals are then separated and the chemical hormones are stored as a dry powder until it is to be used. When the time comes it is dissolved into a paste, which can be applied to the skin for absorption of the hormones, which induces ocean blood.

Transmission & Vectors

Originally, the chemical are absorbed through the skin, especially in areas like the nostrils and armpits whilst swimming. These days it has been harvested and put into a "warpaint" paste that is painted all across the body by some participants/users. Others use a purely decorative paint for the body and smear a highly concentrated paste in their nostrils, or elsewhere where it is easily absorbed.

Causes

Chemicals released by SC2020 - Octhulu during the mating season.

Symptoms

Human users feel no pain, are more resistant to exhaustion, more aggressive and violent.

Treatment

There is no know treatment other than time. Depending on dosage, the effect wares off after 3-4 hours.

History

One of the earliest recorded religious ceremonies of the Mother/Father cult was to have a highly decorated boat row out on the ocean when it was full with the hormone and then have a competition where the contestants were to swim out around the boat and back in. Records disagree whether this was meant to show restraint and that fighting was strictly forbidden and disqualifying, or whether fighting was encouraged. While one of these types seems inherently more dangerous, both ceremonies often had a few casualties, and several injuries.

Cultural Reception

Ocean Blood has become an important part of some Bright Side festivals, where young people will take it as part of ritual fighting or physical tests performed to honor the gods.