Ajur'shul: The Hollow Hunger (ô-zh′oo͞r-shoo͞l)

Gokrenxia      Dwarves      House Vogrem      Ajur'shul: The Hollow Hunger

The pungent odor of filth and decay mixed with a heady sweet smoke wafting through the air. From her refuse-strewn mattress in the dimly-lit corner, Saffiya's gaze lingered slightly out of focus at something that wasn't truly there. Her fingers ran absently back and forth along the length of her threadbare, faded green tunic. Her eyelids closed slightly, remembering something with an empty half-smile. Her voice cracked from disuse as she spoke aloud to the empty air.
"It was so pretty once."
She couldn't recall the last time she'd eaten anything of substance. She held out her hand, head lolling slightly to one side as she stared at her slender fingers.
No shakes. Small blessings. Though it was only a matter of time before the tremors began again.
By the diffuse grey light filtering through the perpetually stained windows of her dilapidated dwelling she could tell is was midday, though she'd long ago lost track of which particular day. To make matters worse, she didn't particularly care.
She lifted the lid of the broken earthen jar, but found it devoid of anything of note.
There was only one thing that mattered now; only one thing that would keep the gnawing pain and the bone-chilling cold at bay. How to pay for the next dose. She'd sold practically everything to her name save the dirty mattress beneath her legs and the long green tunic her husband had given her before he left.
"Left? No," She chuckled sarcastically to herself. "Abandoned."
He'd given up on her. Given up on them. On their life. On the promises he'd made. He blamed her habit. Warned that it would ruin her. Said he couldn't watch her do this to herself any longer. He didn't understand.
A shiver ran up her spine, cutting her to the core as a single tear rolled down her pale cheek.
Such is the plight of the luckiest of those who fall into the grip of ajur'shul.

Background

Across the realm an epidemic unlike any in the history of the world mercilessly ravages the nations without regard for age or race or creed. In the smallest of villas to the grandest of halls, the sickness known as ajur'shul - colloquially known as The Hollow Hunger - permeates the very bones of our society without limits. And yet the most tragic aspect of this disease: its willful worship by its victims.
You see, The Hollow Hunger is an addiction; An addiction to a dwarven drug known as ajur'shul. The deplorable dwarven house of Vogrem has spent years perfecting its highly guarded concoction meant to fill their coffers from the blood of the masses.

First Age

Of course such things were banned under the emperor, but like cockroaches Vogrem dwarves still managed to ply their trade from the shadows of their evergreen torchlight. The Hunger was less understood in those days, yet the drug was still easily accessible within the highest circles of the elite, and the lowest corners of every brothel. Ajur'shul was the worst kept secret of the Empire. And yet Vogrem dwarves paid generous taxes to the empire. Thus it was another means by which the emperor could keep the people in line.

Second Age

But now, since the collapse of the Empire and the granting of dwarven sovereignty by the Thee'nor Accord, the prevalence of ajur'shul has become something completely different. No longer restrained by fear of reprisal and pockets brimming with coin, the Vogrem dwarves have expanded their production network exponentially. Backed by the overland and sea logistical dominance of House Gaaren and the Saltcutter's Guild, the reach of the drug seems to have no limits.
This epidemic has been particularly hard on the elves, abuse exacerbated by the massive overcrowding lack of adequate jobs, food, money, and resources in the remnants of the empire. Crime rates in the populous cities such as Khalismyr have skyrocketed as the hopeless throngs seek escape from the reality of the world in which they live.

Transmission

The Hunger itself is not contagious. It is a disease of the mind beginning when one chooses to drink the euphoria-inducing drug ajur'shul. Continued use over time results in diminished levels and duration of euphoria, requiring increased volumes of the drug more frequently in order to achieve previous highs.

Symptoms

In addition to euphoria, the influence of ajur'shul is reported to suppress the appetite. While the appetite dwindles, the body and mind come to increasingly crave the drug to the exclusion of nearly anything else. It becomes more and more difficult to think about anything other then when, and where, and how to obtain more of the drug. As dependency increases, addicts often cease eating altogether resulting in malnourishment and in many cases, death. This is where the disease earns its name.
When unable to obtain the drug, the true horrors of The Hunger begin to manifest in the form of volatile mood swings from deep depression to outright anger. Inability to sleep and increasing levels of agitation are common symptoms. Physically, those suffering from The Hunger report feeling constantly cold, eternally nauseous, and plagued with violent and painful tremors.

Origin

Engineered

Cycle

Chronic, Acquired

Rarity

Common

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