Cahalavii (Blue Aging)
Blue Aging is an ailment that afflicts many Exodite elves at some point in their lives. Manifesting as chronic fatigue, swelling and aching of the joints, as well as a persistent bluish discoloration of the skin, giving the disease its name. A constant companion of the Exodite elves since their settlement of the Dark Zone, Blue Aging affects nearly half of all elves in the twilight years, and is considered a sign that the elf is reaching the end of their natural life. The painful joints and blue swelling gradually reduce the elf's ability to move, and as the condition advances the elf starts to appear desiccated, and consumes increasing amounts of water to no avail.
While the Hospitallers and Starseers of Exodus have attempted to in their own ways research and prevent Blue Aging for hundreds of years, they have at most come up with alleviating treatments, such as cold wraps to reduce swelling. However, the ultimate cause of Blue Aging remains unknown, as autopsies of elves that perished with the condition reveal no commonalities, and the disease seems to strike at random. Some elves live with the condition for decades, while others perish in a few years of showing the first signs, but most cases occur after 150 years of life. Many believe it is simply a fae curse, placed on the Exodites when they fled.
However, recently the Starseers and Hospitallers have made an interesting observation. Blue Aging appears to be completely absent among those elves who spend most or all of their time in Khely or within Exodus-In-Prime in general. It has now been more than a full elven lifetime since the conquest of Cymbar and as a result there are now elderly elves that have only occasionally visited the Borderworld. Though this remains at the level of a scientific observation, the potential implications are vast. If the council decides to act on this revelation, elves could push into the Prime in ever greater numbers.
Symptoms
Sufferers of Blue Aging can be recognized by their blue-splotched joints, but typically the first sign of Blue Aging is just a loss of energy and physical strength. Tasks that used to be trivial to the elf become laborious and difficult. They begin to lose mobility, and develop the characteristic blue joints. In the worst cases, Blue Aging progresses into near complete paralysis.
Cycle
Chronic, Acquired
Affected Species
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