The Nexorin Pathogen

The Nexorin Pathogen, also informally known as Sorcerer's Shackles is a viral infection, now endemic on Magicians' End but only first recorded in 3627 APC towards the end of the Time of Terrors, an end which the disease was instrumental in bringing about.

Transmission & Vectors

Neroxin is an airborne virus and is transmitted in much the same way as many respiratory diseases, through breathing an aerosol of microsopic active viral particles. Contact transmission via infected surfaces is also known to occur.

Symptoms

Infection with Nexorin begins as a respiratory illness with symptoms similar to a bad cold or influenza.

Magicians' End - Nexorin Patient by DMFW with Midjourney

For most normal people the worst effects pass after a period of no more than three to four days. For those involved in the practice of arcane arts, however, a secondary phase results in intense headaches and a profound lethargy which can take up to ten days to recover from.

Sequela

If the patient has used Synaptic Unbinding Potion to any significant extent, this seems to result in more severe symptoms, occasionally causing death. A serious long term consequence of the infection for such individuals is a common and permanent side effect making them unable to practice magic again, even after they have thrown off the short term symptoms of the illness.

History

The origins of Nexorin are obscure and have never been satisfactorily explained but it is thought highly likely that the virus was engineered deliberately as a means of limiting the power of mages. The excesses of arogant and evil arcane users had become a trial to many peoples all across the world, since the availabilty of Synaptic Unbinding Potion had augmented their natural abilities so profoundly and indirectly brought about an end to the Moderators' Council. It is not for nothing that the first six hundred years of the 4th millenium are still refered to by historians as the Time of Terrors and there was a near universal relief when Sorcerer's Shackles restrained the power of mages and allowed civic life to return to more egalitarian systems of government such as had been practiced before SUP was invented.
Opinion is divided, however, on exactly who might have created Nexorin, assuming it was not a naturally evolving pathogen. Some credit a secret cabal of biological alchemists at the Free Union of Magical Scholars. Others have suggested, however, that it might have originated within the Dark Domains, where the invaders from another dimension still sought a way out of their prison behind the Hylacon Gates and wished to weaken the magical powers of the defenders of Magicians' End. It is impossible to say at this remove.

Type

Viral

Origin

Engineered

Cycle

Short-term

Rarity

Common