Lore:Hemophage
 Hemophage |
Denonyms: Hemophage, Hemophages |
Hemophage
Sol Federation biological anthropologists originally believed the Hemophage infection to be a diaspora of afflicted individuals stemming from Earth and spreading outward, hidden away in the vast numbers of colonies that now dot the stars near Sol. While this belief held strong in academic circles for a time, recent genealogical studies done on some more unique strains of the symptomatic suggests that this may have been but one of many such events among a number of other species. Said studies performed were on individuals from some of the furthest reaches from “civilized” space, and suggest that outside of the core colonial territories of mankind, there may well exist those of the Hemophagic condition that display properties of said infection not known, and of undetermined source.
Said individuals examined, when combined with the limited documented processes of infected individuals, shows a wide degree of variations in the exact symptoms experienced by those symptomatic of Hemophagia. Be they infected by what is believed by some to be the “Human” sourced strain, or otherwise sired, all documented individuals carry the following:
- An innate dependency on the blood of others for sustenance.
- The growth of an internal symbiotic “tumor” in place of the infectee’s circulatory/respiratory systems.
- The repurposing of bodily functions and rewriting of conscious and unconscious cognitive faculties to prioritize the location and acquisition of blood-rich sources.
- An almost disquieting predatory instinct by Hemophagic individuals to locate those of sufficient suitability with which to Resanguinate.
Explaining the Unexplainable
The Hemophage affliction has been, through scarcity and superstition, not widely explained. Even modern medical equipment uses mystical terms like "corrupted tumor", and the truth may forever go fully unknown.
Scientific Lens
With it looking to be possible that the afflicted may have been sourced within other species, this implication raises numerous questions with regards to the theoretical source of the infection. Its spontaneous conception within multiple species with almost identical symptoms can likely be ruled out, leaving a very short list of other possibilities as to how this occurred. The most logical explanation is the “Hemophagic Panspermia Hypothesis” forwarded by one Dr. Hayley Maddox; citing some hypothetical ancient event precipitating Hemophagic cells to multiple worlds. This however remains entirely within the realm of speculation, as there exists no concrete evidence of such an event occurring. Another suggestion points to the incredibly complex and near indecipherable DNA structure of cells taken from the tumors of multiple Hemophagic subjects as being a possible indicator of extremely advanced genetic tampering by an unknown party. “The Cossidae Theory” posits that the condition’s ability to completely overpower any outside infection suggests it may have been originally created as a form of “cure all” for known diseases from said unknown party, sidestepping the issue of the originator. Finally, some undifferentiated cells (dubbed “tantalus cells”) originating within the tumor seem to quite literally “vanish” after a time outside of the host body with no indication as to where they could have gone or what their original purpose might have been. While many have written such off as poor sample handling, the number of reports of this occurring, in multiple, unrelated independent locations and organizations softens the argument and raises further questions of how or why this could occur, leaving those directly involved beyond baffled. Such capacity indicates there is still a sizable amount not understood regarding Hemophagia, with significantly more study needed to fully comprehend its nature, which could further explain some of its eccentricities.
Work in Progress: Footer subject to change at a moment's notice. Do not take a red link's presence, struck-through or otherwise, as confirmation (or denial) of their canonicity.
| Nova Sector Lore
| |
| Common Species | Humans, Tiziran, Unathi, Moths, Ethereals, Azulae, Slime Hybrids, Teshari, Synthetic Humanoids (and assorted robots), Pod Persons |
| Other Species | Genemodders (Felinids, Ice Walkers, Dwarf), Ashwalkers, Hemophages, Snailpersons, Ordoht (Formerly Skrell), Plasmamen, Flypeople, Vox (Primalis et al), Tajaran, Vulpkanin, Xenomorphic Hybrid, Rouges (Abductorkin), Miscellaneous Species |
| Nanotrasen | Nanotrasen, Central Command, Emergency Response Corps |
| External Groups | The Syndicate, Interdyne Pharmaceutics, DS-2, Cargo, The Spider Clan |
| Nova | The Nova Sector, Indecipheres, Freyja |
| Concepts | Bluespace, Plasma, Faster Than Light Travel, Resonance ("Souls"), Death |
| SolFed | SolFed, Earth in 2565, |
