Morphosis

Morphosis is an alien and unpredictable disease carried by some Mortesanians. It is different from Ichor corruption(Sometimes called Mortosis), and Mortesanians are the only Rai that carry a disease that solely targets mortals, leading many to believe the disease originates from Jakal or even Mortesan. Unbeknownst to the people of Earth, Morphosis is found in many places across the Altum.

Morphosis can be contracted almost solely from direct contact with a Mortesanian who carries the disease, and not all of them do. However, within Morlynths, the disease can run rampant due to it being a closed space in which the disease is highly concentrated.

### Strains of Morphosis

#### Ortusis

*Considered the strand with the most variety in its potential, Ortusis involves the creation of new life. Be it a parasite or a whole separate being birthed from the death of another.*

##### Revival Ortusis

Contrary to many films about zombies, Morphosis actually requires something left in order to "bring it back". Needing to have been exposed to it while still alive, Revival Ortusis can bring a 'dead' organism back. If soon enough after death the mind can be restored(albeit, not without some kinks), however majority of the time the mind seems to be wiped. If the morphosis IS the new or restored mind is unclear, and requires more testing. The 'fresh' minds vary from curious, to friendly, to afraid and occasionally can come out aggressive.

##### Host Ortusis

This strand requires direct contact with the 'spawn' of Host Ortusis Morphosis growths in order to be caught. The hosts are not a number of small parasites in a body like worms, but a reasonably large growth somewhere in the body connected to the spinal cord, or in the brain/brain stem depending on the strain. These parasites adapt quickly. It can range from impossible to detect from the outside, to whole sections of the body being modified for whatever purpose the parasite has. The host often behaves distant and is unresponsive, usually unable to string together a full sentence. It's unknown if the person still exists or the parasitic morphosis is the new brain.

##### True/Phoenix Ortusis

Still unknown in how it actually accomplishes the feat of creating what seems to be a completely new organism out of itself, it's thought that it takes information from whatever biological materials it was incubated inside of and prints them back out as a new creature. No produced creature has ever been identical to its host or hosts, and White Rose has shown particular interest in this strand's potential, probably because creatures of human-level thinking have been shown to be possible.

\_\_\_\_\_\_

#### Cariosis & Auctosis

*Often attributed with Bane and Boon as decay(Cariosis) and growth(Auctosis), this strand can present in two different ways. It is the most common and thankfully, usually doesn't advance past Minor. Out of all strains of Morphosis, this is the only one that is capable of directly killing its host, however, it is also the only one capable of being cured if removed soon enough. Both of these strains can stop progression at any phase, and it varies case to case.*

##### Minor

Showing up as small bumps/knobs of bone or tissue, Auctosis often sends many concerned individuals right into the doctors; while Cariosis is almost unnoticeable in its early stages, often appearing as strange sunken in scar tissue. These are usually both sent out for biopsies, and that allows the Rose Corporation to come in to monitor the patient. Luckily for the afflicted, Rose Corp allows most Cariosis and some Auctosis patients to remain free.

##### Moderate

With moderate comes an exponential rise in severity for both variants. Auctosis can render limbs unusable, while Cariosis can eat away fingers, limbs, and muscle. Auctosis in this stage and beyond is incredibly painful while Cariosis itself is eerily painless due to nerves being eliminated(other neurological/mechanical pains may be present). Though usually external and on the limbs and face, if internal, Moderate is where people begin to die. This occurs if the Auctosis grows on or into organs and is not removed, or if Cariosis begins to eat away an organ.

##### Advanced

Very few of either strain usually make it to this stage as most don't progress past Minor, or have had the Morphosis amputated. Auctosis strain at this stage renders most living things immobile without heavy support if it is on the limbs. If internal, the individual would be passing. Cariosis at this stage is capable of removing grand portions of the body, and none survive past this point.

##### Complete

Auctosis individuals at this stage are in a prison of their own body. It is almost unheard of for any to reach this phase.

\_\_\_\_\_\_

#### Contotic

*This strand is often considered by Mortesan worshippers to be the incarnate of her 'love', as it is capable of diminishing one's mind to a state of pure instinct and limited complex thought known as 'Bliss'. Contotic usually quickly (and painfully) advances to a specific stage, and after that point the growth rate falls off into the undetectable. Any strand of Contotic can be indirectly fatal if the body cannot handle the transformation.*

##### Minor-Advanced Contotic

Changes from Minor, Moderate, and Advanced Contotic are permanent alterations to one's bodily form. Contotic takes what structures are already present and modifies them, most or some of the original body are still clear and easy to make out. Usually, just a limb or part of the face has been changed, in worst cases, all limbs and extremities are changed but a torso can still be made out.

##### Zarkid Contotic

Nearly undetectable for sometimes years, Zarkid is sought after for not only the mindlessness it is capable of bringing, but also its regenerative properties and potential for immortality, as every time the body changes form it is restored to a previous 'save'. The body can completely transform, and change back. The transformations can be instant or take hours depending on what caused them, however, if the transformation is too fast it can result in shock, heart attacks, and stroke. The individual can stay in either form for years, however perpetual bliss can create unpredictable alters. It is also common for only partial transformations to occur rendering the morphote immobile. Some symptoms do exist while in a dormant state, including but not limited to vibration of the eyes, lack of feeling in limbs, seizures, occasional amnesia, unusual strength or weakness, fatigue, and lack of control/feeling in the face, and emotional stress can exaggerate these.

##### Zorid Contotic

A sudden, violent, usually irreversible full transformation into a morphote.

### On Earth

While no strain is known to be curable, they can regress in severity in isolated cases, and seem almost unnoticeable in cases of Zarkid. Some organizations, namely the Rose Corporation, are actively working to cover up and stop the spread of Morphosis. The disease is almost unknown to anyone outside the corporation, excluding the worshipers and isolated groups. Some however believe the Rose Corporation has a much more sinister reason for capturing and covering up any mention of it.

Some strains, like parasitic morphosis (Host Ortusis which implants itself in the brain) are easy to engineer which is great news for some less-than-moral people. Some have developed a way to isolate and identify the disease, allowing for forceful infection, as well as in some rare cases modifying it to be contagious.