CORRUPTION LORE
Here is a compiled list of information dedicated to Corruption itself, which can help understand various aspects and procedures that are currently in place. Below you can find a table of contents that will locate each topic you are searching for once you click on the title.
OVERVIEW / SYNPOSIS
Corruption, otherwise factually known as Kyō by the scientists of Tokyo, is a virus or plague that infects people, plants, and wildlife. The origins of Kyō remains unknown, as corruption seemed to spontaneously appear throughout many different countries around very similar time frames. There is large speculation that corruption emerged from the Earth's core and traveled very slowly up to the surface for thousands if not millions of years. This would supposedly explain the various pop up points as well as differentiating time frames, as the corruption took various splits and changes of course when spreading throughout the Earth. It is important to remember that this theory is purely speculation and 'scientific' reasoning, as none of it has ever been proven. In truth, this speculation originated from the whereabouts of Archdemon Essences being confused for corruption center points.
KNOWN SYMPTOMS
Corruption, or Kyō, can infect both people and wildlife. It is transmitted through blood to blood contact, and it is known to turn live-beings into murderous rabid creatures. Kyō can cause various changes in intelligence, ranging from cruel and cunning to savage and mindless. However, it has been proven that animals that we know of within the world such as mammals, birds, fish, reptiles and amphibians with low cognitive abilities are instantly susceptible to death when their bloodstream comes into contact with Kyō. It takes only a few hours for the creature's body to fully shut down, if they aren't devoured by a corrupted beast first or kill themselves irrationally.
However, it seems as though the higher a creature is with cognitive abilities, the longer it will survive. Supposedly, the longest living person with corruption lasted for 5 years. This may seem like good news, but it is not. It is a excruciating and painful process of death, as the creature becomes more irrational and irate as the corruption flows through their veins and consumes their brain. As previously stated, Kyō can cause various changes in intelligence, ranging from cruel and cunning to savage and mindless. Scientists are unsure as to exactly what causes this corruption to take more cognitive capable creatures such as humans as a host longer than it does other less cognitive creatures. It is unethical to experiment, so all research has been done off pure accidents, hearsay, and witnesses from the loss of loved ones.
The known symptoms can include but are not limited to:
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Irrational Behavior
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Paranoia
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Irritation
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Loss of memory
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Burning sensations under the skin/in your veins
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Black veins
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Throwing up blood mixed with corruption
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Disorientation
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Rage
Once the corruption has infected it's host and reaches the brain, it begins to create chaos within the mind. Scientists believe that Kyō settles within the cerebrum that enables speech, judgment, thinking and reasoning, problem-solving, emotions and learning. Once it reaches the destination, humans begin to suffer physically and mentally. They are overwhelmed with burning sensations in their body, but are also unable to make rational decisions as the corruption worsens. They become aggressive towards anything that moves, tend to believe they're under a constant threat and must take action, and they tend to have 'black out' moments. These 'black out' moments involve the host losing all memory of their prior actions, even in severe cases of murdering someone.
WHAT ABOUT PLANTS AND OTHER ORGANISMS?
It has become very confusing as to exactly how Corruption, or Kyō, effects plants and other organisms. Our knowledge on this topic is purely from scientific studies on nymphs connections with the Earth, as they can sense the health of nature around them faster than others can observe. Nymphs have argued that the Earth is in pain as a result of the corruption, which has lead to the death of several plants and organisms that call it home. This was only further proven when a research team was sent out to explore Japan a bit further, where they found large destruction all throughout the Earth such as blackened grounds, trees, flowers, and other wildlife that is covered in corruption. These spots are believed to have grown from their places of origination, causing miles upon miles radius around it's center point over time.
However, this is not said for all of the world or even Japan. Many places remain healthy, for the most part, even during corruption. Corrupted Beasts do not seem to infect the nature around them unlike their wildlife counterparts.
MAGI WALL PROCEDURES
Corruption, or Kyō, is an extremely dangerous and contagious infection that Tokyo has prevented from entering it's borders and affecting it's people and wildlife. This is mostly due to the Magi Walls that protect the city, but there are other precautions taken for those that enter from the outside world. The Council, depending where the Magi Walls reside in territories depends on which faction handles these measures, are very adament and strict about those who enter. Towards the beginning of Corruption, this method was purely based off visuals of the people who entered. If they showed any signs or Corruption, they were immediately exiled into the wilderness. As a result, many people were not allowed to enter Tokyo for various small reasons and it became extremely difficult to find refuge. However, thankfully as the years have passed, technology and magical enhancements combined together by Warlocks began to be invented every couple of decades.
HOW DOES THE COUNCIL DETERMINE WHAT IS INFECTED AND WHAT ISN'T AT THE MAGI GATES?
As previously stated, this method used to be purely based off visual symptoms. However, Witches and Warlocks were put to work to invent new and more beneficial methods to detect Corruption in people but also wildlife and remnants on objects. It was shortly figured out by a Heiwa scientist that Corruption gives off a specific emission that can be detected and measured by one of their new inventions, which is now called Hasu. Hasu is ultimately a mist that resembles the fragrance of a Lotus flower, hence the name. This redolence scent is created through quite a lot of items, however it has not been made known to the public of Tokyo. This is purely because the Council doesn't want a scramble for supplies, so Hasu remains under their control. Although it is said certain underground markets can give you the ingredients list.. but such a source is not guaranteed to be trustworthy.
Regardless, Hasu is used within large containment centers located right before you reach the Magi Gates. All workers of these containment centers wear large hasmet suits and do not touch the individual, but rather guide them to their destination. The containment centers have large individual tubes people must step inside and be sealed within, before Hasu is sprayed into the containment tube so the individual is forced to breathe it in to their lungs which soon leads to their bloodstream. If the individual is clean of corruption, they will feel a sense of tranquility rush through them and will be released into the city a few moments later. However, if for some reason the individual has been contaminated by Corruption, they will feel burning pain course through them as Hasu causes the Corruption to react in a negative way. This typically leads to freak outs, rageful moments, self harm, or other irrational behaviors. They will also exhibit physical distress, such as their veins darkening and sometimes even becoming fully black.
WHAT HAPPENS IF SOMETHING OR SOMEONE IS CONTAMINATED?
Alarms will proceed to go off over a Corrupted individual, and the workers in hasmet suits will promptly transfer the individual within their isolated tube to a Corruption Center, where little is known exactly what happens to them. According to Heiwa No Chitsujo, the individuals are given choices depending on their severity. They can continue to live longer in the Corruption Center outside of the city to be studied by scientists, or they can be provided euthenasia options to end their suffering. This has never been seen by the public, so all information given by Heiwa is believed to be truthful. Much of the public have mixed reactions to such gestures, deeming them unethical while others believe it's a necessary evil.
However, when it comes to inanimate objects and products, Hasu works a little differently. Instead of revealing behaviors (obviously it can't), the products and objects begin to show signs of corruption through blackened spots on the surface. If it reveals these blackened spots, the item will promptly be burned to ash in an incenerator to get rid of the corruption completely. So far there are no methods to salvage items with corruption,
COMBAT
Range is key when fighting against Corruption, especially when it comes to the corrupted beasts. This is due to the severity of it's ability to spread through blood contact, which results in the dangers rising incredibly when dealing with a beast at close range. As a result, the more distance you can give yourself between Corruption and yourself, the more likely you are to survive. This helpful advice is not always followed, as certain people are better equipped for different styles of fighting, however this information is provided to anyone who dares leave the Magi Walls.
HOW DOES THE FACTIONS HANDLE THE BEASTS?
For outsiders, this remains quite an abundant question. If Kobura No Noroi goes out to handle any corrupted beasts roaming too close to the Magi Walls, exactly how do they manage to come back more times than the average fellow? What procedures do they use?
All three of the factions do explore outside the Magi Walls, however Kobura No Noroi is the faction called in to fight against the corrupted beasts drawing in too close to the Magi Walls. They are specifically trained to handle these situations, and their methods are quite unique but they work enough to increase return rates.
CLOTHING:
The cloth used by factions exploring outside the Magi Walls is enhanced by the Witches and Warlocks within their faction. They are designed with a sigil that increases the fabrics strength, making it much more difficult for it to ripped or torn. However, this doesn't mean it's invincible. The cloth is more of a precaution, allowing for minor mistakes to occur but if you are directly underneath a corrupted beast being clawed at, the cloth will not save you. This is why other procedures are in place.
WEAPONS:
The weapons used within the Councils factions can be quite similar to one another, as they are produced for the betterment of their people rather than for the betterment of the Council's status over another. As a result, all weapons are free to all factions as long as they provide safety and protection against Corrupted Beasts. These weapons however are not allowed within the Magi Walls, as they are deemed too dangerous if they land in the wrong hands. This means that before you enter your Corruption room to be sprayed by Hasu, your weapon is promptly confiscated by the workers and taken to a storage room.
TACTICS:
As for actual tactics, this remains fairly secretive by the factions in charge. For example, Kobura No Noroi has their Cobra's handle the tactics used which means a lot of these tactics differ widely between Cobra's. If you would like more information on what tactics are used in what Council, please head to their overview page where it will be explained. (W.I.P)