Adoxipham, colloquially known as "dox", is a magic-infused drug by which addiction is "perfect" (even the smallest amount leads to permanent dependence) and is impossible to overcome or overdose on. It is distributed exclusively through criminal street gangs and is administered intravenously primarily through forced injection called "inspiring," and is rampant throughout much of the lower class of Galwyndor.
Withdrawal
Because one dose is enough to hook someone for life, if one doesn't get more dox after a time, they experience a painful withdrawal commonly called the Slow Burn. Essentially, this is a burning sensation that covers the entire body, as it targets the nerves. If left long enough, the pain feels like fire, and can be debilitating.
Development and History
Adoxipham is actually a Vurg creation, which is used to keep the skarthen thralls from suffering a swift deterioration, as they already have shortened lifespans. This is the primary purpose, but the secondary purpose is to keep the skarthen in line. Withholding dox from them is used to gain quick compliance. Given that the thralls have been made for about 400 years, it is reasonable to assume that adoxipham has been in use for the same amount of time. Its usage by humans, however, has only been happening for a round a tenth of that time.
Before the Vurg made contact with humans following the Curella virus, they supplied the skarthen with dox via one-way drones, which would function as dead drops after landing in a predetermined location. Each supply would have enough dox to last them several weeks, and it was generally agreed that the thralls would be capable of self-rationing, due to their training.
Sometime within the last four decades, however, Hollin Dulmer, a human, observed a skarthen named Kiluna Brightsmith taking what appeared to be a new drug, and he managed to steal the entire supply from the skarthen. Hollin and a group of friends got together to try the drug. The small supply did not go very far, though, as the humans soon realized how agonizing withdrawal was. After the stolen supply ran out, they went mad and begged the skarthen to give them more. When she refused, they murdered her, and not long after, committed suicide.
News of this ultimately reached the Vurg handlers, who discovered that the slow burn might also be used to handle humans as it worked for skarthen. Given that they are a curious species, the Vurg then elected to slowly supply humans with the drug, so as to observe the effects. During the time leading up to the virus, the drug's usage was limited, yet rumors began to circulate that it contained magic, which ultimately caught the attention of the Arkaeni, who have always sought to bring back magic. Almost immediately, the Arkaeni Niril began experimenting with the drug; he petitioned several noble houses for help funding his research on the drug, as he believed it to be of great importance. Since the research pertained to magic, however, he was rejected largely because no one wanted to pay for him to chase superstition. He ultimately was granted access to the new laboratory of his long-time friend, Talmage, who helped him in several facets of his investigation of the drug.
After the Clavic Empire acquired the Verges, Talmage had to secure new funding. After visiting the facility at Wornspire, the emperor became their patron. After the Vurg made contact and sent the emissary Thagil to work alongside the Emperor, the Vurg suggested the drug as a potential economic engine and tool for control, a prospect which appealed to the emperor. In EE 11,333.1, the drug began to be distributed throughout the mainland and the outlying islands, produced by the Vurg and controlled by the Emperor. To maintain distance from culpability, the Clavics used gangs such as the Crimson to do the heavy lifting. Shortly after this, the emperor moved Niril to his own facility at Victurus, so he could better observe the Vurg and interact with the emperor directly. His work with Talmage was by then completed, and he was able to turn his attention into finding out more about the drug and the Vurg.
Notes
- Dox is primarily spread by force using needles. The people tasked with this are called "pokers". Germ, the first poker to appear in the series uses a retrofitted Anderman T44K wrist rack which he calls "Little Skulf".
- Sometime after Niril returned from Wornspire to begin setting up the Arkaeni lair, he noticed how the Vurg would only perform their transfusions from within the safety of byrridium-lined chambers, which is why the walls of the Arkaeni lair are now also lined with the material.