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Corprus is a fictional
disease featured in the
video game The Elder Scrolls III:
Morrowind. In
the Elder Scrolls III:
Morrowind, the disease forms part of the
antagonism that plagues the
fictional province of
Morrowind; the
Nerevarine, the
game's central protagonist, is even infected with the disease
during the storyline. The name "Corprus" is probably derived from
the Latin word
corpus, translating into "body". This is
fitting, as Corprus is a disease that generally affects the body of
the afflicted person in drastic ways.
After infection, the
disease follows one of two paths. Generally symptoms include
numerous cancerous growths and violent insanity. Those in the late
stages of the disease become stronger and are referred to as
Corprus Stalkers. Some, whose growths are more debilitating, are
called Lame Corprus Beasts. Corprus is considered incurable by the
denizens of Morrowind.
Corprus is spread by the Ashstorms and
can be considered a deadlier version of (if not a relative to)
the Blight, because
both were created by Dagoth Ur and are spread in the same fashion,
via the Ashstorms, and can also be contracted from
Corprus-afflicted individuals. It also allows the sufferer to
become susceptible to
Dagoth Ur's dream messages (referred to by
Morrowind denizens as "Soul Sickness), which could possibly lead
him or her to joining the Sixth House Cult.
Corprus is called
"the Divine Disease" by members of
House Dagoth, as they believe it to be the
evolution of the
Dunmer
race, bringing them unity and immortality, and protecting them from
all outside influences, mainly the Empire. In the Seven Trials of
the
Nerevarine, it
is referred to as the "Curse-of-Flesh."
A magical barrier, the
Ghostfence, was
created by
Vivec,
Almalexia and
Sotha Sil for the
purpose of containing the Blight and Corprus disease within the
Red Mountain region. As it slowly
begins to weaken, the Blight epidemic spreads outside Ghostfence,
and both it and Corprus spreads throughout many places in
Morrowind. Tel Fyr also houses a Corprusarium where the victims of
Corprus can find refuge and live out the remainder of their lives
in relative peace. It is possible that they seem to keep at least
some sort of awareness of themselves.
Corprus has a much greater
reflection in user-made mods than in the original game. In the
Sixth House mod, the player can actually join the House Dagoth and
win it a decisive victory. The mod's storyline ends in destroying
Ebonheart, killing Vivec, shutting down the Ghostfence and letting
Blight and Corprus spread across Vvardenfell, forcing all the
foreigners away. Corprus and Dagoth cults are featured in multiple
darkside mods like Suran Underworld. A global storyline for House
Dagoth is included in the Chaos Heart global mod, where Corprus is
removed by Dagoth Ur himself, along with the rebirth of the
House.
There are signs that a House Dagoth storyline was planned
to be included in the original game, but wasn't completed due to
lack of time.
During the course of the game the main character
performs a quest in which he is infected with corprus. Infection is
unavoidable-if he is not infected in the natural course of the
quest, he is automatically infected upon its completion. They seek
a potion from
Divayth Fyr at
Tel Fyr on the east coast of
Vvardenfell. The
potion removes the negative
symptoms of the disease while retaining its two
positive symptoms, immunity to age and all other diseases
(
Blight and common
diseases). However, it is unclear as to whether the main character
is healed because he is the Nerevarine, or whether the potion
actually works. One of the trials for becoming accepted as the
Nerevarine is proving the Nerevarine's ability to resist the
Corprus disease. Fyr also informs the main character that the
potion has killed all his other test subjects.
Corprusarium
The
Corprusarium is an asylum for victims of
Corprus. Due to the extremely contagious and untreatable nature of
the disease, along with the fact that the infected develop
aggressive behavior, the most effective non-lethal method of
prevention of the disease is the incarceration of all victims of
the disease away from society.
Purpose
The
Telvanni wizard Divayth Fyr, seeing the
need for some measure of comfort to these unfortunate victims (and
seeing the disease as a fascinating and potentially useful
phenomenon), constructed the Corprusarium beneath his tower of Tel
Fyr. Located on one of the many small islands near Sadrith Mora, it
is the only establishment aside from
House Dagoth where Corprus sufferers are
not persecuted.
Description
The Corprusarium itself is
actually a rather unpleasant dungeon, but the inmates, having long
since gone completely mad, do not require many creature comforts.
The only luxury they seem to appreciate is the occasional drum
playing done by their caretaker, Uupse Fyr (one of Divayth Fyr's
clones), something that significantly reduces their violent
outbursts. Visitation is allowed but not recommended, obviously
because you may contract Corprus. Any violence toward any inmate is
strictly prohibited. The Corprusarium plays a vital role in the
main storyline of the game, as well. Also, there are many powerful
and valuable artifacts found there for any thief willing to try
their luck against the dungeon; you may also meet "the last living
Dwarf," who has seemingly overcome the disease's psychotic nature
and has taken up residence in the Corprusarium's deepest
chambers.