Corprus

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.

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