Know Your Enemies: Citizens' Guide to Mordesh
As a patriotic citizen of the Dominion and her glories, I wish to create a new series of articles on the anatomy of the enemies along with their inherent dangers to those in the time of encounters. The main idea stems from my reasoning that many citizens either underestimate or are unprepared in their encounters against Exiles, of which their surprising cunning allow them to withstand the influence of our glorious culture in spite of their limited resources and technology. As a result, I also notice the negative effects of current well-known facts, since an encounter with a Mordesh almost got me killed since I underestimated them as mindless savages and caught in their treacherous ambush during my first years on Nexus. For these reasons, the main five articles for my subject on “Know Your Enemies” series will focus on the Exiles.
My first article on this subject will be on Mordesh, the race whose hubris of their untested immortality elixir have transformed the majority of the species into Ravenous. Few surviving members had their sanity held in check by their implants filled with a special serum called “Vitalus”. Although the Dominion has spread the dangers of their species, the exaggeration on their Ravenous counterpart has caused many citizens to think that simple tactics would suffice. If a person held that idea in the face of an attack by Mordesh, their battle would end in miserable defeat as the Mordesh still have their intellect in countering their plans and still capable in combat as sentient beings.
Although all active Mordesh members are afflicted with Contagion and have decayed physiology, they managed to remain sane due to the Vitalus serum that allows their bodily process to filter out malignant elements as long as their implanted tanks that contain them are replenished regularly. They also became creative with their implants as a form of body aesthetics in the form of jewelry-esque appearances and “hairstyles”. In addition, their skin tone also becomes bright red in contrast to varieties of skin colors resulting from their decay.
Mordesh only become Ravenous if he or she do not have Vitalus for a small period of time and will act like savage beasts with no concept of friends or enemies. They also have become creative as they have created customized color for the serum and modifications for their implants. The reasons for their current status as a race of sterile decaying cyborgs lies with a Dominion-approved tale of a young alchemist on the planet of Grismara.
Approximately a century ago, Mordesh were not decaying and sterile of the current time, but a scientifically minded race with a penchant for alchemy, or science of transformation of matters. According to Vigils of Twilight, one of few lores on Grismara before the blockade, “[Mordesh] have mastered the transmogrification, aphrodisiacs, and powerful clean fuel, still they try to go beyond their peak”. In their golden age, Victor Lazarin was one of the greatest minds but began to seek immortality after the death of his wife from birth complications. He created Everlife Elixir, which its name became an accursed name among the remaining Mordesh as its immortality also enhanced diseases and pathogens that would mark the end of their civilization. Although their youth were preserved, their skins rotted and later their minds were ravaged to the point of madness that entire planet was infected in days to weeks. Their hubris-led disaster was also more tragic by the fact that they were poised to embrace the light of Dominion until their outbreak forced the military to block off from furthering their Contagion. Yet they managed to escape with the aid of the Exiles, which they lend their service against the Dominion with espionage and scientific research. Though they remain few and declining, the Mordesh still have the drive to ply their deadly trade.
Mordesh's main form of engagement is through stealth and mobility. Many of them serve in notorious the Blackhood, where they engage in subterfuge and spying. In a situation where a citizen may encounter a Mordesh, they must take caution as a cunning combatant who will exploit every exposed weakness. It is was to alert authorities from the Legion or ICI. If the citizen is a soldier or capable of combat, attacking a Mordesh is doable since they can suffer from wounds like any sentient beings such as deep cuts or crushing blows. It is important to target the implant tanks, but one must take caution on the possibility of them turning into Ravenous that would cause rampage if they are not contained. If they are captured, agencies take note on the time of capture, since dosages of Vitalus must be regulated for interrogation and imprisonment.
In addition, their corpses must be disposed by incineration or disintegration of any organic materials along with decontamination of possible cells for precaution against lingering pathogens. Although no known cases of Contagion's interspecies-transfer has been made, the studies by Collegium on remains of Mordesh showed that the diseases and decaying matters from corpses can pose harm to all species.
This concludes my article on information on Mordesh for citizens to know about their enemies. In summation, Mordesh are a cunning race that managed to retain their intellect and sanity. Their Vitalus keeps them from turning into a mindless monster. In combat, Mordesh are evasive but they can be defeated if one aims for their vulnerable parts.
I hope that my message is followed with an appreciation for DNN.