#corypaws

Thoughts?

Hi there, thanks for your question!

I could reasonably see plenty of issues coming up for a character like this. Feel free to pick and choose which ones make sense based on the way you're handling decomposition or physical deterioration. Off the top of my head:

Neurological issues, as you mentioned, and decreased responses to all stimuli including sensory input or pain.

Musculoskeletal issues, most likely some degree of chronic widespread pain concentrated around the sutures and spreading through the muscles and bones, and possible weakness caused by muscle wasting requiring use of a mobility aid.

Connective tissue problems, like hypermobility in the joints as the tissue there deteriorates and prevents them from holding together properly.

Chronic illness and fatigue caused by slow blood circulation, especially if they're already bleeding regularly.

Autoimmune problems, like recurring infection (especially if they have open wounds) and chronic inflammation of various tissues and organs. This might include hair loss as well.

Deteriorating vision and blindness--the eyes start to become cloudy about two hours after death and get progressively more opaque over the next few days, so depending on how quickly your scientist character operated it could be possible this character already has only partial vision in their remaining eye.

Depending on your plan for this character, I might expect these issues to be degenerative and get worse over time as the dead tissue wouldn't be able to fully heal itself and would continue to decompose. However, considering your premise is firmly grounded in speculative fiction, I'd be willing to suspend disbelief in terms of specific symptoms or progression for this character, especially if your scientist character finds some way to "preserve" them and prevent decomposition.

Other disabled people are welcome to add their thoughts!

Actually yes, I can help with this or at least give you some context for what you’re describing.

 Because while this isn’t torture (it isn’t deliberately inflicted, it sounds like an accident) you do seem to be describing something that’s been used to abuse people, so knowing the effects in reality could be helpful.

 What you’re describing definitely meets the criteria for solitary confinement and might meet the criteria for sensory deprivation.

 Usually I advise against using sensory deprivation. It causes a lot of damage very very quickly and the long term effects are unlike any other form of torture.

 Having said that, I think it could work in your story so long as you’re sensible about the time this character is trapped.

 Let’s start with definitions: sensory deprivation masks or reduces at least four senses (sight, hearing, smell and touch). Some devices also disrupt our ability to sense gravity.

 If the void you’re picturing is dark, soundless, without scents, ground, currents or temperature changes then you’re picturing a magical sensory deprivation chamber.

 Depending on the set up the ‘safe’ period for sensory deprivation is thought to be between 4 and 24 hours.

 If the character can be rescued in that time frame then he’ll have had an extremely frightening and traumatic experience but should make a good recovery.

 You can read more about the effects of sensory deprivation (and why having a character in there for longer then 24 hours is A Bad Plan) over here.

 If you want the character to be trapped for longer, ie several days, then I’d suggest writing this void in a way that makes the scenario more like solitary confinement then sensory deprivation.

 You can read about solitary confinement here.

 You can still have an empty, lifeless magical void without it looking like a sensory deprivation chamber.

 Perhaps there’s a changeable wind in there, which can blow from any direction (including directly up or down). Perhaps there are strange noises, like rocks falling, crystals tinkling against each other, ceramic smashing.

 May be it looks like being suspended inside a huge quartz crystal. With odd patterns of light and shadow, glints against flaws and random rainbows appearing and then fading away.

 The last time I wrote a magical void I was thinking of a David Attenborough documentary and footage of the deep sea bed. It seemed like a dark, endless sandy desert full of moving, flickering lights.

 With this idea I think if you want something alien run with the idea of being inside the crystal. Look at x-ray diffraction patterns or diagrams of crystal packing structures. Think about what an opal looks like under a microscope.

 And use all of that to make your readers’ hair stand on end.

 I hope that helps. :)

Available on Wordpress.

Roseslash- An thoughtful and proud tom. Roseslash is a bit of a mystery- even to Lilacstar, a lot of the time he is very open and kind to the ones he loves, but sometimes he is quiet and reserved, he still appreciates company but he probably won’t speak. Roseslash is juggling a lot of responsibilities and he loves all of them, even if it does cause him stress, Lilacstar always tries to help out when he can but Roseslash often insists on keeping the workload unless he is really desperate - he hates admitting any kind of defeat, especially since Milkkit came into his life, he wants to be strong for her and not let her down, 15/10

Lilacstar- A thoughtful and anxious tom. After receiving his wake up call his famous confidence was shattered and now he’s a shadow of his former self, a lot of the time he will lie in his den and think, with Roseslash often trying in vain to cheer him up - one thing Lilacstar doesn’t regret is settling with Roseslash as his mate, he believes that Roseslash is a better cat than he will ever be and feels lucky to have him by his side. Rather than try and start trouble at gatherings he now sits by and let things be, barely contributing apart from the usual clan bulletins, but if another leader tries to take advantage of him thinking he’s gone soft, some of Lilacstar’s old confidence will come through and let this other cat know he is still capable of defending himself and his clan. Lilacstar is trying to get involved with clan life but currently this tends to fail since his clanmates don’t really want to interact with him, Roseslash is the one the clan tends to look to. Lilacstar wants to fix things but he doesn’t know how, 15/10

Maplestrike - A grumpy and determined she-cat. Maplestrike doesn’t trust this apparent change of heart in Lilacstar- she believes he is up to something, even if it’s just attention seeking, and as a result she has become a lot more resentful towards him - she didn’t even know that was possible. Maplestrike tends to stick to herself and doesn’t really interact with her clanmates, due to her trust issues she isn’t very social towards them, and will often snap at them if she is feeling particularly rotten, 15/10

Milkkit- An extroverted and energetic she-kit. It’s almost impossible to win an argument against Milkkit, she’s very opinionated and it’s very hard to change her mind, Roseslash often jokes to Lilacstar that she will make a great leader one day. Milkkit will often chat with any cat that makes eye contact with her, she always asks questions about things and it isn’t uncommon for her to beg warriors to take her out into the forest or to teach her some battle moves, it also isn’t uncommon for her and Dustykit to be thwarted in their attempts to leave camp, 14/10

No need to apologise!

Crabheart - A determined and serious tom. Crabheart’s clanmates have mixed feelings about whether they should admire or be frustrated with the old warrior, Crabheart will always stick by what he has said or done, and any attempt to convince him otherwise only serves to strengthen his resolve. Crabheart is very set in his ways, he believes things should be a certain way, and he has a very predictable routine. Crabheart will always give his honest opinion, and he will never sugarcoat it, he doesn’t believe that dancing around anyone’s feelings benefits anyone, the truth is all that matters, and whenever Crabheart has an opinion about something, everyone will very soon know what it is, 15/10

Sootstar- A proud and serious she-cat. Sootstar can never admit her own faults or mistakes and is always quick to pass blame onto anything that isn’t herself, often the other clans, she certainly knows how to stir up tension. Sootstar believes that a clan should be organised and disciplined, and so she takes great care in making sure her apprentices are trained to the highest standard, and she won’t hesitate to delay warrior ceremonies until apprentices are up to her standard. Whenever Sootstar lies she only lets it grow, she doesn’t know how to stop, especially if it’s to cover her own tracks, she will do anything to uphold her reputation as a fierce yet disciplined leader, 14/10

Froststar- An intelligent and wise tom. Froststar is greatly admired by all, and is still talked of with the highest respect by those that knew him while he was alive. Froststar never jumps to conclusions, he always takes in all the facts he can before making any kind of decision, he doesn’t like getting things wrong and causing unnecessary hardship because of it. Froststar was regarded as wise even before he joined StarClan, he always knows exactly what to do and always puts emotions aside so he can approach problems with a calm and level head, making him a great negotiator and peace keeper,14/10

Cursebringer - An introverted and kind tom. All Cursebringer ever wanted to do was the right thing, he believed what he was doing would help cats, not harm them. Cursebringer has always been an introverted cat, he was always socially awkward in life and preferred to keep to himself, but he can’t help but feel lonely in death. Cursebringer is always thinking about what he could have done differently, and greatly regrets ever believing the ghosts and wishes he could go back in time and stop himself from making those mistakes. While Cursebringer was alive he always tried his best to help out his clanmates, even if he didn’t speak to them that often he still cared about them, 15/10

Quickpaw - An energetic and extroverted tom. Quickpaw is always chattering, he just can’t seem to stop the words tumbling out his mouth, and he can’t focus on one topic for very long, whenever something else crosses his mind or catches his attention he immediately shifts his focus, only Slowpaw can put up with Quickpaw’s chattering for long, other cats always make up an excuse to leave after a while. Quickpaw often doesn’t think before he acts, a habit that often lands him into trouble, Slowpaw will always try and intervene when needed wherever possible, but Quickpaw often acts too fast for Slowpaw to have the chance to try and stop him, 14/10

Don’t worry!

Snail - A relaxed and cheerful tom. Snail tends to rely more on his words than his claws, he likes to try and charm talk his way out of things, but only because he isn’t a confident fighter, and he doesn’t want to go to all the effort of fighting anyway, it’s very tiring. Snail will always take the easy route when he sees one, he think life should be enjoyed and so he does as he pleases, with little regard for any consequences. Snail always always seems cheerful, mainly because he doesn’t really play by anyone’s rules except his own, he likes being independent and free, and he’s found kittypet life much better than first anticipated, now all he has to worry about is where to take a nap, sure, some of his old group might scoff at this lifestyle, but he doesn’t care, 14/10

Hally- A serious and short-tempered she-cat. Hally likes to keep her cats in line, they may be rogues but that doesn’t mean they can’t have at least some standards. Hally doesn’t like being talked back to by anyone, and will get extremely defensive when anyone questions her authority, and any cat that’s not in her group that disrespects her risks getting raked across the muzzle, she will just about tolerate some disrespect from cats in her own group as long as they still do what she says, while making it clear that she is not happy. Hally likes to get straight to business, dithering and hesitance annoys her and if a cat delays getting to the point then she will often dismiss them, as she will not deem the conversation worthy of her time. She is immediately suspicious and hostile of any cats that are not a part of her group, and will not let her guard down when they are in her presence, not bothering to mask this hostility, she doesn’t want cats to think that she can be pushed around, 14/10

Patcher - A pessimistic and introverted she-cat. Patcher will never fail to point out any potential downsides or negative consequences of something, even in the most happy situations, and it very hard to get her to say much in social situations. Patcher has many insecurities about herself that she will never admit, and so she projects her negativity about herself onto the world around her. Patcher tends to keep to herself as she thinks she is better off alone, as she believes no one can truly understand her, but deep down she craves company, that is why she sticks with her group that she largely pretends to be indifferent towards, despite secretly deeply caring about each of its members, 13/10

Slither- A cheerful and energetic tom. Slither certainly inherited his father’s positive attitude, he always seems to be cheerful no matter what is thrown at him, even Patcher’s pessimism doesn’t seem to get him down. Slither isn’t exactly the brightest cat, but he knows this and is content, he doesn’t see the point in trying to change something he has no control over, and besides, Casper will always help him out with something he doesn’t understand. Slither is extremely energetic and has a habit from dashing place to place, but he often tends to forget to look where he is putting his paws, this has landed him in a few sticky situations he will always laugh off later, 15/10