#harrowstorm

Harrowstorm

Art for The Elder Scrolls: Online

Context: There is a field of chemistry called ‘Radical Chemistry’ and it is the study of free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that contain one unpaired valence electron. Cause of this radicals love to react with things.

One known radical is an Oxygen Radical, these are produced naturally but some conditions can make them appear more.

So how do oxygen radicals connect to giant red storms that turn people to vampires or harrowfeinds. Well this is less how they work and more how they are created.

Things we know about Harrowstorms is:

-        There is a ritual.

-        Alchemy is involved.

-        Remains are used especially in those of the elderly.

Now despite what people say, alchemy is chemistry. Chemistry would not exist without alchemy. So, I can substitute alchemy here for Chemistry.

When it comes to actual storms, especially thunderstorms ozone (O3) is needed. It also causes that ‘pre-rain smell’.

This is the formation of Ozone:

It requires oxygen radicals to form.

Now another interesting thing to note is a theory of ageing called DNA Damage Theory. In short, this theory states that physical ageing is caused by the DNA naturally damaging cells and then replacing them over time. This can partly be done by the DNA breaking down and bi-producing oxygen radicals. The body naturally produces oxygen radicals.

When organic matter has an excess amount of oxygen radicals something called Oxidative Stress happens.

As shown above, this can also cause major health issues if allowed to go on. Your body naturally prevents oxidative stress with antioxidants. However, if you look at the image of the oxidised apple, and then compare it to Harrowfeinds.

and you begin to see that the two sort of look similar.

Harrowfinds seem to look like there tissue has gone though oxidative stress. Because of the Haorrwstorm that requires oxygen radicals.

In sort the Harrowstorm’s cause harrowfeinds and the harrowfinds made boost the harrowstorm.

While the prosses of making a harrowstorm is labelled as the theft of life energy it could be semi science explained. Hypothetically the magic used could force aging, producing a major amount of oxygen radicals that would then, A. kill someone, or B. turn them into a harrowfeind (with the added vampire magic). This would also make storms self-sufficient as long as there where bodies around.

To add to all of this, it can be argued that the Reachmen witches fully know how this works. The evidence to support this is in their wicker masks.

While these masks look cool there is actually possibly more to them. Thanks to probably data mining or ZOS, we know the Icereach coven motif is made out of a type of Willow.

Now scientists have studied willow trees because they are well known for their medicinal properties however one study, I found states:

Willow bark extract protects against oxidative stress. The thing that I am proposing Harrowstorms can cause.

In short, this implies if not confirms the Icereach witches have knowledge of radical chemistry. Radical chemistry was only really started in 1900 and it takes a log of pre-chemical bases to get there such as organic chemistry, chemical mechanisms, electron theory etc.

Meaning as a culture it is highly likely that the Reachmen are the most scientifically advanced in terms of practicality. Meaning they care much more about medicine, textiles, ecology, and improving quality of life than say the Dwemer’s flashy machinery and hall blades.