#thornproject

Author: Vensala Fairwind

Gorgrond Camp Disturbance Evening of March the 7th This is an open report. Those involved: Anashae Dawnbringer, Hyrall Fairwind, Vensala Fairwind, Terenus Dawncreed, Se'lysona Moonstalker, Arindae Quel'salama The Marshal was going over research camp procedures when a soldier alerted us to a disturbance down the road. The gnarled body of an Orc was found, infected by the Botani in some way. Some 50 yards or so farther down the road was a group of Iron Horde who had engaged unfamiliar Sin'dorei. Through some manner or another, an Iron Star fell on them and provided a hefty distraction for us to make a move against them. Two were killed in the strike, while the rest were taken care of more directly. I made use of one of Ahral's prototype flamethrowers and incinerated the corpses left behind; those who were obviously infected and those who were not, to err on the side of caution. One of the Sin'dorei survived and was taken back to the camp for observation, as he was exhibiting symptoms. Notes: The living infected will be kept for observation, isolated and in quarantine, I'm sure. As for the prototype, it performed adequately. As noted, long term use is unwise. The device heats quickly, which could cause mechanical failure and pose risk to the operator. The jungle is hot enough without that thing spewing a liquid inferno mere feet from your face.

Doctor Azuriann,

The research in the laboratory animals has been a tedious process and painstakingly slow given our current situation. Teran Duskwhisper’s presence has provided us with tools in the form of a living strain of the mutagenic pathogen in his bloodstream, but has also left us with a sense of dread that we might not manufacture a cure in time to save him.

His symptoms have progressed to tumor-like growths upon the skin which weigh his limbs down and give the appearance of ‘bark’ or a tree in texture. His nail beds are beginning to thicken as well, which is an outward sign of his condition. The thing that is perhaps the most difficult of all is knowing the scope of his pain and tortured cries. We are able to administer rounds of pain medication to help manage it but the cellular shifts progressing as fast as they are, it is akin to torture. When he is able to manage words he does not ask for death, he asks us to make his death count for something, to save his people.

The ‘thorn’ itself was removed utilizing hydrochloric acid and wax as a means of pulling it from the flesh cleanly.

Today I will be administering the TPV, strain 34h, 25mg/mL.The pH has been adjusted with sodium hydroxide and if necessary, hydrochloric acid to fall in the range of 10.7 to 11.7. Dilution in intravenous solution must be performed before infusion. Each 20 mL vial contains 500 mg of TPV-34h and 49 mg of sodium, and each 40 mL vial contains 1000 mg TPV-34h and 98 mg of sodium.

The result in the research animals is that on a cellular level, the progression halts and even begins to regress slowly. Introducing this to him at all in this stage of development is a gamble and if I felt that the duration of his life was longer I certainly would not take it at this time. But the truth is that he literally has days before he will succumb to this and the window of opportunity is closing for Teran Duskwhisper.

We have managed the dosage rate successfully in three animals who were afflicted and two of them have fared better than the third. One of them still bears outward signs of the mutation but appears to be symptom free, one of them has what amounts to tremors which could be indication that there is nerve damage, and the other is being monitored due to the influence of a high grade fever.  I have been notified that the third has expired, autopsy results will be reached before the final decision is made.

Onto the subject of a preventative vaccine: The killed virus test subjects have exhibited a variety of symptoms as their bodies begin to illicit an immune response and build a defense. These include diarrhea, vomiting, body ache, weeping eyes, high grade fever, migraine,  light sensitivity. Of twenty-seven subjects, four remain. They must be monitored before we move on to the subject of ‘live’ testing.

It is important to note that the rate of progress in this was greatly expedited by living cultures of active virus in blood samples by the Duskwhisper family. Normally, a vaccine such of this can take decades to develop but due to the nature of the affliction, the particular teams researching it, medical advancements and these cultures specifically, and proper funding the progress rate has been nothing short of astounding. Unfortunately long-term effects of these treatments cannot yet be measured, but given the situation there is little choice.

I will be sending along documentation of our work once we have more results and progress reports on Teran’s condition.

Doctor Dawnbringer

Doctor Azuriann,

You have my most sincere thanks in regards to Teran and his deceased relations, Grethail Duskwhisper (Magistrix), Andoran Duskwhisper (Infantryman), and Beliath Duskwhisper (Farstrider). Teran was able to give me their names but has since fallen silent aside from the screams which he truly cannot help. I witnessed Grethail utilizing a fire spell upon arrival to the skirmish and a very nice crossbow was found alongside Beliath's corpse on the roadway. The other one fought with a two handed broadsword.

As stated in the previous note, we have been immersing him in cold baths which have slowed the effect to a degree. He is being sedated with a drug that showed no change at all in the cellular structures and bears no impact on the virus itself. The reason for this is so that his body is not thrust into cardiac arrest from the sheer magnitude of pain.

The new samples have allowed us to make significant progress with both the killed virus vaccine and the theraputic vaccine. In the TPV, we are applying it to the filtration process as we speak, it will be tested in cultures and the rabbits before we inject Teran with it. In the rabbit studies, so far it has been promising, although the exact dosage is a little tricky depending on the stage in the subject. All in all, we are making micro-adjustments to ensure a safe delivery vehicle.

The next clutch of rabbits has been injected with strain 16g of the killed virus. These are specimens that are not previously infected. Thus far, they've been exhibiting flu-like symptoms which were projected in the initial studies. As these symptoms even out, we will impose the thorn upon them and measure the immune response. We are doing what we can to make this process go faster but unfortunately with things of this nature, accelerating something too quickly leads to disasterous results. Better to do the job right the first time. Results should be available soon and with a little luck, answers. But we cannot really leave it to luck, now can we?

Additional hands would be helpful, we maintain a strict schedule around the clock and have teams of researchers working at all times. Please inform any who come to us that resting, waking, and all meal activity are logged to ensure that the team is in good health and best possible mental state while working. I will send you news as soon as I have it.

Doctor Dawnbringer

Doctor Azuriann,

Thus far the testing is going well. I am writing this hasty note to you to relay information on we have on ground zero patients number two through four. While the girl who was brought to your facility is known as patient 0, a small group was located on the roadway about half a mile from our camp. One was dead upon arrival though samples were drawn before he was incinerated with the new flamethrower model. The other three were engaged in a confrontation with a small group of Iron-horde. One died to a blast of flame expelled with a propelled weapon known in the region as an Iron star. Lucky for us it missed the camp and our party, allowing us enough time and distraction to intervene. Patient three had her throat ripped out by the hooked arm of one of the orcs who was quickly dispatched from behind. Patient number four was injured but remains intact. He is infected recently.

His name is Teran Dawnwhisper, 34 years of age and cousin to the deceased. His exposure to the spore was approximately seven hours prior when he was trying to help his cousin up. The area of exposure is the back of hand and he described a stinging sensation followed by this itching fire under his skin. Currently, we initiated decontamination protocols for all that accompanied us and have revamped one of the clean room tents before our arrival to camp to be changed into a medical room for him. We have soft leather restraints for his arms and legs as we do not wish to take chances or endanger anyone. He is bearing all of this as best he can and after decontamination and blood draws, we have immersed him into a water cooled 'tub' of sorts which basically amounts to a rubber sleeve filled with water atop ice. 

We are trying to slow the rate of progress with this virus by cold treatment first. We are also taking the samples into immediate testing with this dreaming glory compound to see if we can dramatically slow it. Though I am not without compassion, Teran and his kin may unwittingly have given their lives for the sake of being a key into the development of a cure. I would like his name and the names of his kin submitted for formal honors as he has consented to aid our research no matter the outcome. His exact words were, "If it means dying for my people, I will die. Use my body and corpse to find a way through. It will be an irony that my greatest accomplishment might occur and make a difference after my last breath has been drawn."

It is my sincerest hope that we can save him, good doctor. He is a remarkable young man.

Author: Doctor Anashae Dawnbringer

In the course of study on manufacturing a cure, it has also been concluded that because the pathogen base of this thorn or ‘spore’ is mutagenic, it is too unstable for use in research involving weapon development.

Quite frankly, it ate through the containers when mixed with certain chemical and plant based substances and in some cases there were few common denominators at all. This makes it unstable and a danger even to trained researchers in the handling. In some cases, the petri dish was overflowing with a volatile substance within seconds and ATE THROUGH two containment modules. Thankfully the technician handling it did NOT get it on their gloves as they would have been subjected to it at full potency and could have potentially lost a limb or their life.

The bottom line for those of you reading this who have an interest in weapons development is this: If it is too volatile for those trained in handling hazardous materials to be able to contain in method or manner with professional grade equipment, or if the growth rate is such that it cannot be contained, it is useless to you. Will you kill people? Yes, but it is likely you will kill yourself and team of researchers long before you have a chance to weaponize this.

Due to the extreme multiplication rate and shifting cellular properties of this particular plant spore, it is a bad choice. The rate of increase means that it will overcome anything that tries to contain it and thus far, the only way to stop the rate was to incinerate the multiple containers and substance in the incineration unit.

Report: Therapeutic PV vaccine

Author: Doctor Anashae Dawnbringer

Preliminary tests involving the herb commonly known to us as ‘dreaming glory’ have been established with good results. Intern Noirwind selected this herb, presumably after thinking that perhaps the answer was found in another form of vegetation. Several were tried, some with bad result.

Dreaming glory is an odd sort of plant that we found in the Outlands some time ago. It has healing properties and unlike many of the plants from that region, has a very low influence of fel in its genetic make up. Under the microscope, initial tests showed a slight shrinking of the mutagenic pathogen.

Further tests were done in which we utilized a combination of methods to adhere it to a killed virus samples that we had grown from cultures. These are the same cultures in our last report by Lydianah Silverstorm and Terenus Dawncreed. Seventeen test subjects were utilized intiially and all but three perished. Two who survived appear to be ‘almost’ normal, even on a cellular level. Their blood is being screened to study immune response and how it behaves when introduced or reintroduced again.

The third test subject mutated in strange ways, we believe that in part this is due to the strain chosen that held a different type of blood sample in it. It is the oddest looking rabbit I have ever seen, having small fangs and nubs upon its head that are hard and knobby. All in all the creature remains docile and under examination at this time. When it feels threatened, the rear leg twitches and causes it to begin thumping against the ground. Other than that, it seems perfectly normal. It is likely that this animal will have to be put down.

The killed virus cultures are being utilized to piggyback onto a known vaccine known as PH20, commonly used to prevent poliomyelitis. Of twenty test subjects two survived. It is important to note that we kept five of this number in a ‘cold room’ where their temperature was suppressed through climate and it did have an effect on the rate at which the virus attacked. It slowed the process, meaning that if a person comes into contact with this, putting ice on it and lowering their core body temperature could buy them time. Not much, mind you, but in cases like these it should be included in an emergency protocol.

Author: Lydianah Silverstorm Status: Open Report to the Battlesworn and Doctor Dawnbringer Date: March 2, Evening Location: Gorgrond Involved: Eyrika Noirwind Doctor Anashae Dawnbringer Terenus Dawncreed Kahirah Dawnwhisper Doctor Gehrond, Doctor Celere

Content: I trust others will post their findings here as well, so I will only go into detail about the samples that I have tested. The subject was a bunny that had been exposed to the appropriate amount of fel to render its BFC (Blood Fel Content) within normal parameters for a Sin'dorei. Blood was drawn from the sample and placed in several petri dishes to be observed under several different conditions. One set of dishes was stowed away immediately at room temperature to be observed over a length of time. The second pair was subjected to a heat trial at two different rates of change. The third pair was subjected to a cold trial at two different rates of change. Tests: Heat Trial 1: Duration of Test: 20 minutes Heat Source: Burner Base Temperature: 100° Rate of Change: Increase of 1 ½° every 5 minutes Result: The cells in this sample began to die around 13 minutes into the experiment, though they were not incinerated. Heat Trial 2: Duration of Test: 20 minutes Heat Source: Burner Base Temperature: 100° Rate of Change: Increase of ½° every 5 minutes Result: The cells in this sample did not experience a change at all during the 20 minute trial. Cold Trial 1: Duration of Test: 40 minutes Cold Source: Dry ice Base Temperature: 50° Rate of Change: Decrease of 10° every 5 minutes Result: The viral matter in the cells in this sample began to replicate during the first 10 minutes of the trial, but then quickly shriveled by the 15 minute mark. After the initial 15 minutes no further change occurred. Cold Trial 2: Duration of Test: 40 minutes Cold Source: Ice water (later, dry ice to keep the rate of change constant) Base Temperature: 50° Rate of Change: Decrease of 5° every 5 minutes Result: For the first 20 minutes of this experiment, the viral matter multiplied. Change occurred when the sample reached 28° and the viral matter slowed reproduction, stopping completely at 24°. Every subsequent degree of chilling essentially reversed the process, and by the time the sample reached 18° all viral matter had shriveled and died. No further change occurred. Findings: Heat trials indicate that killing the cells is possible with appropriate application of heat. However--and more interesting--cold tends to make the virus multiply up to a certain point. It seems that the point at which replication slows is 28°m, and the point at which the virus is "frozen" is 24°. Beyond that it is possible to kill the virus by chilling it to a certain point. I would suggest another cold trial with a slightly higher rate of change than the second to determine what rate is best for killing the virus. Other Notes: Please compare these findings to those of Terenus Dawncreed, as he was also performing heat and cold trials. (Second report attached)

Doctor Azuriann,

Thank you for your reply to my previous letter. I look forward to speaking with you and perhaps working with you in the future. We are also training a few interns and teaching them along the way so that we have a broader based team for future endeavors. They will, of course, have traditional methods offered to them and the opportunity to pursue their own doctorates in time but this is a beginning point.

Unfortunately, I may not be able to be at the next meeting. Phase 1 is nearly complete but ongoing. We have some promising news with one of the strains as it has been slowing the mutative rate and actually shrinking the cells from the spore in the blood culture. This may not be the preventative vaccine but it is possible that it is a treatment for those afflicted. More testing needs to be done.