Freckle Organ Failure

Freckle Organ Failure can occur because of harmful substances getting deposed on the magic stabilizer veins or inside the freckles. A common cause is high consumption of magic drugs that are absorbed through the gems and boost magic (solaris can be used like that for example). It only occurs after years of regular consumption, similar to how smoking can cause severe issues to lungs.

When the freckles fail, magic absorbed through the gems is no longer filtered properly, and it destabilizes the magic. The magic stabilizer becomes less effective. Magic impurities stick inside the magic stabilizer veins forming clots and preventing proper flow.

Symptoms of magic stabilizer vein clots:

The magic stabilizer can no longer flow properly so it starts leaking through the freckles. This goes through 4 stages as the disease progresses:

1st stage:

The freckles start glowing and sparkly magic flows out of them. The cheeks become sparkly and beautiful magic smoke surrounds the grifix’s face. No pain is present. At this point the veins are restricted and the surplus is pushed out through the freckles.

2nd stage:

The freckles expand and they start hurting. More magic smoke is present. At this point the veins are almost entirely blocked and the freckles expand in order to be able to hold the increased amount of magic inside of them.

3rd stage:

Freckles fail to contain the big amount of magic and magic stabilizer because the veins are fully blocked. The skin on top breaks off and the organ breaks open, being exposed to the outside. Magic smoke and stabilizer liquid constantly flows out. This is very hurtful, and from this stage it is unlikely that the grifix will ever heal completely.

4th stage:

The stabilizer fluid and smoke start corroding the skin. Open wounds appear everywhere on the face to the point that the whole face can have its skin peel off. From this point the freckle organ is impossible to fully heal.

5th stage:

The grifix rarely survives this far but the magic may start to rot inside the stabilizer veins because it can not flow out. The rot may spread to the gems through the veins, and the gems may start to rot from the inside. Eventually they can even fall off.

Art by WrittenDreams

Symptoms of unstable magic caused by lack of stabilizer:

1st stage:

In the first stage the magic is just slightly misbehaving, but most grifix don’t realize there’s an issue. Sphirix may become barely noticeably wavy.

2nd stage:

Magic is almost unusable and constantly fails to behave as usual. Sphirix becomes wavy and glitchy and the shape starts to be unclear. The sphirix’s voice starts to be very hard to understand.

3rd stage forward:

Magic can no longer be used. It just flows uncontrollably out of the gem and can be harmful to others around. Sphirix becomes an indistinguishable form of magic and they become unable to speak properly, noise just comes out but it is impossible to understand what they are saying. Sphirix may become visible to others as the magic can no longer conceal itself. Most magic functions fail, such as hiding the grifix from other creatures.

Magic flowing through the regular magic veins starts attacking the veins which leads to very high levels of pain throughout the body. Skin corrosion may occur around additional gems and magic gems (those on the forehead and butt). As the disease progresses corrosion may start to spread around the main gems as well. Additional gems may fall off if the magic veins around them are damaged too much (magic gems will be the last to be affected because their connection through the magic arteries is stronger).

Treatment:

Stages 1 to 2 can be treated to some extent, but from stage 3 on the freckle organ is unsavageable. Sometimes the doctors will sever the connections to the freckles surgically, hoping that the gems will be able to resurface the third organ on the muzzle and use it instead. 

If that option is not possible the only way to keep the grifix alive is to completely block the magic flow altogether, using special lotions on the gems or surgically altering the magic apparatus. The grifix will have to live the rest of their life without magic or sphirix.

Solaris drug usage:

Solaris can be smashed into a paste that when applied over the gems causes a tingling electric sensation and boosts magic abilities. It also causes a very pleasant sensation as it enters the magic veins, which can be addictive. Using it regularly will lead to the magic system being much weaker without, which causes addiction. Extensive usage of it in this way will cause Freckle Organ Failure. Amongst the withdrawal symptoms are: low magic flow, lack of sparkles in the mane, fading sphirix that can even go fully invisible (can cause severe panic attacks), feeling very weak.