Atharia Glossary

 DARD - data access and retrieval device

 Datroya Plain – a large, mostly barren wasteland that was once full of life. The ground water there is highly toxic to human life. Dream sticks – made by wrapping a blend of cured herbs in a long, thin roll of brown paper, these are highly addictive and can have mild hallucinogenic effects. The best and most expensive ones are made with fire cured herbs while the cheapest are air cured. Use of these is highly frowned on by the Central Medical Board (CMB) as studies have proved that long term use has been linked to serious health problems. The Agency strictly prohibits use of this drug by any of its members though this policy is difficult to enforce; the herbs used are largely innocuous on their own and it’s only in this particular combination that they become dangerous. The standard forms of drug screening won’t pick up on it. If an Agent is caught using dream sticks, they will be fired. If the infraction is severe enough there may be a fine or even jail time involved. Fugitive recovery agent – bounty hunter

 Magcuffs – magnetically locking handcuffs used only by bounty hunters. Each cuff is assigned one controller and will only respond to it and the District’s master controller. Each Agent is assigned only enough cuffs to deal with their current assignment. When their target is apprehended, they turn him or her in with the cuffs attached. They turn over the remote as well as the target.

 Rescher’s Syndrome – A potentially fatal disease that causes numerous detrimental effects to many organs, especially the brain and liver, as well as causing hypoglycaemia. There is presently no known single cause of the ailment while the symptoms can be treated, there is no known cure. It progresses through five stages and can be fatal at any stage in the illness’ progression. It is similar to Reye’s disease and some scientists believe it to be a mutated form of it.
 * Stage I
 * Persistent, heavy vomiting that is not relieved by eating
 * Generalized lethargy
 * General mental symptoms, e.g. confusion
 * Nightmares
 * High Fever
 * Mild eczema
 * Stage II
 * Stupor caused by minor brain inflammation
 * Hyperventilation
 * Fatty liver
 * Hyperactive reflexes
 * Bloody stool
 * Stage III
 * Continuation of Stage I and II symptoms
 * Possible coma
 * Possible cerebral edema
 * Rarely, respiratory arrest
 * Frequent bruising
 * Stage IV
 * Deepening coma
 * Large pupils with minimal response to light
 * Minimal but still present hepatic dysfunction
 * Stage V
 * Very rapid onset following stage IV
 * Deep coma
 * Seizures
 * Multiple Organ failure
 * Flaccidity
 * Extremely high blood ammonia (above 300 mg/dL of blood)
 * Death

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