What is sold as a cure does not reverse the Corruption. It slows it. A person at Stage 1 who keeps their payments current stays at Stage 1: functional, manageable, dependent. The moment a payment lapses, the Corruption resumes. Advancement cannot be reversed. There is no catching up. There is only the next payment, or the next stage.
Someone profits from this arrangement. That someone has no financial interest in a version of the treatment that ends the relationship.
| Treatment | Cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Cure subscription (monthly, legitimate) | 20–30 Crowns | Licensed suppression channelers in middle districts. Slows Stage 1 progression reliably. |
| Cure subscription (monthly, back-alley) | 12–18 Crowns | Unlicensed. Quality varies. Sometimes diluted, sometimes dangerous. |
| Emergency suppression (single dose) | 8–12 Crowns | Buys a few days. Used when a subscription lapses. |
| “Full cure” scam | 100–500 Crowns | Does not work. Sellers disappear after collecting. Targets the desperate. |
A Casteless person earning 3–5 Crowns a month — when work is available — cannot afford the cheapest back-alley subscription at 12–18 Crowns. The math does not work. Not almost, not if they cut back on food. It does not work.
The choice before them is not “cure or no cure.” The choice is between food, shelter, and staying human. These do not all fit in a Casteless monthly budget. Something gets cut. What gets cut determines the timeline.
Missing a payment means the Corruption advances. Advancement cannot be reversed. A person who misses two months in a row is not behind on their subscription — they are further along a road with no way back.
This is the economic engine of Stage 2 and Stage 3 transitions. Not despair. Not bad luck. Arithmetic.
See Wages for the full income picture across castes.
See also: The Corruption — The Cure (That Isn’t) · Economy Overview · Wages
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