Suspension

Holding to Hope

Suspension is the science of slowing a body's processes to delay an oncoming death. In most cases, it can only give an extra two days at most, but that time can be what saves someone's life. Suspension can be used when local treatments aren't available, and either the patient or their medicine needs to transported. It's primary use in Su-mehr Qiamp, however, is to aid seers in handling dawn spirits.   Dawn spirits are the detached souls, or living ghosts, of a distressed person. The person falls into a coma while their dawn acts on their suffering. The seers call this person the dawn's living host, while physicians refer to them as their patient. Seers need to reason with the dawn spirit to convince them to return to their host, while physicians use tools of suspension to keep their patient alive until then.  

Alchemical Compounds

Some comatose individuals retain the instinct to swallow, allowing physicians to administer liquid medicines that create this state of suspension. Due to the sensitive nature of these potions, they're only used if made by a certified master alchemist. Physicians carefully dose it based on the patient's weight.  

Mechanical Devices

If the patient can't swallow, physicians use mechanisms to address dehydration. Under the modern understanding that the body absorbs a small amount of water through the skin, a machine can be set up to slowly trickle water over the patient's face. This combined with wet rags over their hands can postpone death by thirst.  

Rituals and Prayer

In praying to Melahr, the patron deity may slow time around the patient. The ritual involves creating an altar next to the patient with offerings of incense and pears, then tipping a filled water clock to let the water spill across the surface. Family members repeat their household mantra at this altar while the physician tends to the patient.