Drugs & Divisions

Magadon has many divisions, like most drug companies, each one tackling a different area of modern medicine. The difference is that each of Magadon’s divisions is often nearly as large as the whole of other companies, with profits to match. The divisions work very well together toward Magadon’s ultimate goal. They have too many divisions and medicines to list, but here are some of the most notable:

Genetics is the fastest-growing division, and with good reason. Growing facility with stem cell research and genetic engineering has led to exciting new discoveries. The division largely focuses on unlocking the secrets of genetic codes yet untapped, as well as developing treatments for genetic debilities and developing new ways to imprint Wyrm-taint at a genetic level. Their latest goal is learning how to engineer genetic flaws into developing fetuses that Magadon products can later “cure.”

Gerontology specializes in treating the elderly, making great strides in the prevention of diseases like Alzheimer’s. The division has a large presence in nursing homes, from which they gain voluntary test subjects for new drugs and surgical procedures. Contrary to what many suspect, Magadon treats its subjects well. Those fortunate enough to retire to Magadon-owned nursing homes enjoy good health well into their twilight years. Their bodies are then donated to science — willingly or otherwise.

Opposite Gerontology is Magadon’s Pediatrics division. Recent years have proven very fruitful for the division as it develops powerful new treatments for pediatric mental disorders, specifically tailored to the young. These and the treatments for developmental disabilities appear to have long-lasting positive effects, and earn Magadon much of its goodwill. Many of their treatments carry taint, spiritually weakening the young over time.

Women’s Medicine is the only division whose director does not knowingly serve the Wyrm. Rather, Dr. Julia Miller is a feminist devoted to improving the state of women’s medicine. The division tackles some of the trickier problems in the field, from fertility issues to neonatal care. Its work with contraceptives and improved safety in childbirth and the termination of pregnancies has drawn the wrath of conservative groups, but has millions of female supporters backing Magadon.

General Health and Nutrition is the name of Magadon’s health store chain, and is the most popular chain in North America. Like all such stores, GHN provides health supplements, from foods to vitamins and other dietary aids. Their products are the best in the business, and their own brand of energy drink, Wolf’s Run, is the most popular in the world. GHN is especially popular with the young and professional athletes. They also stock homeopathic remedies that the staff recommends in place of effective treatments. Some of those remedies go beyond homeopathic sugar pills into the realm of actual poison.

Infectious Diseases targets viruses exclusively, developing the latest treatments and cures for everything from Athlete’s Foot to Ebola. Once the largest of Magadon divisions, it is now rivaled by Genetics and Gerontology. Still, ID is at the forefront of Magadon research and development and its vaccines reach millions every year to ward off the flu or less common diseases in poorer parts of the world. Hidden away from the world, Infectious Diseases works on weaponizing diseases such as Ebola. Their work has proven horrendously effective, especially in third-world tests.

Consumer Products creates and distributes Magadon’s over-the-counter drugs. The variety of drugs produced is staggering, and in many stores, most of the shelves hold products entirely made by CP subsidiaries. 85% of all drugs and personal care products sold in the developed world come from Magadon or its subsidiaries. Often, customers get placebos instead of actual drugs — especially those needing the most important medicines like HIV treatments.

Veterinary Products deals exclusively with animal health. Many in Magadon consider VetDiv the bastard stepchild of “real medicine,” but VetDiv offers a lot of use to humans. Animals see use in labor, companionship, and food, so it is in Magadon’s best interest to improve their use to humanity. The division produces the world’s most effective growth hormones and works with Genetics to engineer creatures that are more useful. The animals themselves lead short, miserable lives before VetDiv uses them up in the name of science, and a favorite subject are wolves.

Magadon also maintains other divisions, most of them smaller than the main ones, but still important to the overall goal. No company of this size prospers without a well-oiled Sales & Marketing division, and their psychiatric and public health divisions help supply Magadon with test subjects and data.

A selection of Magadon-created drugs, engineered diseases and other biological and chemical weapons are in chapter six. Here are a few of the nastiest creations, the ones Garou hate the most.

Wyrm Faux is a particularly cunning invention that turns the Garou ability to sense Wyrm-taint against them. A tasteless, odorless chemical that has no direct adverse effects on whatever product it contaminates. Undetectable by mundane means, it doesn’t even taint the victim. It makes the poor soul who ingests the Magadon product radiate an aura of Wyrm-taint for about a week, which often leads to the hapless victim’s demise at werewolf claws. By the time the Garou find out their mistake it’s too late, and one more innocent person dies by those who should be her saviors.

The insidious Bane Lures are parasitic little organisms that attach to a host’s appendix. Disguised in over-the-counter pills, made from powdered Black Spiral Dancer bone, it latches on to the host’s appendix when swallowed and draws enough nutrients to keep itself alive. This is scarcely noticeable by the host, and quickly forgotten in the face of what is to come. The Bane Lure sends out a call through the Penumbra, and true to its name, it draws Banes to the host. The Banes do not target the host directly, but rather bring hell to the lives of those around him for months, until the parasite dies. When the Lure dies, it usually causes some manner of condition in the host, from appendicitis to gastrointestinal distress, or even colon cancer, as well as leaving lingering taint in his body.

Related to the Bane Lures are the so-called “Bottled Banes,” a very apt name for a particularly sinister piece of work. The project is still in its early stages, but the results have been very promising. Human shamans or Black Spiral Theurges bind a dormant Bane into pills or serums, which when ingested by human patients fetters the Bane to him. This in itself only radiates a minute aura of taint, and doesn’t harm the unwitting host. What follows is a process that revolves around a chemical called umbrophrenol-6, which is completely undetectable by human means. Made from secretions of several types of Bane, it stimulates dormant spirits and shocks them into wakefulness. Disguised in medicines and health supplements, the umbrophrenol-6 instantly awakens a Bane when the host consumes the laced product, and the Bane quickly begins the process of possession. In a mere matter of hours, a combination of items, often shipped from opposite sides of the country, come together to create a fomor.

Such sneaky and underhanded ways of corrupting humans and creating more problems for the Garou are difficult to fight. Magadon specializes in such subtlety, and the horror inherent to these crimes is deeply personal. So many people fill their bodies with tainted products meant to help them, and often do help in some way, that they never realize they are consuming the cause of their own spiritual degeneration. The sense of betrayal that anyone would feel upon discovering the truth would be devastating. When one’s soul has weakened thanks to the machinations of Magadon and its ilk, it is all the more difficult to cope with the revelation. More than a few Kinfolk have succumbed to bleakest despair after finding out the truth: they have helped Pentex grow strong while the Wyrm has slowly eaten away at their integrity.

It is a soul-crushing realization for which there is no cure.