Lore
How these crystals exactly came to Xorum is a mystery; all that we know is that they are wreaking havoc. From deep within the black mist, a red pulsing light draws you in. A sudden sickly feeling makes you weak and faint. Next thing you know, you are at one of the regions' aid posts outside of the black mist. You are told your magic core has been bitten and infected, you need rest.
All over the planet these sinister crystals have popped up. Ever since then we have learned a lot about them. Each region had assembled research teams that brave themselves into the mist in the name of science. The crystals seem to grow very slowly over time, once a peak has been reached, these crystals start to splinter small shards. Sometimes big shards break off and start to wander, spreading their own smoke. For this reason we have chained the crystals and their shards together to prevent the crystals broadening their reach.
We have come to call these crystals blight portals. For these crystals brought something with them. Something that spreads the numbing black smoke, we call them. Blightlings.
All over the planet these sinister crystals have popped up. Ever since then we have learned a lot about them. Each region had assembled research teams that brave themselves into the mist in the name of science. The crystals seem to grow very slowly over time, once a peak has been reached, these crystals start to splinter small shards. Sometimes big shards break off and start to wander, spreading their own smoke. For this reason we have chained the crystals and their shards together to prevent the crystals broadening their reach.
We have come to call these crystals blight portals. For these crystals brought something with them. Something that spreads the numbing black smoke, we call them. Blightlings.
These creatures hide in the black smoke they excrete from the mouths on their body. The smoke doubles as a cover and weakens magical creatures that inhale it. This has the purpose of being able to come close enough to bite a Groogums magical core. We say bite, but there are no actual bite marks left as they do not physicaly bite the Groogum. By coming close the Blightling can sap and eat the Groogums magic which it uses as nutrition for themselves to grow.
Blightlings appear out of the portals looking like a small ball of fur with no physical mouth. In this form they are not able to expel any smoke and are relient on their more grown up kin to be able to feed. Once enough magic is absorbed these Blightlings grow limbs and one or more mouths. Thus being able to use the smoke themselves, able to leave the save haven of the portal to spread their mess.
We believe Blightlings store their magic into the crystal shards the carry around them. The smoke they expel is thick and heavy and will stay low on the ground, giving safe passage to those who wish to fly over. All smoke arround the portals is black, but we have had reports of coloured smoke on rare occassions.
We have had word of certain researchers who seem to have come to a symbiotic relationship with a Blightling. When the Groogum befriends a Blightling and allows them to feed on small amounts of their magic without having to be inflicted by the black smoke. It is yet unknown what side effects this may bring, but it provides us with a good opportunity to study these creatures more closely.
Blightlings appear out of the portals looking like a small ball of fur with no physical mouth. In this form they are not able to expel any smoke and are relient on their more grown up kin to be able to feed. Once enough magic is absorbed these Blightlings grow limbs and one or more mouths. Thus being able to use the smoke themselves, able to leave the save haven of the portal to spread their mess.
We believe Blightlings store their magic into the crystal shards the carry around them. The smoke they expel is thick and heavy and will stay low on the ground, giving safe passage to those who wish to fly over. All smoke arround the portals is black, but we have had reports of coloured smoke on rare occassions.
We have had word of certain researchers who seem to have come to a symbiotic relationship with a Blightling. When the Groogum befriends a Blightling and allows them to feed on small amounts of their magic without having to be inflicted by the black smoke. It is yet unknown what side effects this may bring, but it provides us with a good opportunity to study these creatures more closely.