The Nifir

For nearly three-quarters of a century, the Nifir had regularly plagued the Asgarthan population. Brought back from the salt mines of the island of Suspira, this unknown disease spread like an ink stain across the rest of the Peninsula. Arkaster, due to its high population density, was hit particularly hard, leading to frequent quarantines in an effort to contain its spread. Unfortunately, despite all precautions, the plague came and went in relentless epidemic waves.

Themba Hekekia was a botanist specializing in the study of rare plants. He followed in the footsteps of his father, who was also a naturalist. When his father died from the Nifir, Hekekia vowed to find a cure for this affliction. He stumbled upon it almost by accident when he began studying the mushs, a family of mushrooms that have the unique characteristic of being sentient. Over time, these conscious mushrooms accepted Hekekia into their forest or underground colonies, allowing him to study their ecosystems and various “customs.”

He was astonished to discover that they had the ability to filter Mana from the environment and living beings, transforming unstable Mana into appeased Mana by passing it through their bodies. This discovery was crucial in curing the Nifir. Numerous mush spores were sent to all corners of the Peninsula, and over time, they grew into adult mushs. These, using their mycelium, could extract unstable Mana and offer purified Mana in return. Within a few years, thanks to this fortuitous discovery, the Nifir was eradicated from Asgartha.