"As if mages weren't bad enough, now when they overdo their bodies with magic they can just collapse into a disease that taints the land and makes it unworkable? Great. Just perfect. Nice to know that mage's can really just destroy everything whether they control it or not." — Gossip among the streets of Arcanmere
The Mana Blight is a series of semi-living entities formed entirely of semi-permeable magic essence similar to that formed by necromancy. Though it was previously believed that these entities were of the same general species as fey, creatures borne of natural sorceresses given solid form, studies since then have shown that instances of The Mana Blight exhibit neither the sentience or physical presence that would classify them as fey. When trying to identify the Blight as a demon, or undead, results are also entirely inconclusive, as it may be magical in nature, but it is not formed by magic. The Blight is a parasitic like creature that infects sources of mana, and solidifies it into a flesh like substance that has the ability to split off into formed creatures to protect its 'food source' like a sentient cancer.
It was originally created by a historical dark elf severing the ties of Idayiom's magic from their bodies, but some other sources date incidents of this occuring far before then. Of mages overexuding themselves by casting spells their bodies simply could not keep up with, until they destabilized completely.
It remains unknown whether or not The Mana Blight is truly "alive" or not, but in the present is believed to hold some level of life but to process all of its actions on a purely biological level similar to a plant or fungus. Similarly it is unknown whether or not Blight entities are 'linked' in some way like a hivemind or if each epicenter is an entirely separate form, but theories abound on both sides.
This disease has the unfortunate ability to spread from tainted mana sources, contaminated mana potions, and so on, to a spellcaster. Early stages of the infection may be seen in slight physical abnormalities and unexplained growths. Alongside passive mana drain. If external evidence can not be seen, the disease still may show tangible presence with internal bleeding, nausea or vomiting, sudden fevers, and other such factors which may be evidence of internal mutations. Early signs of cognitive shifts may also show themselves with increased anxiety or feelings of paranoia.
If mutation brought on; and The Mana Blight is in its early stages, a very simple cure can be administered by cutting off any transformed areas and treating the surrounding skin by either cauterization or exposure to strong acidic compounds which will prevent spread of the mutations to further locations around the body. Obviously, those who have been previously infected and cured should make all attempts to stay away from instances of The Mana Blight, as they will be more susceptible to further exposure if physical contact with the blight causes it to seep into any orifices, under finger nails, inside of cuts or scratches, etc.
Once the mutation has progressed far enough that entire limbs are beginning to shift or the infected person is beginning to experience large growths across their bodies, removal of the infection is impossible without killing the afflicted outright, and the only course forward is to avoid all further exposure to The Mana Blight.
If a person or creature has been infected so thoroughly that they become Mana Blighted, which is a spellcaster awaking after a full rest with no mana in their reserves, the magic organ failing finally, the only relief comes in death, before the final stage of the transformation happen where the mage's skeleton begins to liquify and turns them into a puddle of writhing flesh.
Across various cultures and civilizations, The Mana Blight has been regarded as any number of things ranging from a curse put upon the world by a god or gods, the physical manifestation of hells, devils, and similar concepts, a remnant of creation left unfinished after the world had been made, the source of magic and sorceries themselves, the result of unrestrained use of magics, the rifts to another world or time, and much more. None of this can be proven or disproved, of course, and the obvious danger imposed by mere proximity to these entities means that further research is difficult bordering on impossible.
For reasons rather plain to see, most cultures treat The Mana Blight with distaste and caution at best and outright hatred or fear at worst, the strangest relations come from unaffiliated beings who treat The Mana Blight with varying amounts of reverence. It is unknown whether this often fanatical devotion to the entities is borne of The Mana Blight's affect of cognitive warping or other means, or if such factors vary from group to group.
