Nege Blight Biome

A Nege Cell Overgrown with Blight

Written by Ademal

Blight Biomes, also known as Fungal Biomes, are a type of sub-biome found in pockets within Nege Trees. They crop up wherever the Nege is weakened by disease or sickness and is touched by a spoor carried in by insects from an existing Blight Biome.

Blight Biomes are characterized by heavy fungal and Crustarthoflect presence.

Description

My goggles are so smeared over from spore dust that I've had to switch to infrared just to see. My visibility is still near to nil. I just want to get out of this hellhole.

I hear Antula chatter. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. They can't catch me again. God, the sting in my side hurts so bad. They got me good with that one.

Something just moved. In the wound. Oh God. Oh God no...no... nooooo!

---

The logs devolve into screams and unnerving chittering, followed by wet tearing sounds and the squeal of Antula Larva.

— Final recording of Eulogist Toljick Annodai, recovered from an Antula nest

Blightums are dense, low-light Nege Cells which have been grown over by fungi. Unlike the Nege, which leaves space within itself, the fungi will grow to fill all available space until consumed by other species or it crowds itself to death.

Several light-emitting species of fungi grow within a Blightum, emitting various colors of light depending on the type of Crustarthroflect they aim to attract. It is very difficult light for trichromats to see by, but tetrachromats which can perceive on the ultraviolet spectrum will find it much easier to navigate by the ultraviolet emission of Veil Moss.

Trichromatic visibility drops to nearly zero when the Fungi enter their common spooring state, filling the air with harmful spores.

Under the thick mat of fungus, the bark of the Nege tree slowly putrifies from rot, a proccess which kills any of the more fragile fungi growing atop it and results in hidden sinkholes full of greasy rot called Fungal Adipocere. If any Slog gets into these pools it will quickly consume the Adipocere and become a particularly acidic sludge. Finding one of these sinkholes feet-first is a surefire way to a quick death.

Ecosystem

Cycle(s)

Althought Blightums emerge towards the end of a Nege Cell's life, or in the case of it getting infected, the Blightum itself has its own lifecycle and can sustain itself for tens or even hundreds of years once it has reached equilibrium. Fungal Aphids farm the various fungi and keep them in check, while other Crustarthroflect make it their home and bring back spoils of their hunt—providing fresh material for the fungi in the form of leftovers, dung, and shell molts.
There are miniseasons which last about 40 days at a time, give or take. The blightum enters a stage of humidity first, where water vapor is released by the fungi and causes heavy condensation and steaming, then it enters a stage of spooring, where spoor clouds fill the air, and at last it enters a settling and growing phase.
During the humid phase is when it is safest to travel, as visibility and air quality is at its best.

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Summary

Type

Biome, Natural

Alternative Names

Fungal Biome
Blightums

Ecosystem

Keystone Species

Species critical to the ecosystem
Buster Pods
Fungal Aphids

Native Species

Commonly found species
Veil Moss
Vineweave Antulas

Local Phenomena

Spoor Clouds
Fungal Adipocere

Enclosed Ecosystems

White Rot Biome