Kryka (CRY-kuh)
"...and..." the healer glanced towards the patient curled up and moaning softly on her only cot in the corner then tuned to the visitor and whispered, "... he has Kryka." "No," the visitor covered her mouth and stared wide-eyed at the healer, "no. Please tell me you're joking!" "I'm sorry but you know there is nothing I can do for him now. He will be gone by morning" The healer placed her hands on the young woman's shoulders and squeezed lightly. "Just let me know if I can do anything for you." Tears streamed down the visitor's face. "But we were going to be married tomorrow!"Do you want to die an agonizingly painful death where you watch your body deteriorate as you perish fully conscious and aware of your pain? I'm guessing not. Catching Kryka is no joke. Regarded as one of the worst things that could happen to you, Kryka is feared more than death.
"No, Son, You May NOT Swim!"
Lurking in any body of fresh water, stagnant or flowing, Kryka cells use living flesh to duplicate itself and send more Kryka cells out into the wild. This carnivorous cell type has a special ability to sense living beings in the near vicinity and uses micro-propulsion to find the being. Entering through the ear and eating though the canal to the brain, Kryka feeds off the membrane which produces enough energy for it to duplicate. Healers always warn their patients of the dangers of swimming in fresh water, even tested water because Kryka can be hiding in the soil from its previous decomposed victims.Living Death
Once the Kryka cells penetrate the brain, the infestation begins. Kryka cells, the first producing a few which each produce more and on and on, slowly take over the bodily functions. About a day after the entrance of the cells, the victim begins experiencing headaches the like of they had never experienced before. Then, about three days after, the victim stops eating and begins a steady decline. About five days in, the screaming starts. While before the victim believes he or she is merely sick or over stressed or have just lost their appetite, at this point, the Kryka has taken over all major body systems and begins to eat. They will be dead in four agonizing days. Healers, once Kryka has been identified, typically poison the food of the victim so they can die in more peace than if they were to wait the last four days.Kryka in Everyday Life
Although somewhat rare, Kryka is widely known and cursed by all of Pentham. Most parents never let children swim in fresh water for this exact reason but, kids being kids, many swim anyways with their friends or are dared to dive in resulting in a disproportionate amount of young people dying to the rest of the population. Another serious problem relating to Kryka is the safety of drinking water. Kryka does not live in every body of water, but the risk is too great. The most common, and most effective, way to eliminate the risk of Kryka in the drinking water, is to place a few strands of Liligrass in the water for a short while.
Type
Bacterial
Origin
Natural
Rarity
Uncommon
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