Golden Lover
Golden Lover is a fungi which grows in moist and damps areas. It is most commonly found as mildew in The Underbridge during the Spring, which is when humidity rises in the location. The fungi grows on damp walls and bricks, and dies when the humidity falls when the season moves into summer.
Golden Lover feeds from living organisms, such as bacteria, animals, and even humans. It has also been noted that Golden Lover can engage in cannibalism, resulting in the death of a mould. Cannibalism occurs when the fungi is devoid of water and organisms to consume, and can happen during the crossover from spring to summer.
The fungus' crown contains the composite Saclyx, which is an aphrosidic substance due to containing the element Hustrium. For this reason, Golden Lover is consumed naturally to give one a higher libido. Saclyx also contains Cruonor, an element which is highly addictive when burned. One may become addicted to Golden Lover through smoking Candysticks, which is crushed Golden Lover rolled into a sugar or salt sheet.
Golden Lover feeds from living organisms, such as bacteria, animals, and even humans. It has also been noted that Golden Lover can engage in cannibalism, resulting in the death of a mould. Cannibalism occurs when the fungi is devoid of water and organisms to consume, and can happen during the crossover from spring to summer.
The fungus' crown contains the composite Saclyx, which is an aphrosidic substance due to containing the element Hustrium. For this reason, Golden Lover is consumed naturally to give one a higher libido. Saclyx also contains Cruonor, an element which is highly addictive when burned. One may become addicted to Golden Lover through smoking Candysticks, which is crushed Golden Lover rolled into a sugar or salt sheet.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Golden Lover grows in branches, with its ends having a crown-like tip. The fungi is golden in colour, the stronger and eldest branches being more opaque than the transparent youngest ones. It also has a shimmery appearence when the fungi is moist, but dulls when deviod of water.
As Golden Lover begins to resort to cannibalism, the eldest and strongest will eat the youngest, which will start to weaken and dull. After its moisture has been consumed by the eldest, it will wilt before decaying, leaving behind a dark paste.
As Golden Lover begins to resort to cannibalism, the eldest and strongest will eat the youngest, which will start to weaken and dull. After its moisture has been consumed by the eldest, it will wilt before decaying, leaving behind a dark paste.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Candysticks
Most commonly practiced in The Underbridge, Golden Lover can be mashed and rolled using sugar or salt sheets, and are set alight for people to smoke. This is known in The Underbridge as a Candystick. Not only is the Saclyx contained in the Golden Lover an aphrosidiac, it is also highly addictive when lit on fire. This is because the reaction of heat against the fungi separates the composite Sacylx, and releases the element Cruonor, which when heated, has addictive properties.Illegal groups, such as Goldustries, in The Underbridge use the production of Candysticks for business. They use Golden Lover farms to mass produce Candysticks, and sell them in packs of thirty. These are freely bought in The Underbridge due to its lack of policing, though anywhere outside of this location is traded in secret and mostly bought illegally by Nobles in Bleclare.
Candysticks can also be made in The Underbridge without sale of Golden Lover. People can pick the fungi themselves and smoke them, as long as they also have sugar or salt paper.
Naturally Consumed
Golden Lover can also be consumed as it grew naturally. When eaten in this state, it's aphrosidic properties are much more powerful than when smoked using a Candy Stick, and is not addictive as there is no heat to seperate the composite.Despite being in popular use by the dwellers of The Underbridge, the fungi is rarely used outside of the location due to its unobtainability in the above.
Dangers of Consumption
As Golden Lover consumes life, the fungi can spread throughout one's inner body. When eaten naturally, Golden Lover can spread from the stomach or intestines, and continue to grow into the upper organs. As this happens, the organs will deteriorate over time. This usually occurs through repeated frequent consumption of Golden Lover, as the fungi needs multiple in order to grow.'The Golden Lover' - Grady Walker, 782 V.C
This process is known as Golden Fever, early symptoms include vomiting, abdominal cramps, (infestation in the stomach or intestines), breathing difficult (infestation in the lungs), fainting and seizures (infestation in the brain). Late symptoms are all of the above if and when Golden Lover has infested the entire organ system, in which soon after the body will eventually slow down and the organs start to deteriorate. As the Golden Lover consumes the organs, it will spread to the muscles and skin, removing fat and hydration. This will leave the skin of a person yellow, and their body mass will decrease vastly. This is soon followed by death.
Golden Fever is reversable if the user stops eating Golden Lover as soon as symptoms show, however is irreversable after the stomach and intestines have been completely infested.
Using Candysticks is much less lethal than consuming Golden Lover naturally, as long as the fungi is completely crushed before smoking. If not, Golden Fever will occur, and will feed from the remains of crushed Golden Lover in the lungs. When the user shows early symptoms, they must refrain from smoking Candysticks until the symptoms stop. The complete extinction of Golden Lover in the lungs will usually take between 20-25 days.
Scientific Name
Fungi
Geographic Distribution
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