As the Veilwalkers continue to invade Novitas, the number of those infected with the Veilwalker curse continues to climb. What was just a year ago a “Freelands Problem” has crossed borders, increasing the number of people affected by this curse and in turn, the amount of people who need the scarce resource of Blighfyre Tonic. Currently, Blightfyre Tonic is the only known way to put off the infection and prevent turning into a Veilwalker, but it comes with some drawbacks.
Blightfyre Tonic is currently available for those who need it from the Varganien Commissary for 2 credits. You will need to take this Tonic once a month to correctly dose against the infection.
The tonic works by stripping the body of all physical resilience at once. This purge is how the infection is fought. It is also, by every account from those dosing, agonizing. Anyone who has told you otherwise has not taken it, or they are not being honest with you. Do not take Blightfyre Tonic alone. In the moments following consumption you will be physically vulnerable, and you should have someone beside you who can heal you afterwards.
Blightfyre Tonic has been shown to be addictive with repeated use. The behavioral changes that accompany dependency arrive gradually: shortened temper, small lies about how much has been taken, deflection when asked directly, an obsession with getting to the next dose. From the inside, none of this feels like change. It is just the person’s way of coping with what can be a terminal illness.
If someone you care about has been taking Blightfyre regularly, watch for increased irritability in situations that would not normally cause stress, withdrawal from people and activities they enjoy, urgency around obtaining and dosing times with the tonic, and other unexplained changes in behavior.
If you recognize these signs in yourself: you are not broken. You took a tonic to survive a genuine threat, and it worked, and now you are dealing with the cost of surviving. Find a healer. Tell them the truth about how much you have been taking and for how long. Tell your friends and your support system. Recovery is not easy, but is possible.
If you recognize these signs in someone you love, do not shame them. Do not remove the tonic without support in place. Stay with them if they will let you, and contact a healer for advice on how to approach them.
Blightfyre Tonic is a legitimate response to a real threat, and should absolutely be taken if you need it. Just take it with someone beside you, and if the cost starts to show, ask for help.