The Nyverian Curse (Spell)

Spell Author – unknown

Date of creation/discovery – unknown

Casted upon the population of Arica in the year 732 N.W by unknown person(s), the spell known only as the Nyverian curse was responsible for the single greatest level of devastation Arica had known since Magusfall, and is estimated to have killed between 30 to 40% of Ranghai’s population that year alone. Afflicted humans, later to be known as Nyverians, were separated from the non-afflicted population by an unverifiable party (see ‘The Legend of Two Young Gods in section 7 – Fables), and formed the Kingdom of Nyveria in the Karaken mountains.

The touch of Nyverian skin inflicts upon a human victim a curse. Falling asleep activates it, causing a transformation into a monster commonly referred to as Shrieking Death. No aspect of the victim’s personality, memory, or humanity is expressed by the monster, which is in fact the embodiment of the curse itself. The spell will indiscriminately ravage non-Nyverian humans without pause or rest, seemingly existing for this sole purpose, which has led some thinkers to label it as a spell ‘designed for extermination’. Indeed, in Gobanese law, the Nyverian curse is categorized under ‘spells of mass-destruction’.

The transformation can only be reversed by the death of the Nyverian that came into contact with the victim, but circumstances where this is possible are rare. The spell is usually necessarily destroyed by military intervention, which regrettably also results in the death of the victim.

Though it is widely accepted that the Nyverian curse has only been cast once in history, no counter-spell has ever been successfully created. The curse’s origin, and its unprecedented feature of being hereditary, has no proven explanation. Theories ranging from the conspiratorial to the fantastical continue to be the only actuality after centuries of study and effort by both humans and rayshans alike failed to solve the mystery.

Excerpt from the Academic Encyclopedia of Ranghan History, 1130 Edition