During the reign of Lord Malafein there was no sense of day or night. Time itself morphed together seamlessly. The sky dark and dreary. Nothing above except miles upon miles of stormy clouds. The air thick and choking with the bitter taste of rot. The very action of breathing proved to be a struggle. On the worst days the very air had a name, The Smog. A deep fog that would smother anything so unlucky to be stuck in it. The death toll alone for those who succumbed to the smog was enough to make anyone acutely aware of how dangerous venturing outdoors can really be.
When trapped within the smog any sight you might have had proved worthless. The dark wind whipping around you, crushing your very function of breath. The dry taste of ash and soot clamming your mouth shut. This very air is poison to us fairies and it's unbelievable how often they occur. Shelters were then put in place within the trees on every path in hopes they will save those who are caught in it.
Death from the smog can vary between four to ten minutes. Though many have survived if worn protective covering, but they would soon fall ill the next day. Something in the smog is so vile it is almost as fearful as the darkness itself. Even if sheltered you will still feel the strain on your body due to your body fighting off whatever it is that resides within the smog even after it has passed. Some places are worse than others. Almost as if some places are more polluted by Lord Malafeim than others. The closer you get to where the dark Lord had control over the worse it gets.
Over exposure to the smog was detrimental to your health. Sores would surface on the skin and would then spread if left untreated. Luckily, the sores itself isn't fatal, but the toxins that caused it most certainly is. The sores are easy to spot with its purplish tint. Which makes the diagnosis for smog exposure fairly simple.
The method of treating smog exposure had developed slowly over time. From trial and error. The deaths of our fellow fairies taught us something with each sacrifice. To treat oneself from smog exposure is to cleanse and purify the body. To rid the body of the toxins found in the smog one must ingest a special tonic made from the salt crystals in the deep caverns.
The crystals are formed all along the walls of the caves. The water that flows into the underground pools are so pure and enriched with the unique qualities of the crystals it has been found to be the best cure for smog exposure. Because of this irrefutable fact many seek the water's healing properties and try to collect and harvest it disregarding the risks.
The caverns are an endless maze of twists and turns. Many have gotten lost in search of the healing water. Hardly any make it out with a vile full. Only the bravest and most desperate venture into the caverns. One must rely solely on what they can feel. For there is no light within the depths of the caverns. And sound echoes from every direction. Some say that the sound is enough to drive a person mad and lose their way. Only a few know their way through and back.