A black spore flower
The Mortifilia is the a rare medicinal plant found in Africa. Known for its regenerative, anti-aging properties that, while potent, were incompatible with the natural metabolism of the human body. It was also known for its unnatural fear, and sensitivity to sunlight, and black spores emitted from its roots.
Until, after many decades of research, a serum was created that could prolong the user's life (as demonstrated on Herbert Friedman and Elisabeth Wickson) with only a few drawbacks.
Due to its dangerous effects on human beings, the Mortifilia is the primary cause of all the events in both ObsCure and ObsCure II.
There are a few types of the Mortifilia, from Smaller plants, to larger trees.
Discovery[]
During the ending of the 19th century, the Friedman Brothers ventured into Africa where they spent a lot of time collecting unknown plant specimens. However, during one of their outings, in 1895, they found a plant that emitted spores with youth restoring properties. They experimented with the plant in the hopes that its longevity and healing capabilities could be transferred to the human body.
When they returned to America, the brothers tried unsuccessfully to gain recognition and grants for their work, that was rejected by the scientific community as their experiments were considered too morally and spiritually controversial. The brothers needed a way to test what they'd created without anyone knowing, and in January 1903 Leonard injected himself the Impromptu Anti-Aging Serum.
All seemed well at first, and Leonard seemed to have tolerated the Serum well. Until around March 1903. Due to Leonard's prolonged exposure to UV radiation via the sun, he began mutating.
Biology[]
The Mortifilia's Biology is unlike any other plant species. For one, the Plant is described as having a fear of light, which is extremely bizarre for a plant species. Furthermore, the Xylems of the plant were found to be completely dry, meaning the Mortifilia doesn't absorb water like most plants do through it's roots.
Glands located on the roots of the Mortifilia release black spores at night, which seem to Digest the surrounding Flora, and Fauna, and earn it the title of a Parasitic Plant.
Black Spore Flower[]
The Black Spore flower seen in Obscure 2, wasn't originally apart of the Mortifilia family, but rather was grafted onto Leonard Friedman, therefore creating a new Strain of the Mortifilia. The spores produced by the Mortifilia induce a high when ingested or inhaled. The spores of the flower seem to build up in the reproductive organs of those who ingest them and spread through unprotected intercourse, out-competing conventional sexually transmitted diseases. The flowers only seem to bloom at night, inducing a transformation in anyone who inhales the spores. On Fallcreek University campus, the flowers have become a popular recreational drug that can be ingested through either tea or smoke. The spores of the Mortifilia also seem to be able to induce weak precognition and telepathic links after their ingestion, allowing those who ingest them to share dreams as well as a glimpse of events to come.
Trivia[]
- The Mortifilia has promising anti-aging properties and will remain unmutated as long as they avoid sunlight, as seen with Herbert, as direct sunlight is what causes the mutations.
- The Mortifilia Flowers are a part of the Solanaceae (Nightshade) Family, as stated by Richard James in the second game.
- The Mortifilia Shares more traits with Mushrooms, Ferns, and Algae than Flowers, mostly the fact that they spread through Spores instead of seeds, and that they cause Psychedelic effects, just like Psychedelic Mushrooms.
- The flower was being used as a drug on Fallcreek University campus that could be inhaled or drank as a form of tea. This is how so many of the students became infected in the second game.
- While the plant has a sensitivity for sunlight, the plant can be grown using led lights as seen in the underground lab, where Herbert had several Mortifilia plants growing in artificial light.