| “ | …Magical radiation, as we all know, is a side effect of powerful and wicked magics released violently on Equestria. Naturally, the biggest and worst zones of radiation are found in places like the Fillydelphia Crater, the Manehattan city center… pretty much everywhere the megaspells hit except for Cloudsdayle and Canterlot (both of which should be avoided for other reasons). But even a recently exploded skywagon can be radioactive. Fortunately, so long as you always carry your radiation detectors, kids, these places can be avoided. | ” |
A ubiquitous presence in the Equestrian Wasteland, balefire radiation is the magical residue of larger, more harmful spells that used balefire. When a living creature is exposed to balefire radiation, it accumulates in its body over time. While a creature can withstand small amounts of radiation poisoning without severe consequences, it can cause sickness, mutations, and death if allowed to build up without treatment.
Balefire radiation possesses a strong necromantic component, and prolonged exposure can cause mutations of varying severity. While many radiation-caused mutations are harmful, some may be neutral, and a few can even be advantageous to the host. Sometimes, a pony or zebra who survives severe radiation exposure may become a ghoul. Balefire radiation is found all over the Equestrian Wasteland and, while its concentration in open, rural areas is minimal, there are several locations where it poses a serious threat to any living creatures in their proximity.
Rebreathers can filter radiation out of the air and water talismans can purify irradiated water. RadSafe can be used to increase one's resistance to balefire radiation, while RadAway can be used to purge it from one's body and cure symptoms of radiation sickness. Reversing mutations caused by balefire radiation may be quite difficult, and there are no known procedures for reversing ghoulification.
Variants in Side Stories[]
Ghostfire (The Last Sentinel)[]
Ghostfire is a form of Balefire employed in melee weapons. Ghostfire unlike balefire lacks the long-lasting, deadly radioactive effects. Ghostfire burns through armor and flesh with an intense heat, but does not spread to other targets and cannot be extinguished by non-magical means. Ghostfyre is employed in Azrael Razorwing's Ghostfire Scythe, Valkyrie.
Balefrost (Outlaw)[]
Balefrost is a frozen form of balefire, emitted from Balefrost Dragons. The frost is capable of cryogenically preserving living organisms and reacts negatively to the magical fields of unicorns. Magic causes balefrost to emit massive amounts of radiation. Balefrost does not cause frostbite or frostburn, unlike real ice.