The Rot is most commonly believed to spring up in those who exhibit internal moral decay. As such, it is commonly thought to be contagious insofar as associating with the morally corrupt can alter ones own worldview and personality.
Many Yehrubi physicians have scoffed at these beliefs since the Age of Piety but that has done little to quell the overwhelmingly common consensus. The combination of it being unique to the Caverns of Ostene, the societal sense of shame attached to it, and the subsequent spurning of those displaying symptoms there exists a noticeable lack of substantial research on the subject.
