Codex: Myr Fungus

Gross.

Name: Ophiocordyceps Myrmedius (Myr Fungus)

Sexes: Spores are technically genderless. Upon attaching to a host, the spores develop a gender based on a number of factors within the host.

Height: Spores are a half-inch in diameter at the most. Manifested fungi are typically around half the host’s height.

Weight: Spores are lighter than feathers. Manifested fungi weigh about as much as a full travel backpack. Fungal “queens” can weigh up to a few hundred pounds at the base.

Hair: Normal manifestations have no hair. Instead, their heads are covered by mushroom “hats.” Fungal queens have clear hair that pulses with colored light.

Skin: All members of the species have chalk white skin.

Eyes: Humanoid eyes that shift with bright colors.

Ears: Fungal manifestations have ears shaped similarly to their host, though the shapes are only for show as they hear everything that their hosts hear and communicate telepathically.

Parasitism

The infection begins from breathing in spores that are either acquired while exploring the caves, or brought back on the clothing of returning hosts. Newly infected myr act no differently than the average member of the race, but after about a week they have a compulsion to leave their city or place of dwelling and travel to the deep caves of myrellion. Once there, they are beset with the more unpleasant part of the infection. For a period of between two days and week, they are racked with uncomfortable lust as the fungus merges with their immune system. During this time, the host will attempt to initiate intercourse with any being they come upon in the caves, though such attempts usually result in failure. Multiple infected will often try to ride out this rough phase together if they meet in the caves. This week culminates in the first manifestation of the fungus’ full form.

A full formed fungus projects its physical form from the hosts hips, often leaning against them while they sit or lie down. They are tethered by a lattice of micro tendrils that look similar to wispy clouds. This link is rather weak, and the physical form will disperse if it is wrenched away with any effort.

After the rough patch, the subject commonly returns to their home, often somewhat agitated from the ordeal. Apart from this initial agitation there are not many, if any, visible symptoms of the infection. An exception to this is a female myr with a male identifying manifestation. Such hosts grow a cock that ranges from four to eight inches, usually resulting in swift discovery of hosts living with family or friends. The host will feel a compulsion to travel back to the caves that dulls over time. If the host does not follow this compulsion, they can live out the remainder of their lives peacefully – or as peacefully as they can with a fungal symbiont connected to them.

Combat

Infected individuals may gain physical strength (in the case of male identifying spores) or increased awareness (in the case of female identifying spores) in the later stages of infection. Initial stages are usually capable of functioning in society and appear no different than an uninfected individual unless tested by offworld medical technology. Infected with access to weaponry will allow their manifestations to wield weapons. Typically, the host will wield a melee weapon while the fungus uses a number of tricks associated with their spores, as the manifested bodies aren’t physically powerful.

Fully developed fungal queens fight using something akin to psionic power in addition to using “possessed” species as guards. Most queens would rather not fight, however, as using their spores expedites their dispersion. Queens often position themselves in rooms filled with a cloud of spores and can exhale thicker clouds during combat. They can speed the growth of mushrooms with enough concentrated spores, causing the normally (physically) harmless infestation to become painful and immobilizing.

Gender Differences & Reproduction

While spores do not start out with genders, there are two definite genders of manifestations that are easily distinguishable. Male-identifying fungi will have leaner bodies and smaller caps, but will still have B-cup breasts and feminine faces. Female-identifying fungi will have fuller bodies and larger caps with breasts ranging between D and E-cups. Neither gender have nipples or sexual orifices, relying on their host for such things. Fungal queens, on the other hand, vary in appearance. For instance, some may have flower-like nipples or sexual orifices.

Myrmedius reproduces asexually with the fungal queens producing millions of spores during their lifetime. Once a queen has produced a finite number of spores she is dispersed, spreading her consciousness into another hundred thousand spores that spread through whatever room she was in and form smaller, luminescent mushrooms. The memories of this queen are retained by any queen formed from the dispersed particles. A queen is produced if an individual infected to the manifestation point repeatedly returns to one of these dispersal zones after the parasitic drive to do so has worn off. After a dispersal, the host of the queen is left uninfected. Manifestation-stage fungi can produce spores, but they are noninfectious and used for combat or feeding of less-than-willing hosts.

Environs Typically Inhabited

While myrmedius fungus is capable of surviving outside of deep caves, it can only reproduce inside them. The specific temperature and humidity level of the cave provides the perfect breeding ground. Manifestation-level fungi can survive in any environment that their host can, but their performance will suffer if their host’s functioning is impaired, and they may not be able to show themselves at all if the host is grievously injured. The fungus can adapt to survive in other circumstances, but it can only reproduce in the specific conditions of the cave. Nearly any insectile organism and some other species can be used as hosts, but non-insectoid hosts will receive a less intense bonding and subsequent nerve melding.

Relationships

The manifested symbiotes are very loving, attempting to support their host as best they can if they think the host is feeling out of sorts or in danger. They are, however, not the most intelligent things. Their help is usually limited to cuddles or directed actions outside stressful situations. Unless called at another time, they will usually only manifest during masturbation and will attempt to assist their host in achieving orgasm. They will try to ease the host’s nervousness about having a giant mushroom bonded with themselves and share their host’s stronger emotions.