Parasite Bestiary
Balgabog Mireborn — Parasite Bestiary
1. The Wombbinder
Entry Vector: Spore-laden mists.
Effect: Manipulates host’s reproductive and cellular growth systems to propagate rapidly. The body swells with unstable tissue clusters that can later detach as new parasitic larvae.
Side Effect: Hosts may gain enhanced metabolic reserves and rapid regeneration due to accelerated cellular activity.
2. The Titan Tapeworm
Entry Vector: Ingested through contaminated food or water.
Effect: Replaces segments of the digestive tract and skeletal muscle with dense, hyper-efficient tissue. Grants extreme strength and endurance.
Side Effect: High energy consumption; host experiences intense hunger and involuntary spasms.
3. The Errant Stepper
Entry Vector: Skin contact with contaminated water.
Effect: Alters nervous and spatial perception, sometimes triggering involuntary, short-distance teleportation to nearby safe zones.
Side Effect: Teleportation is unpredictable; prolonged use can cause neural fatigue or memory gaps.
4. Fleshbud Parasite
Entry Vector: Open wounds or ingestion of infected material.
Effect: Sends tendrils of tissue into host musculature, allowing rapid adaptation and absorption of nearby organic matter.
Side Effect: Host strength and reflexes surge, but body slowly loses human pliancy, developing hard, jagged growths.
5. The Necroblight Larva
Entry Vector: Consuming decayed matter or corpse fluids.
Effect: Infects host cells with mutagenic spores, mimicking necrotic tissue to “blend” with death energy, enhancing resistance to disease and decay.
Side Effect: Living tissue begins to break down over time, leaving the host both resilient and grotesquely malleable.
6. The Chimeric Spine
Entry Vector: Small puncture wounds or broken bones.
Effect: Rewrites bone and tendon structure for optimal leverage and explosive force.
Side Effect: Musculoskeletal stress; extreme transformations may fracture the host from within.
7. The Maw-Tendril
Entry Vector: Deep tissue infiltration or exposure to swamp mutagens.
Effect: Occupies host’s chest cavity, generating writhing tendrils that extend from the body for offense, manipulation, or anchoring. The parasite rapidly rewrites local muscle and connective tissue for strength and flexibility.
Side Effect: Host experiences severe pain and organ stress; prolonged presence risks fatal structural collapse if the parasite overgrows.
8. The Latchling
Entry Vector: Any exposed skin or mucus membrane.
Effect: Forms temporary parasitic nodes on host flesh to siphon energy and redistribute it, occasionally amplifying host stamina and regenerative capacity.
Side Effect: Nodes feed on emotional stress; host may suffer sudden exhaustion or mood swings.
9. The Pulsemaw
Entry Vector: Ingested, inhaled, or absorbed through wounds.
Effect: Integrates with circulatory system to accelerate adrenaline production and reflex speed.
Side Effect: Heart and vascular system operate at extreme strain; prolonged presence can permanently warp cardiovascular function.
10. The Ravenous Bloom
Entry Vector: Spore clouds near swamp vegetation.
Effect: Hijacks host digestive and hormonal cycles to generate explosive growths or limbs capable of auxiliary combat or labor.
Side Effect: Host experiences periodic pain, nausea, and compulsive feeding; overgrowth may hinder normal mobility.