#mind control parasitic fungus

[sponsored-deactivated20210106]

If you read Gaudi, you know that this is the look he was going for

[hexitart]

Hypnovember 23: Prompt 9 "SERVE"

"... The colony will see ų̬̞̰̘̤̈̀̐͐͛̽̕s̴̝̫̗̠͙̰̹͔͉̋́͒͋͜͞͠. They will all s̷̹̦̫̱͎͔̙̰̯̉͛̍̀́́̀͗̈́̔ë̶̡̢̗͚̪̗̠̥̤́̅͋̈͒́̓̈̕͜͝e̛͔̩͓̖͋̋͒̑̐̚͢͠͝ a͎̪͈͇̳̟̦͓̮̤̾̌̒̃̈́͘͝ņ̡̛̦̣̺͚̹͆̏̓̀̃̓͝ͅͅͅd̵̡̹͎͇̠͈͍͉͍͌̇̿͛̓̑̓̉̀̍ ș̫͈͓̞̪̘̫̝̾̂͐͗̌͗̇͢ė̵͕̣̮͙̞̹̼̐̌̅̃̕ͅr̴̛̫̩̮̬̪͉͕͚̉̃̅́̒͌͑̓͡ͅv̛͎͙͇̙̝͚̮̀͒̽̍͆̆̿͘͝e͓̘̹̥̥̘̗̲͗̽͌͐̄͘͜." Some have questioned the new wisdom of the Queen; bemoaning the new orders and her obsession with intimacy with the drones. Some have even gone to the extent of accusing the Queen of being a puppet of The Spores. But, as the soldier caste were quick to remind the dissidents; such mad notions and percieved goings-on... are all in their head...

... So a bit of a dark entry for #9, which is based off an old drawing of mine. Cordyceps is an equally fascinating and terrifying fungus to learn about, and when you think about applying that to the concepts of anthropomorphic insects you can get a bit of mileage out of it! :P

Artwork & Characters © Hexit / hexitart, 2023. All Rights Reserved.

[roomtemperaturesuperconductor]

The world of scavengers reign is a world of pure mutualism. The show never asks “should we isolate ourselves from nature or connect with it” because that’s a false question; there is nothing BUT connection, there is no form of life outside of the ecosystem. Whether they can see it or not, every character becomes part of the planet the second they touch down.

The question then is what their connections will look like: if it will be mutually beneficial, parasitic towards one side or the other, or harmful to both.

I’ve seen people read Kaimen and hollow’s relationship as either kaimen “corrupting” hollow or hollow “manipulating” kaimen. But the truth is their relationship is just a noxious, unstable feedback loop. Neither party is really “in control”, they’re following the guidelines of an evolved relationship that was never meant for creatures as large and emotionally complex as humans to be part of. It’s the same process that occurs with the introduction of any invasive species: simple relationships shift in unstable ways, niches swap places and gain unexpected importance, and the health of the whole ecosystem is put in jeopardy through the lack of sustainability. The truth is that the strange, lovecraftian nightmare Kaimen and hollow create together is bad for BOTH parties. It’s the worst case scenario of the introduction of humanity onto the planet; not humanity “corrupting” some ideal, static image of perfect nature, but the relationship between the two making things worse for everyone.

It’s why one to stop Kaimen/hollow has to be Levi. Whose mutual relationship with the fungus in their circuitry has created something new and beautiful. Something we see has LONG TERM affects on the planet itself with the little baby planet Levis now growing from the flowers. This isn’t the case of nature “claiming” Levi. This is a collaboration, a partnership, something that utterly transforms both sides. It really seems like the death flowers form in some way the “mind” of the whole planet. And Levi has given that mind the artificial circuitry to think on a far higher and more active level than it was ever able to previously. It’s why hollow wasn’t able to control them. Trying to wrangle levis mind is like trying to hold a whole planet in your hands. Something wild and new and beautiful has been created here.

But these transformation can be scary! Sam’s fight with the parasite, paired with his prior skepticism at trying to “understand” the planet the way Ursula was, leaves him unable to adapt. Forced to either lose himself in the process of assimilation, or die separated from it. And again, the show doesn’t take for granted that these mutual connections are “good”. They’re necessary. Sam cannot live separate from nature. But for him, that death was still better than allowing it to change him so fundamentally. His strong willed nature makes him unable to let go the way Levi or Kaimen do, and the result is he doesn’t experience good OR bad results. He’s to brittle to allow for change. He simply ceases.

And so they you have Ursula and Azi. Who are both forced to learn and grow with the planet. Forced to follow the flow of nature even when it takes them places they don’t quite want to be. While at the same time finding little ways to exert their own agency, to not get swept away in the tide. And it’s a complicated balance. One that takes constant effort and isn’t guaranteed to end how they want. But they still have to do it. Because there’s nothing but connection.

[empty-cryptid]

Got a compliment yesterday after showing my spider flower creations to a few coworkers and getting a little too excited while telling them about cordyceps and mind controlling parasitic flatworms in snails.

"Oh, you're one of those cool nerds."

😂

Anyway, here are my flower spiders:

A friend called them Arachniflora, which I think is a fittng name for them. Thanks, Nyda!

The mossy one is supposed to look like cordyceps fungus.

The flowers are called gomphrena.

[yellowcorps]

hal jordan's terrible no good very bad day

i literallt drew these just for fun and then went Huh... i could do somsthing with this.

the guardians of the universe are just a face for a dark cosmic god, which then controls the green lantern corps. the rings are alive and parasitic in nature and alter the mind and body of it's wearer, making them more suggestible and kinda in constant pain all the time. hal's ring finds him while he's flying. i kinda take insp from those military records that are like Our fighter pilots havefound UFOs .... while flying around... but this time it's real and it surrounded his jet and showed him awful visions of his dad and a dying alien (abin) and them being the same person while the guardian's voices ring in his head. then the ring shatters the glass window of his cock pit and he crashes in the middle of the desert (the ring helps him survive👍 At a cost) (fungus in his veins )

[tootyfruities]

so im introducing this idea later in my fic but i REALLY love it and may turn it into a fullfledged fanmade mcsm season 3 plot

the gist is that an admin never truly dies- their mind may die, incapable of thought, but due to their very nature their body Cannot rot, Cannot decompose, in fact it fights desperately to continue on despite the lack of a host; and this lost host makes it lose control. imagine all the powers of an admin, wild and uncontrollable and fighting a battle it'll never win.

this is how we get the sculk. it's the product of fred's body, buried deep deep beneath the earth because romeo realized he couldn't destroy the body and so he threw it down, down, down, where nobody would find it. and then it twisted into something dark, something desperate, a writhing festering parasitic mass that defies its past host's full intentions.

when romeo kills xara he, vaguely aware of the sculk, learns from his past mistake: so he sends her body into a pit of lava in the nether, where (hopefully, in his mind) it'll forever burn and nothing will come of it. but this time, fueled by light and warmth and pure spite, xara's body thrives. it spreads, grows roots, creates mycorrhizal networks throughout the entirety of the nether. it creates warped fungus, a love letter to fred lost to time- and the crimson fungus, one once dedicated to romeo too. and these attract the endermen, a creature which xara once loved. they renew life throughout the nether, create an ecosystem which entire civillizations like the piglins can rely on. she renews the nether despite it all.

when romeo dies, his body is lost with him- in the chamber of the admins, the terminal, which nobody else could access. if it could just get a chance to get out, though, something terrible and beautiful and powerful would spill out to the rest of the world- creating things anew just as his late friends had.

i think i'll be calling this au(?) 'whalefall'

[gallusrostromegalus]

ok so re: sternritter i gotta ask, whats the plan for my girl gigi? she's a horrible awful gremlin baby but i cannot help but love her immortal tgirl swag.

also, are there any sternritter who got incredibly underused in the story that you've significantly rewritten so far?

As it stands, Gigi gets to live, but she is going to have to sit through a VERY unpleasant lecture about how yes, Gender is Fake, Political Organizations are Fake, and to an extent the 'Line' between living and dead is fake but Bodily Autonomy and Informed Consent are VERY, VERY REAL and you will *fucking* respect them because the Gotei-13 is the home of monsters.

For better or for worse, the person she's getting the lecture from is Tama Nikuya

---

Tama: Sure, you're a Monster too, Miss Gewelle -that's why I like you so much and am even extending you this offer- but I promise there are much worse things serving in the Guard than were dreamt of in your philosophy. Horrors, artificial and natural alike, well within the comprehension of your intellect regardless of gender, but no less awful. Worse, perhaps, because you understand what's going to happen if you put one drop of blood out of line-

Gigi, twitching: Urrgh!

Tama: Don't gurgle at me in that tone! Tama: You do understand, don't you?

(warning for body horror, parasitism, mind/body control, discussions of violence, transphobia and abuse under the cut) (Bleach is a pretty dark series and the Fic is E-rated accordingly)

Gigi, shaking her head as much as she can: Nglk!

Tama: What part don't you understand?

Gigi: Thzzg-? ThhZomg-!?

Tama, head cocked sideways, squinting as she tries to make sense of what Gigi is saying: 'the zog-'? The Zombie? Oh for fucks sake Gigi, we're well past that.

Gigi: Bugh-? Haaauuuu?

Tama: Alright alright, if it will help. The Zombie relies on some of your blood reaching my brain, or replacing a large portion of my own blood with yours, through which you exert your reiki, and thus control my body, right?

Gigi, Blinking Slowly: ... Gigi: Haugh- Haugh gid you vigure thad oud??

Tama, taking a deep, disappointed sigh: Babygirl, it's not that hard. That's very basic Spiritual Dominion magic. Don't get me wrong, you're very good at it and the sheer number of targets you can control is really impressive but as far as techniques go, it's not terribly complex or hard to counter.

Tama, Gestuting at where Gigi is awkwardly kneeling on the floor, paralyzed: Take the thing you've got- that's an enhanced strain of Ophiocordyceps unilateralis- you've heard of Cordyceps, I'm sure- that I've worked with to function inside humans- REAL pain in the ass by the way, Humans are insanely immune to infection and parasitism compared to most organisms-

Akon, holding an extremely large laser gun, not currently cocked but still at the ready: This is your requested reminder to stay on topic, Sir.

Tama: What? Oh, thanks- but Cordyceps is fun because instead of bothering to control the half-assed mess that is a mammal's neural system, it straight-up structurally takes over the large muscle groups! Just suppress the autoimmune response enough by giving the fungus an antihistamine release function too, and that sucker can crawl into every major support structure you have in under a week!

Akon: Yeah, I'm not sure 'Fun' is the right word here.

Tama: Don't knock it until you've tried it!

Akon, debating becoming the server technician for the 9th again: I'll take your word for it, Sir.

Tama, poking Gigi's arm just below where a long spire of the fungus is sprouting out of her shoulder, one of several growing out of her body and impacting her ability to move, including speaking: I'd say you're about 40% Fungus by weight right now, mostly your skeletal muscles, and those do what I say, which is why you're sitting down and listening while I try to change your mind. Tama, giving Gigi an encouraging thumbs up: -And why you still have a mind for me to change! Tama, giving Gigi a comforting pat on the shoulder next to the fungal spire: I have a lot of faith in your ability to make the right choices when presented with all the information, Miss Gewelle. If I thought I had to change your mind for you, I'd have pulled out the Hypomyces lactifluorum!

Gigi, watching Akon visibly shudder behind Tama: ...uhh. Gigi: Bugh. The Zomgee..?

Tama: Oh, right, The Zombie. Yes, yes- Reiki Domination is pretty tough to resist, especially from someone in your spiritual weight class, but, ah- Well, you've run into two big problems here Gigi.

Tama, sitting down on the floor next to Gigi: First problem is the use of blood as an infection mechanism. Tama, cheerfully, as though giving constructive criticism in an introductory art class: Honestly? Not a bad choice! Blood-bourne infections are some of the hardest to resist, and Forigen Reiki is a PAIN to purge from the bloodstream unless you flush the entire system. Most people, as you have seen, are doomed!

Tama, wincing: ...But I'm not most people. Tama, pondering: ... Come to think of it "People" might be a more correct term for what I am, but my situation is pretty radically different from "most" people!

Gigi, still defiant: Whad- Whaddafug ARE yu?

Tama, gesturing to indicate the situation is about as clear as mud, or morphology-based taxonomy: I- Well. It's long and not really all that funny story, but I got stuck on the wrong side of a a version of the Kodoku Bug Thunderdome curse- you know, the inside- for over eight hundred years with a whole mess of Hollows, Obake, and other nasty things and I went to some pretty extreme measures to survive. Tama, with a sad sigh: To make a long story short- I don't have blood anymore. Or a brain. Tama, frowning in contemplation: ...Or I'm ALL brain, it sort of depends on your definition of 'brain'-

Akon: Topic, Sir.

Tama: Thanks Akon! -But from my perspective, your blood is just another snack with a little bit of Reiki spice on top! Which brings me to your other problem.

Tama: You hit hard Gigi! Real hard! And you really should be proud of the degree of concentration you have! But like I said, the Gotei-13 is the home of monsters, and there wasn't exactly a burger joint or an opportunity to farm inside the Kodoku. ...I survived because I kind of literally ate things like you for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

[There is a long moment of silence as Gigi processes that statement, it's earlier compainion statement about what Gigi's blood was like for Tama, and the general implication of those on Gigi's circumstances]

Gigi: ...Gid I daste gud?

Tama, ears flicking up to listen better: What's that?

Gigi: Uck! Gigi, wide eyed with terror but somehow this situation has not ended in catastrophe yet, and she might be riding the adrenaline as far as it will go: ...Gid I datse good?

Tama: HAH!

Akon, turning around because he can't face this at 7AM without coffee: NO!!

Tama, teasing: Yes, you do taste very good, or at least the aperitif of blood you threw in the thing I use as a face did!

Gigi, giggling a bit in fear like a Hyena: Oh! Dhad'z Good! Gigi, stopping as the rest of the sentence catches up with her: Waid. Gigi: Whad Do you MEANg, 'ting you uze az a fage'? Gigi, with increasing horror: Whag- Whag ARE You?

Tama, giving Gigi a light, encouraging punch in the shoulder: You're a smart girl Gigi! You can figure it out if you put your mind to it! Tama, counting off the datapoints on her paw-pads: I don't have blood, or a brain, I lived underground with nothing but corpses to eat for a few centuries and my go-to restraint method is a parasitic...

Gigi, a horrible new world of possibilities opening to her like the lid coming off a tub of very expired sour cream: ...Mu-Mushgroom?

Tama, giving her two thumbs up: You got it! Tama: "Mushroom" is probably more specific than you intended, but you're not wrong! The part of me standing here lecturing you is more or less the organ I use for sex and sometimes paperwork!

Akon: Speaking of, the division W-2's still need to go out-

Tama: Akon, we're in the middle of an apocalypse. If the council tries to make everyone pay taxes on time this year, the Old Man won't have the chance to burn the government chambers down before the peasants do it for him. Chillax.

Tama, returning her attention to Gigi: It's probably why I'm so cheerful and down to party too! You know. Because I'm a *Fungi*!

Gigi, staring blankly: ...

Tama, wilting a bit: -A. Fun? Guy? A Fungi?

Gigi, starting to cry big, ugly genuine tears: Uh-uh-uuuuuhhhnnn...

Tama, trying to console Gigi with a hug that definitely makes things worse: ...You're right it'd probably be funnier if you didn't have a parasitic fungus rapidly taking over your person and forcing you to sit still and listen to a genuine freak of science tell you about Cannibalism. Tama, giving Gigi a little shake of encouragement: But you see how this makes my point, right? This isn't very fun for you, is it?

Gigi, suddenly locking up like a badly taxidermied fox: ...

Tama, staring blankly: ..? Tama, ears slowly rising as understanding dawns on her face: Oh?

Gigi, face rapidly alternating vivid shades of pink and white as her emotions battle for dominance, before settling on 'Scaroused': -Uh...

Tama, delighted: OH!

Akon, enraged: OH. MY GOD.

Tama, pointing at him and hissing: You are the LAST person who gets to kinkshame anyone young man! Tama, pointing back at Gigi: At least SHE knows how to have fun!

Akon: I'm gonna transfer to the Ninth and never, ever leave the server room again.

Tama: If you think you can withstand the emotional toil of leaving the mass spectrometer in my hands, be my guest.

Akon: :(

Gigi: Uh?

Tama: He's spiritually bonded to a particularly finicky piece of lab equipment that hates me, like how some tween girls become spiritually bonded to giant murderous equines, which also tend to hate me. Don't worry about it. Tama: Back on topic, this does explain a few things. You DO understand that your feelings about this situation are unusual and given that most humans and their spiritually powerful derivatives experience pain and fear from having their autonomy restricted and bodies invaded by parasites, How do you think being made into a Zombie feels for other people?

Gigi: ...Bahd?

Tama, nodding enthusiastically and making her ears flop in agreement: That's right! Bad! Tama, settling down a bit more to explain things carefully to Gigi: See, the thing is- even monsters like us need to get along with other people. Tama: I know a lot, but nowhere near enough to enjoy the benefits of civilization all on my own- I don't know how to fix a toilet, or fill out grant applications or stand in the same room as the mass spectrometer without breaking it, so it's really, really good I've got people Akon over there, who like me, who can, and more importantly are willing to do those things for me!

Gigi, annoyed: Gyou woulgnd AVV to-

Tama: hang on, hang on-

[Tama pokes a few points on Gigi's face and throat, using Reiki to disconnect some of the Cordyceps parasite, then pulls the spire that was developing under Gigi's tongue out. It's much larger than it looked, and makes Gigi's throat wiggle as she removes it.]

Tama: Oh hell, that shouldn't have been there. How were you even talking around that thing girl?

[Tama tosses the fungal spire aside and offers Gigi a water bottle. Gigi takes a few sips before nodding and Tama puts it away.

Tama: Okay, try again-

Gigi: Ugh- You wouldn't HAVE to get along with tall, drak and grumpy back there if he was a zombie!

Tama, disappointed: ... Tama, taking another deep sigh: ...Okay, let's say I zombify Akon-

[Akon cocks and aims the Laer Gun, which whines ominously as it charges]

Tama: WHICH I AM NOT GOING TO DO FOR REASONS I'M ABOUT TO ELABORATE ON, PUT THAT DOWN-

[Akon turns off and lowers the lazer gun, still glaring.]

Tama: Thank you. Tama: I know you're still getting used to how most people have conversations, but that was a normal way to discuss a theoretical scenario and not me about to turn you into a Zombie. Do you understand?

Akon: ...Ues, Sir.

Tama: He used to work for an Evil Clown, don't worry about it- Alright, Let's say I was a micromanaging-type moron, and I decided to zombify Akon instead of just getting along with him. I'd lose all his expertise immediately. No more functioning mass spectrometer or bathrooms.

Gigi, haughty: Mine do.

Tama: Pardon?

Gigi: My zombies keep. most of their skills and personality. At least the ones I make out of corpses. Gigi: Akon could still fix the mass-thingie and if you zombify the Grant Committee you don't even have to ASK for funding.

Tama, intrigued: ...Do they? That's good to know, I'll want to hear more about that later-but that still supports my point.

Tama: Alright, HYPOTHETICALLY I Zombify Akon, and the Grant Committee- well now, the person who's choosing when the mass spectrometer gets fixed and who gets grant money I don't need is ME, and I already have WAY too much work to do, I don't have initiative to spare for them! I got stuff I want to do! I can't micromanage everyone, everywhere all the time! Tama: It's literally easier, more efficient and frankly, way, WAY less stressful to just get along with people and live in a society than to try to DIY one out of corpses.

Gigi: ...I guess.

Tama: So that's my question Gigi. Tama: Are you capable of respecting people's bodily autonomy and personal space to get along with them?

Gigi, frowning and biting her lip: ...

Akon: That doesn't sound like a 'Yes'.

Gigi: It's not though. It's not less stressful to just get along with people. Gigi: That's- That's WHY I learned how to make zombies in the first place. I'd. I'd TRY to get along, dammit! But any time I let people make choices, they chose to get up my ass about my name, or cut off all my hair, or send me off to 'camp', or beat the shit out of me, or- or lock me in the mausoleum and leave me to starve instead of just call me my name or admit they had a daughter- Gigi: ... Gigi: So it was- Gigi: -It was easier with bodies. Gigi: Bodies don't insist you're a boy or call you a freak or take you to a 'private institution' to 'help you get better' where they strap electric paddles to your head and run a million volts through you- Gigi: Dead people are SO MUCH EASIER to get along with! They don't think you're a creep! They don't think at all! Gigi: I mean, why should I-? Why should I try to get along with people who have already made up their minds that they're never, ever gonna get along with me??

Akon: ... Akon: ...I mean, you are kind of a creep-

Tama: -AKON!

Akon: Hang on I'm not done! You are a bit of a creep, but it's not the girl thing, it's the zombie thing!

Gigi: Oh, just because you're scared of a dead body-!

Akon: GIRLIE I'VE BEEN DISSECTING CORPSES SINCE BEFORE I COULD TALK I AIN'T FUCKIN' SCARED AND I AIN'T DISAGREEING WITH YOU- YEAH. IT IS EASIER TO TALK TO A CORPSE THAN A PERSON. I SPENT PRETTY MUCH ALL MY ADOLESCENCE IN THE 12TH DIVISION'S MORGUE BECAUSE TALKIN' TO LIVE PEOPLE SCARED THE FUCK OUTTA ME!!

Gigi: WIMP! YOU HAVE NO IDEA-

Akon: NO, I THINK I FUCKIN' DO! Akon: YOU KNOW WHERE URAHARA HIRED ME OUT OF? Akon: PRISON. Akon: I GOT THROWN IN PRISON WHEN I STILL HAD ALL MY BABY TEETH, *JUST* BECAUSE I WAS SO CURIOUS ABOUT BODIES. JUST BECAUSE I MADE PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE! PRISON-PRISON! THE MAGGOT'S NEST, WHERE THEY KEEP WAR CRIMINALS AND WORSE! Akon: YEAH, TALKIN' TO LIVE PEOPLE SCARED THE SHIT OUTTA ME, BECAUSE THE LAST TIME I TALKED TO SOMEONE, I LITERALLY GOT SENT TO HELL!

Gigi: -!

Akon: Captain Nikuya is RIGHT, the Gotei-13 is the home of Monsters- and the twelfth has got some of the most freakish and frightening ones of the whole guard! Akon: But I'll take the self-vivisecting, species-transgressing, only-barely-human Monsters any day of the week over the maggot's nest because we're all shamelessly, gloriously monstrous together, and the ONE damn rule of the monster's ball is to ASK before you fuck around with someone's stuff, especially their body. Akon: Not "Don't mess with someone's body", Not "Don't be weird", Not "try to be normal". It's "Be freaks and monsters, but also friends."

Akon: God help me if Nemuri ever finds out, but that's why Mayuri is still in that flask. Most of us have a pretty good idea how to isolate his consciousness again, but they way he- I'd have killed him the week after he took over if I had any idea how.

Akon: That's the rule Gigi. No violating anyone's right to live as they are. Akon: That's the difference between a monster- someone people are scared of just for being how they are- and the kind of FILTH that needs to be scrubbed off the earth. Akon: Do you understand Gigi? Nobody gives a shit if you're a girl on purpose or whatever- Fuck, I can think of a few colleagues who'd put themselves on a list for you to reanimate them when they die no matter how much of them actually comes back. It's overwritin' people's minds and controlling bodies BY FORCE. Akon, putting down the gun and patting his coat for his cigarettes: If I understood you right, that's more or less what people tried to do to you, isn't it? Tell you how to act, who you were, by whatever means necessary?

Gigi: ...fuck you.

Akon: Fuck me yourself, you coward.

Gigi: ... Gigi: So what am I supposed to do when someone gets up in my face again? Smile and play nice? Roll over so they can kick my guts out?

Tama: Oh, no- If they violate the "Don't mess with other people's autonomy" rule, all bets are off! That's why when you tried to murder me and Akon a few minutes ago, I was right to infect you with a parasitic fungus to protect myself and stop you! Tama: In fact, the sooner and harder you react to that shit, the less people will try to cross that line, so if anyone tries to fuck with you, you absolutely can and should make an example of them!

Akon, holding up his cigarette to ask if it's alright, and wating for Tama's nod: -If anyone tried that shit with me I'd absolutely turn them into a living educational exhibit on why people need to have skin, but genuinely? Nobody in soul society gives a shit what's in your pants unless they're your doc or fuckin' you.

Gigi, rolling her eyes: Sure, sure-

Tama, laughing: No! Really! It was a surprise for me too.

Gigi: You're lying to me.

Tama, shrugging: Okay, don't believe me, believe your eyes- Tama, ticking people off on her paw-pads: You saw the peacock earlier, he's a seated officer and Baldy is his Husband. Tama: Their boss is the most rampantly bisexual slut I've ever had the pleasure of meeting and the primary load-bearing member of the captainacy polycule-

Akon, starting to giggle: -Yeah I bet he can bear a lot of loads-

Tama, casually plucking off another fungal spire to half-heartedly throw at him: Oh, and the guy who had this job before me IS pregnant with his second child!

Gigi, incredulous: ...The guy with the stupid hat that looks like off-brand Shaggy from Scooby-Doo? That looks more a beer belly.

[Akon: Loud, Snorting Laughter]

Tama: Okay, you're right, it looks more like a beer gut than a baby right now, but PLEASE don't tell him that- He's in the weepy mood swings phase right now, and won't get his sense of humor back until the third trimester. Tama: We' re all placing bets on when Baby Kegger is gonna be born if you want in on the action.

Gigi, Biting her lip and grimacing: I- I don't-

Tama, taking Gigi's hand: -You know firsthand how weird my body is. I'm not properly male or female- I've got at least 21,837 sexes within me because of the insane way I have to metabolically regulate my body. Tama, shrugging: I'm just female in conversation because language hasn't evolved the 12th-dimensional pronouns I'd need yet. But when I brought this up at a meeting, the only question I got from the old man was if my uniform would need altering. Tama: I mean. It did, but that's because I'm 4'6" and i get all my clothes in the children's section, but I'm still amused that that was the captain-general's polite way of asking if I'd need any accomodations.

Gigi: ...Promise it'll be okay?

Tama: I don't know how the war is going to turn out, but if you help us and stop making zombies, I promise I'll do everything I can to make it okay.

[Gigi manages a weak smile]

Akon, wheezing, and doing a terrible Scooby-Doo impresson: Ruh-roh! Rhe Rexperiments Breached Containment, And Raggy's rust Whadder broke!

[Gigi, snorting and giggling in spite of everything}

Tama: See? Now you're laughing. When was the last time a Zombie made you laugh?

Gigi, sniffling a bit as she giggles: ...never.

Tama: So, are you ready to give an alliance a shot?

Gigi: I- I guess?

Tama: You guess? I can't go to the captain-general with a mere hypothesis.

Gigi: ...Yes. Yes, I'm ready.

Tama, grinning: So you're going to be a good girl and keep your bodily fluids to yourself unless asked?

Gigi, turning bright pink: Y-yes!

Tama: Yes, what?

Gigi, going even redder: Yes, sir!

Tama, patting her head and releasing the hold on the Cordyceps, at least for now: ...Very good girl.

Akon, rolling his eyes: Uuuugh....

Tama, helping Gigi up: Hey! You know damn well that positive re-enforcement-

Akon, hefting his Lazer-Gun back onto his shoulder: -is an important part of interpersonal communication, reward the behavior you want to see yeah, yeah-

[Akon is about to turn to leave when a thought occurs to him and he stops and glares at Gigi]

Akon: ...You DO hit like a fuckin' truck.

Gigi, blushing and twirling her hair: Well, I mean-

Akon, pointing accusingly at Tama: I KNEW IT! YOU'RE NOT RECRUITING HER FOR THE WAR, YOU'RE RECRUITING HER FOR THE SHINIGAMI WOMEN'S ASSOCIATION INTRAMURAL CRICKET TEAM!!

Gigi: -the what?

Tama: And what if I am? It doesn't matter to you- The Shinigami Men's Association couldn't keep their wickets up if their lives depended on it!

Akon: -Call me when Matsumoto-taicho can bat out of the pitch!

Tama: Yeah, the fact that Rangiku and Hiyori both suck at it and you STILL lost by 203 points to us is not actually helping your case here.

Gigi: Is. Is cricket a sport?

Akon: SPORT? Cricket is an entire EVENT! It's a Way of Life! It's the philosphical ideal of-

Tama: Yes. Tama: It's a very silly sport, and his team sucks at it.

Gigi: Ooh! If we all live through this, I can be a cheerleader!

Tama, causing problems on purpose: Yeah!

Akon, sputtering with fury: I- That's- CRICKET DOESN'T HAVE CHEERLEADERS!!

Gigi, pouting with her index fingers pressed together, rocking her hips: -But I wanted to cheer for YOU Mr. Akon!

Akon, freezing like a deer in front of an oncoming 18-wheeler: -! Akon, turning ever-so-slightly-pinkish about the ears: ...I'll think about it.

Gigi, grabbing onto Akon's arm: Yay! Gigi, hanging off Akon and babbling: What are the team colors? Do you think like Majorette uniforms are cuter or something more like a miniskirt and halter-top?

Tama, letting them get a bit ahead of her as she dials the main camp: Anyone on the horn? It's Nikuya.

Nanao, on the other end of the communicator: Status report?

Tama: Good news! I've eliminated an enemy, found us an ally AND a new batter for the team if we all live to see spring training.

[bogleech]

No pokemon deserve overpowered new forms or evolutions more than parasect and magcargo, counting pokemon that I still like a lot more than both. They are unique novel concepts stuck with subpar stats and multiple quad weaknesses for over 20 years. They should both evolve into big beefy tanks with abilities that negate their elemental disadvantages.

And in parasects case the very existence of a sentient parasitic fungus pokemon feels like it ought to be kind of a bigger deal that shouldn't have happened only the one time. With "zombie fungi" more popular in our culture than ever I think parasects mushroom should even get to be focal to a whole storyline. There should be a villain team into experimenting with it and they accidentally make a malevolent legendary mind control fungus. I know they already did brain parasites as the main villain's plot in Alola but it can be different okay

[nightside-of-siberia]

The Rio Theory That Escaped From Me

So, uh, here's my Rio theory, ft. the random bullshit ideas that spawned from it. They're not perfect, but I thought they were kinda neat, so here they are:

THE CONTEXT: - Gaia (another name for Mother Earth) exists in Marvel comics as a representation of the Earth; - I mention this 'cause I think that, if she's not going to appear directly in the MCU, then she could be broken down into three major aspects: life, representing the maiden; death, representing the crone; and rebirth (not reincarnation - I'll get back to it in a minute), representing the mother; - all of these aspects would be equal, with no one being more important/powerful than the others; - they would all have a role to play, and rules to follow, with consequences should these rules not be followed, and this role not fulfilled; - now, the roles: life is basically what it says on the tin, and it being represented by the maiden is probably self-explanatory; death is about endings, and making way for new things to come, hence the crone; and rebirth here, instead of meaning reincarnation, would be more about transformation (metaphorical and otherwise), hence why I ascribed this part of the cycle to the mother - she's taking what already exists to form it into something new - or, if you'd prefer me to continue with the nature metaphor: like how last night's leftovers can be turned into nutrient rich compost for next year's tomato plants.

WHY ANY OF THE ABOVE IS RELEVANT: - Rio is a green witch, which, in pagan circles (as far as I can tell), basically means nature witch; - now, I don't know about any of you, but I grew associating nature with life and youth and pretty things, but that's not the whole story, now is it? - there's the death and decomposition and all that ugly stuff, too; - basically, my theory is that Rio isn't death in the way that everyone might think she is - i.e., in the, 'grim reaper/heaven & hell/afterlife'-type of way - and that's actually part of something that hasn't been revealed to us yet.

BONUS BULLSHIT: - AGATHA is essentially the magical world's version of a parasite (think tapeworm, or the fungus that takes over the minds of ants) - though, like in the real world, this isn't necessarily a bad thing (look into the connection between parasites, allergies and the immune system); - as the magical world's parasite, Agatha functions as a form of population control - think thermodynamics, re: energy in a closed system, how specific removing predators from an area can damage the local ecosystem (think the wolves of yellowstone), and how, by keeping the magical population small/in hiding (whether it be from her or from humans) would prevent attention being drawn their way, thereby reducing the chances that the witch trials might repeat; - ALICE and her mum's story makes me think of just how far some parents (human and otherwise) will go to protect their offspring, and the perils that can come from not knowing when to stop - e.g., a lioness continuing to fight with a bear long after the kittens have escaped, only to end up dead and unable to protect them (the kittens) from a different/bigger threat later on; - LILIA makes me think of the bit from GoT/ASOIAF about how the weirwoods exist outside of time/in the past, present and future all at once; - also, time is, like, the fourth dimension, or something? (I dunno, I'm not a fucking scientist.) - I don't have any nature parallels for Jen (other than maybe the fact that some animals are known to use particular remedies to treat their own illnesses) and Billy/Teen yet (I'm sorry).

[astaraelthesnek]

Kabaneri theories by two biology nerds

Ok, I am rewatching Koutetsujou no Kabaneri and my friend is watching it for the first time with me, and we are both biology nerds, so we are trying to work out how exactly the kabane, and therefor kabaneri, work. I will be posting our thoughts and theories one episode at a time, so please keep reading these. And if you haven't watched this anime, it's great, so watch it as the fandom is too small.

Right, so in episode one we basically were just trying to work out if it is a virus/bacteria, or a parasite. We don't think it would be a virus or bacteria, as those tend to kill the hosts pretty quickly, and some of the kabane have been alive for decades. They also often make the host physically weaker, and that is clearly not the case.

So we are onto parasites. Firstly, we needed to determine if it was a parasite or parasitoid (parasitoids kill the host and parasites don't). Despite what you may think, we actually think that it would be some type of parasite, as although kabane are basically zombies, parasitoids don't stay in their hosts, and don't control them. As far as parasites go, there are many instances of parasites, animal and fungal, latching onto the hosts brain and controlling them, like the cordyceps fungus, or the tarantula hawk wasp.

So, we've determined that it's a parasite, now what? Well, how is it transmitted. Obviously, through bites, but how does it do that. We decided that depending on if it is animal or fungus based, it probably lays eggs/spores in the saliva glands in the hosts mouth, which then get into the victims bloodstream when bitten. This also means that the parasite is unlikely to be in the kabane's blood, which makes sense, as steamsmiths don't seem too worried about cleaning blood off the trains.

When a victim is bitten, the eggs/spores are released into the bloodstream, causing the infection. This then explains the slow infections, as the smaller the wound, the fewer eggs and the slower the infection. The parasite then targets the brain in order to control the new host, as well as protecting the heart. This makes sense, as the parasite would more than likely be secreting chemicals into the hosts bloodstream in order to keep it running, and give it the superhuman strength, and in order to do that, it needs the heat to work.

This also explains why they are so hard to kill (we haven't tried to work out the heart cage yet). If the parasite keeps the body running off of its own chemicals, the host doesn't need to eat, so its organs can shut down, meaning that shouting it anywhere other that the head or heart will have no effect, as the kabane doesn't need anything else to function.

The parasite theory also helps explain why Ikoma succeed in turning himself into a kabaneri. If it was a virus, as soon as he stopped cutting off the blood supply to his head, it would have continued to infect him. But with a parasite travelling through his blood, if it can't find his brain, then it might assume that it is in the wrong place, and either shut down and hibernate, or die.

Ikoma still would have gone through some physical changes, as the parasite likely releases chemicals as soon as it hatches in the bloodstream, which would permanently alter his body, sending him through the initial changes that a kabane goes through. But without the right place to live, the parasite shuts down and stops releasing chemicals, meaning that not only does he keep his mind, changes such as skin colour would likely be reversed, as he no longer has the foreign chemicals in him.

That's all we have for now, but I will keep posting our theories as we watch it, so keep an eye out if you're interested.

Part 2 is now up, pls go read it (:

[pichoshaw]

The kingdom of Fungal Life 

When we think about the natural world, our minds often gravitate towards lush forests, vibrant flowers, and majestic animals. However, lurking beneath the surface and often hidden from plain sight is a kingdom of life that is as essential as it is mysterious: fungi. These remarkable organisms play a crucial role in the ecosystem, contributing to processes that sustain life on Earth. Let’s delve into the captivating world of fungi and explore their diverse and critical roles in nature.

Fungi belong to their own kingdom, separate from plants, animals, and bacteria. This diverse group includes yeasts, molds, and mushrooms. Unlike plants, fungi do not perform photosynthesis; instead, they obtain nutrients through absorption. They secrete enzymes that break down complex organic matter into simpler compounds, which they then absorb. This mode of nutrition classifies them as saprophytes (decomposers), parasites, or mutualists.

One of the most vital roles fungi play in nature is that of decomposers. They break down dead organic material, such as fallen leaves, dead trees, and animal carcasses. This decomposition process is crucial for nutrient cycling, as it releases essential elements like carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus back into the soil, making them available for plants and other organisms. Without fungi, these nutrients would remain locked in dead matter, disrupting the balance of ecosystems.

Many fungi form symbiotic relationships with plants through structures known as mycorrhizae. These fungi colonize plant roots, extending far into the soil and increasing the surface area for water and nutrient absorption. In return, the fungi receive carbohydrates produced by the plant through photosynthesis. This mutualistic relationship enhances plant growth, resilience to stress, and nutrient uptake, illustrating a remarkable example of cooperation in nature.

While many fungi play beneficial roles, some can be pathogenic, causing diseases in plants, animals, and humans. For instance, the fungus Ophiocordyceps infects ants and other insects, eventually controlling their behavior to facilitate spore dispersal. In plants, fungi can cause devastating diseases like rusts, smuts, and blights, affecting crops and natural vegetation. Understanding these pathogenic interactions is crucial for managing agricultural health and preserving natural ecosystems.

Beyond their ecological roles, fungi have significant applications in medicine and biotechnology. The discovery of penicillin, derived from the mold Penicillium, revolutionized medicine by providing the first effective antibiotic. Fungi also produce other medically important compounds, such as immunosuppressants and cholesterol-lowering drugs. In biotechnology, fungi are used in processes ranging from fermentation in food production to the breakdown of pollutants in bioremediation.

Fungi exhibit a stunning variety of forms and colors, particularly noticeable in mushrooms and molds. From the luminescent glow of bioluminescent fungi to the intricate patterns of mushroom caps, fungi contribute to the aesthetic diversity of nature. Some fungi even exhibit bizarre and fascinating behaviors, such as the slime molds that can navigate mazes or the cordyceps fungi that create “zombie” insects.

[triocat]

Forgot to do Goretober due to clowns

Day 13- Stitches

Day 14- parasite

Day 15- fungi (last one is a one off idea for the cappies where they are actual mind controlling fungus using animals)

TW: blood, body horror

[asmrbrainrot]

Alveckulara Al’Terra: Stages of Infection 🪱🌡️

(TW for talk of parasites and gore)

Stage One: Entry (Not contagious)

-Dormant flatworm eggs reside in the saliva of the infected, if said saliva enters a sore or open wound (such as a bite) the microscopic eggs will hatch allowing the larvae to enter the bloodstream. Once there the larvae will travel intravenously to the brain. Depending on where the bite is this may take a few minutes or up to an hour meaning, if treated hastily, there is a possibility an amputation can be done to save the victim.

-The victim is fully lucid and will not show any symptoms at this time.

Stage Two: Incubation (Not contagious)

-Once the larvae have reached the brain they waste no time mating with other larvae from the bloodstream. After mating, the males quickly die off, leaving the females to burrow into the victims frontal lobe eating their way through to nourish themselves. This stage last for a few days or up to a week as the larvae needs time to grow.

-The victim now begins to experience a myriad of unpleasant, albeit easy to look over, symptoms most of them including changes in behavior such as irritability, impaired decision making skills, and lack of impulse control. Others include weakness in one side of the face or body, and weakened senses of taste and smell. (Though they are still conscious, they may not be lucid)

Stage Three: Attachment (Not contagious)

-Now that the female Alveckulara have reached the adolescent stage and have burrowed deep into the brain, they begin the process of attaching themselves to the amygdala.

-At this point, the body of the victim will respond to the threat of the parasite with encephalitis (swelling of the brain) and they will experience the following symptoms over a 24 hour period: fever, seizures, sensitivity to light and sound, loss of consciousness, muscle stiffness and movement disorders.

-Unfortunately, due to the malasythe induce genetic mutation, the parasite was built to withstand the temperature of an average human or halfblood fever. Species like dragons seem to be immune though, as their bodies can reach much higher temperatures, effectively killing the parasite. (Though they may be left with brain damage)

Stage Four: The Last Hurrah (Not Contagious)

-After 24 hours, the adolescent worms are attached to the amygdala forming a “Hive Mind” at the brain and growing rapidly around the muscles and nerves around the body. (Similar to a cordycep fungus if you’re familiar) With uninhibited brain access the worms prepare to enter adulthood by destroying the victims pain receptors, and increasing their appetite to feed the worms. In a rapid period of metamorphosis, the parasite will, in three to five days, slink itself over every muscle and nerve ending in the body.

-Surprisingly most victims feel exceptionally well at this stage, leading the victims themselves and others around them to believe they pulled through. For the first 24 hours they appear asymptomatic, but as the worms grow they become less lucid, and experience a sharp increase in appetite. Along with muscle stiffness as the parasites take over. Near the end of this stage the victim takes a rapid mental decline, becoming increasingly ravenous and unstable. At this point the will no longer be lucid and will lose the ability to speak, reason, or recognize the people around them.

-This stage is called the last hurrah as it is the last semblance of lucidity the victim has before succumbing to the Alveckulara.

Stage Five: Adulthood (Contagious)

-The final stage of life for the Alveckulara Al’Terra. Now in complete control of its host’s body the “Hive Mind” the adult worms have all the reproductive material they need to start reproducing. A thick, bloody froth begins to leak from the host’s mouth containing the eggs of the female worms. The parasites essentially puppeteer the body of the host, hunting down human, half-bloods and animals to incubate its spawn. This will continue until the necrosis caused by the parasites (explained below) is too extreme for the parasites to effectively sustain themselves, at which point they die.

-The parasites divert their energy only to “Necessary” bodily functions such as breathing. (Yeah, pretty much only breathing, walking around, and biting people.) This means after the third stage, the victims heart will stop beating.

-The victims body will gradually start to decay as the parasites puppet the lifeless corpse. They eyes usually rot out first as the parasite need only the host’s sense hearing and smell to find prey. Then the stomach becomes bloated as the organs inside decompose, eventually bursting in a reeking display of bile, blood and maggots, revealing the inner abdominal cavity. This shows others the elaborate network of black wriggling worms inside. The victim cannot talk, nor feel pain, though it does possess almost super human strength due to the parasite’s control. The last to go are skin and hair, before eventually the parasite is too weak and the sinews holding the body together collapse.

-Also, it should be noted that while the body does decay, it is much slower than the body of an uninhabited person as Alveckulara produce a hormone similar to formaldehyde. (This lengthens its lifecycle)

Wow…you actually read the whole thing? Here, have a cookie for your troubles! 🍪

Comment and/or reblog with your cookie if you read to the end!

[bluegekk0]

What happened to the Void? With the Shade Lord destroyed, is the entire Void just gone?

What’s the Abyss like without the Void then?

I don't think it's fully gone, there is still some of it at the very bottom of the Abyss. But there is less of it, and all of the shades are gone, so it is significantly more empty. The Abyss itself is definitely easier and safer to navigate if you were to climb down, though it's still not a good idea. The void sea may be more shallow, but it can still lash out at anyone who isn't careful and attack them with void tendrils. The biggest difference is the significantly smaller amount of void particles in the air, as well as quieter ambience.

Most of the void that formed The Shade Lord was the vessel shades and all the surface void that crept up towards the Abyss entrance, so the pools of "liquid" void still remain, albeit more shallow. I think void itself is native to that area, perhaps it is actually a substance of natural origin that somehow mutated into what we know as the void. If there was in fact a civilization down below in the past, maybe they somehow utilized the void to build their kingdom, before realizing how destructive the substance was and perishing.

---

Hijacking the ask but I'm feeling inspired again, so below is a possibly incoherent, long AU worldbuilding ramble about the origin of the gods and their nature:

---

If the above mentioned is how The Shade Lord was created, from a natural substance or some kind of force that mutated into a god-like being, perhaps that is also how the other gods were born (or at least the ancestors of those gods we know now).

For example, I mentioned in a previous ask (here) that both the dream essence and the nightmare essence/flame (in my AU at least), when out of control, act in a way similar to a virus or a parasite. And seeing how long-term contact with pure void can cause death, the similarities are certainly there.

Then there is also Lifeblood, which could be connected to a god, and also has a significant effect on the body (perhaps it can be lethal in large doses, like some kind of drug-like substance?).

WL (in my interpretation) can detect and drain life force, which reminds me of some parasitic plants that drain nutrition from other plants, or even parasitic fungi that feed on living organisms.

Unn is a tricky one, but since the acid in Greenpath seems to be of natural origins, it would be a similar situation to the void and The Shade Lord (mutated from a natural substance). Unn seems to be immune to the acidic pools, so it's not far fetched to assume that she is somehow connected to it.

What I'm getting at here, is that all the gods, at least those in Hallownest, but maybe all of them, might have originated from mutated forces of nature.

---

I imagine there would be two categories: the virus/parasite origin and the natural substance origin. I will skip Lifeblood here since the existence of a god connected to it speculative, but if it does exist, I think it would fit into the second category.

The Radiance and Grimm's ancestors (The Dream Lord and other beings connected to dreams that came before him) could have evolved from some kind of parasite or virus that targets the brain, causing dreams and nightmares, and when out of control, it takes over the mind and manifests physically (the infection being a primary example). WL and her ancestors might have originated as parasitic plant-like organisms, or perhaps some kind of parasitic fungi (look up the Niveomyces coronatus fungus and compare it to WL's roots, the resemblance is definitely there).

Then there is The Shade Lord and Unn. The first Shade Lord is a being born of the void, which by itself is a substance which occurs naturally in the lowest depths of the Hallownest area. Unn's ancestors may have originated from the acid pools that occur in areas such as Greenpath, which explains why she's completely immune to it.

All of this happened thousands, if not millions of years ago. By the time the events of the AU take place, the descendants of those mutated beings have evolved into gods, are able to transcend beyond the physical world into the higher plane, and possess unlimited power, but at their core they still connect to their origins. The Radiance's dream essence and Grimm's nightmare essence invade the brain causing dreams and nightmares (and an infection like disease in extreme cases), The Shade Lord possesses the same traits as the void it originated from, WL can drain life force of other beings just like a parasitic plant/fungus would, while Unn is immune to the acid, and perhaps has other abilities that we haven't seen which could further connect to it.

There is also the topic of soul, but since I imagine WL uses soul magic, and it's present in living organisms, it's possible that her ancestors somehow learned to use it for powerful spells. Which would explain why FPK was able to find lore tablets that taught him to focus it and sustain himself on it, something that WL is able to do naturally.

I don't know if this makes sense, I will very likely still brainstorm this idea further, but I really like it so far. Having some kind of common theme for worldbuilding is great, and once I polish this up, it would be a great base for creating more god characters if I ever feel like expanding the pantheon.

[mindblowingscience]

Conducting experiments on fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) infected with Entomophthora muscae, researchers from Harvard University in the US have found the internal clock and hormone-producing systems of the fly's brain are involved in propelling the fungi's host to a lofty final resting place. Known as summiting, this real-life horror movie behavior ultimately allows their parasitic pilots to infect more hosts. Perched far from the ground, they stretch out their proboscises and release a sticky droplet that glues them to the surface, lifting their wings dramatically above their bodies in a striking zombie pose that exposes the fungal spores to the air. 'Zombie' fly behavior has fascinated scientists for decades with the mechanisms responsible for this activity largely a mystery. Until now, no one has even observed zombie flies in their last hours of life. "We found that summiting is not about climbing," says lead author Carolyn Elya, a cell biologist and self-described zombiologist; "it's actually this burst of locomotor activity that starts about two and a half hours before the flies die."

Continue Reading

[eskiworks]

Ah, sorry if I asked this one before, but I'm not sure if you still use tea-feathers blog, so I will ask here again: can we learn more about Night Spores? How do they work and how do they infect creatures, including alecani?

I'm so glad you asked! This is another one of those TeaFeathers concepts that I let myself take too seriously (trying to make it biologically "correct" and trying to make it unique), which stifled any enjoyment or expression I could have with the concept. Plus with the covid pandemic, I've shied away from writing about and drawing any disease. Though it was originally inspired by symptoms of rabies in humans (I hate to use the word "inspired" here), which is one of the absolute most TERRIFYING things to witness if you've ever seen film of rabies victims or heard audio. I do NOT recommend looking for it.

The Night Spores are, as you can see, a glowing parasitic fungus similar to cordyceps. The infection takes root through the respiratory tract, so it can effectively be prevented by wearing an appropriate mask. Early symptoms are similar to a mild cough, but not yet contagious. As it grows it spreads through the hosts body, takes more and more energy, and increasingly effects their behavior. Near the end of the host's life, it controls the body enough to get them moving to spread the spores. This, and the days before releasing spores are when it's contagious. 

An alecani is a great host for them, since they can fly high to spread the spores! I'm thinking the Night Spores can be spread to similar animals as alecani sometimes. Maybe it prefers winged victims, but mostly effects alecani? Maybe it came from the alecani home land and wasn't native to the continent they now reside on? I'm always turning stuff over in my mind and changing it, but that's the direction it's going!

The world of TeaFeathers is pretty vast, but close to villages the alecani and other sapient animals (pylura, the venandi cats, the canine federation) try to track outbreaks and eliminate them as quickly as possible. Nights when the wind is warm and not terribly strong are perfect for a Night Spore release, so they keep an eye out for telltale glowing in the sky, wear masks, an do what they can. In colder months, Night Spore victims with fully developed mycelial networks on their bodies can hibernate in a way, waiting for warmer months to finally take flight and spread the spores.