Narkissosian Serpent

The Narkissosian Serpent is a vile creature and virtually untraceable. 
== Traits ==
The serpent's true form is that of a creature created from smoke. Though many would say this is anatomically impossible, the serpent doesn't seem to care about their petty opinions and is most commonly seen in a vapor state. However it has been reported that on occasion this creature has taken a humanoid form. He has been described as an impossibly thin man, small in stature and generally nondescript, yet with the piercing yellow eyes of a snake. 
It is vicious, unmerciful, and above all cunning. This serpent is as crafty as its biblical cousin and is no animal. It is a being, a personna, and something to be greatly feared.
== Method of Hunting ==
This creature feeds constantly. It must continually sustain itself or it will become incapable of taking a form. Its main source of food is as abstract as its ghostly figure: pride. 
The serpent feeds off of human pride and arrogance, sucking the life source of its victim while simultaneously producing delusions of grandeur to the individual's increasingly feeble mind to distract the victim from what is taking place.
==== Targets ====
Generally individuals who are incredibly confident and sure of themselves are the serpent's first choice, automatically making its job easier and more fruitful. However, it has also been noted that the serpent does not feed mindlessly and has been thought to target specific individuals regardless of pride levels.
==== Process ====
Its main method of entering its next victim is through the ear canal. After it is inside the skull, the serpent attaches itself to the amygdala, the portion of the brain devoted to emotions and personality, and begins pumping a gaseous vapor into the blood vessels of the brain, which serves to kickstart the enhancement of the victim's self esteem.
==== Symptoms ====
As the life is drawn from the individual, his self esteem is at first raised, due to the initial effects of the vapor. However, as the process matures the victim's esteem steadily drops and he attempts to compensate for it by acting pompous and confident in his abilities. The serpent continues to steadily suck away at his emotions until the victim is but a shell of his former self. Victims usually die within 2 days once the serpent has finished its long feast and moved on, taking the vaporous artificial life and confidence with it.
== History ==
Narcissus was a Greek mythological figure; a man so consumed with pride in himself that he actually fell in love with his own reflection. This level of self importance is an example of prime food for the serpent, and thus we derive the serpent's name from this tragic character's original Greek name, Narkissos. 
Not much is known about the serpent's origins, since it is incredibly difficult to trace. Its presence first seemed to emerge during the Renaissance, when men's eyes were turned away from the heavens to focus more firmly on themselves. There have been various periods of time where the serpent seemed to be more active, the Enlightenment period of the 1780's is another notable time. In general the serpent to hunted quietly. It is a creature of the very shadows that compose its figure and seemed to have an aversion to the open air. 
It seems to have been weak most of its life, barely making a ripple in humanity, despite possessing many kings and rulers over the years. However, the development of the early photograph gave humans a glimpse into its effects, though most shrugged it off as nothing more than a marr in the photo development. A victim of the serpent could be occasionally captured in photographic form with an evaporating blur surrounding his facial features. This is thought to be the numbing vapor being released from the facial pores, an event occurring once every 14 days for several minutes, though invisible to the naked eye. Therefore it is incredibly rare to be captured in photographic form but, if it happens to be captured, the numbing vapor can be seen in older photographs due to the daguerreotype form. In modern photography the vapor cannot be detected due to the high pixilation and instantaneous quality of digital technology.
Due to the rise of humanism, the pride of mankind is at an all time high. The last one hundred years has served as a continuous banquet for the serpent, and therefore it has become stronger and more powerful, able to now effect more than just one victim at at time, growing larger every day. It has taken human form hundreds of times more often than in centuries past and prowles Western culture, feeding off of the self-obsessed citizens of the modern world. The deaths are slow, painful, haunting, and mysterious. Doctors often attribute it to "complications of the heart", a medical mystery. It is indeed a mystery to mortals, for the serpent leaves no trace of its deed.
== Dealings with TARP ==
tbc
Category:Enemies