Eridanium Gigasius

Eridanium Gigasius, more commonly known as parasites are a colorful wormlike creature discovered in the wilds of Eridanos.
==Background==
They were discovered by scientists of the Rizzo corporation on Eridanos in the Holey Caves. After extracting their Queen from the caves, Administrator Quinton Ludovico used them as part of an "Morale Improvement Program" in order to boost morale among Rizzo employees on Eridanos, and eventually spread them across the Halcyon system. When inhabiting a host they can cause excessive happiness.
==Biology and Life Cycle==
The parasites function similarly to parasites on Earth, although their social structure seems to be more like that of a wasp, bee, or ant. Their normal life cycle would consist of the parasite queen laying her eggs, the parasites gestating inside them, then breaking free of their egg casings and attaching to a host. 
The parasites function by attaching themselves to an animal's nervous system and internal organs, then overwhelming the host with pleasure signals to change its behavior and prevent their removal. This produces a feedback loop in which any negative emotion is met with excruciating pain and nausea, conditioning the host to think only happy thoughts at all times. Rizzo's Morale Improvement Program is based on this, and they're not even hiding it, allowing subjects to walk around the resort with the worms dangling from their necks. 
As the slug grows, it eventually pops out of a bloody welt in the side of the host's neck. Multiple worms in the same host will attach themselves throughout the torso and limbs. Multiple infestations lead to mania and homicidal insanity, as infested individuals consider anyone not experiencing their levels of near constant euphoria as "bringing down the vibe", seeing any emotion experienced by anyone that is not extremely positive as negative. 
By forcing their host to be happy, and then choosing what makes their host happy, the parasites are able to propagate themselves even beyond those hosts Rizzo's has implanted with the slugs themselves. 
Infestation does not kill the host at first. Unless the worm grows larger, or if the host proves unviable and the worm detaches itself. 
The parasites are incredibly sensitive to a special chemical compound that can paralyze them and render them and any infected unconscious.
Like mantipillars, they're capable of burrowing rapidly into the ground and surfacing a short distance away.
== Symptoms ==
Symptoms and indicators of initial Parasite infestation include:
* Rictus Grin
* Near constant to constant feelings of euphoria, happiness, joy, etcetera.
* Antipathy toward removal of parasite. 
* Lower half of parasite can be seen poking out of hole in skin, clothing, or armor.
Symptoms and indicators of multiple Parasite infestation include:
* All of the above mentioned indicators
* Numerous parasites can be seen poking out of holes in skin, clothing, or armor.
*Symptoms similar to Ataxia
* Incredible hostility towards all non-infected
* Manic mental state
* Vomiting of parasitic compounds
==Variants==
=== Parasite Queen ===
Category:Creatures (Murder on Eridanos)