Jiki

**Jiki**, also known as **Virusites**, are small, parasitic beings capable of altering the mind. They are the main and only source of diseases, also known as curses, for Kraizen.

## Appearance

Jiki are ant-sized, worm-like beings of varying colors and limb counts. Their basic structure consists of a head, a body, thread-like limbs split at the tips, and a tail with several branching tendrils longer than their own bodies. The shape of the tail and tendrils depends on the type of jiki. Each one has multiple black eyes, typically 5, though some types, such as the green jiki, have fewer.

## Characteristics

Jiki will attach to the victim's brain and feed on the chemicals it produces, altering the victim's mind as they are driven to acquire more of the chemical they are being deprived of. The chemical the jiki feeds on depends on the type; for example, the red jiki feeds on dopamine. The jiki will also attempt to spread itself to others; some spread physically, while others spread mentally. If deprived of the chemical they feed on for long enough, the jiki will eventually die, curing the victim of their altered mind. The jiki can also be forcibly removed, but doing so is ill-advised, as it can cause permanent changes to the victim's personality.

Jiki cannot affect humans or broken Vani, as they're incapable of reading their brains.

## Types

### Red Jiki

Red jiki are the source of **Blossom Disease**, also known as Love Zombie Syndrome. Once attached, red jiki will feed on the brain's dopamine, driving the host to cling to those they love or care about for more dopamine, potentially harming them and/or those they love in the process. It's relatively easy to identify an infected Kraizen. Most noticeably, the host will have pure red eyes and several red, curly tendrils branching out all over their body. Victims will also have a hunched-over posture and speak in a slow, monotonous voice.

Blossom Disease has an extremely high infection rate. It spreads through prolonged contact with infected beings; the jiki will attach to its next victim and implant a baby jiki that will awaken shortly after, infecting the new victim almost instantly. The red jiki may also spread through saliva, as being bitten by or kissing an infected Kwaiz guarantees infection.

Despite the dangers, Kraizen are known to purposefully cause red jiki outbreaks as a part of a game. Outbreak games most commonly happen during what's known as the Terror Frame, or Fear Season. During these games, a few Kwaiz would stay back and moderate participants unknowingly infected with Blossom Disease, only stepping in if things get too dangerous. Once the game ends, the perpetrator is forced to isolate and perform community service for a week.

There are a total of three known strains of the red jiki. The first one is known as the Cuddle strain, and is the tamest of the three. Used in outbreak games for kids, this strain will only cause victims to act relatively slow and cuddle with others. The second strain, known as the Creepy strain, causes victims to act eerily, and their advances toward others become more intimate. This strain is used in public games for older members. The last one remains unnamed, and is illegal to use in any sort of game. Under this strain, the host's obsession and advances toward others are at their highest, potentially putting all involved in great danger.

Blossom Disease is cured simply by isolating the infected; with the host — and thus the Jiki — unable to receive dopamine, the Jiki will die off. It takes up to a week of isolation to kill a red Jiki.

### Purple Jiki

Purple jiki are the source of **Tyrant Disease**. Under this jiki's influence, one will constantly hunger for power, turning one into a tyrannical control freak. They will develop a superiority complex and make others around them sing praises of them. Victims may also become violent, especially in proximity of others with the disease, but not always. Those affected by Tyrant Disease will have pure purple eyes, and straight, branch-like tendrils wrapped around their neck that travel up to their head, forming a structure highly reminiscent of a crown. The purple jiki spreads through persuasive memetics, though the chance of this infecting someone is low.

Tyrant Disease can be cured by humbling the affected being, including defeating them in combat or staging a large enough uprising against them. Isolation can also prove effective in curing the victim.

### Green Jiki

Green jiki are the source of **Spiral Disease**. When inflicted with this disease, the jiki will force the brain to excessively indulge in a specific thing. The victim will have pure green eyes and green tendrils wrapped around their face. They will constantly smile, moving around unnaturally and scratching any surface they come across. Like purple jiki, green jiki spread mentally, although through trances rather than persuasion. Spiral Disease can prove fatal if left unaccounted for, as the victim will neglect basic needs during their indulgence.

Spiral Disease can be cured by monitoring the infected being. Talking, displaying affection to the infected, and removing the source of indulgence are all effective in killing the green jiki.

### Blue Jiki

Blue jiki are the source of **Morality Disease**. Those with this affliction have their dark curiosities and interests emphasized, essentially removing the host of their moral compass. They will do things generally considered taboo, evil, and unethical. Victims can be identified by their pure blue eyes and a few straight, jagged tendrils that sometimes sprout from their bodies. Like red jiki, blue jiki spread through physical contact; the longest tendril from the host will attach to its next victim and inject a baby jiki into them. However, the chance of infection with Morality Disease is much lower than with Blossom Disease.

Morality Disease is one of the more challenging afflictions to cure, the method of doing so varying from victim to victim. Some may need to be spoken to about morality, while others will need affection, and some may simply need to be isolated from others.

### White Jiki

White jiki are the source of the **White Plague**, one of the deadliest diseases known to the Kraizen. When inflicted with this jiki, the host will attempt to kill themselves at any opportunity, with their final method always decapitation. Victims can be identified by their completely black eyes and white lines around their necks. The plague has two methods of spreading: One way is through prolonged proximity with the victim, and the other involves the jiki releasing its babies from their host's brain stem after decapitation. The latter of these two methods produces more white jiki. White Plague can only be cured by forcefully removing the jiki. If a host successfully decapitates themself, they are always found frozen, holding their severed head above their neck, their body still strong enough to hold themselves up. This pose is known as "The Final Purification" or simply purification. In order to prevent the jiki from spreading from a purified victim, the head is reattached, and the body is burned or frozen.

In modern times, White Plague is believed to be extinct, with many dismissing it as a mere urban legend.

### Cyan Jiki

Cyan jiki are the source of **Saliva Disease**. Under this, the victim will lose all composure, acting like a feral beast and trying to bite anything that moves. They will have pure cyan eyes and tendrils coming out of their mouth. Saliva Disease spreads by the host biting another being, in which the tendrils will wrap around the bite victim and presumably transfer a baby jiki to them. It is cured by isolating the affected victim from anything that can be bitten.

Saliva Disease is an earlier form of the disease Rabies. Although it was initially exclusively Kraizenian, the disease was carried over to Earth by the Omni.

### Orange Jiki

Orange jiki are the source of **Rhythm Disease**. When infected with this jiki, the host is compelled to follow and add to a musical rhythm. The host will also refuse to sleep. Victims can be identified by their hooded, pure orange eyes and perpetual smile. This jiki can spread both through proximity memetics and audio.

Rhythm Disease can be cured by restraining victims and noise canceling.

### Gold

The source of **Engoldening**. Not much is known about this disease, and whether it's actually caused by a jiki is debated. When Engoldened, victims appear to bleed gold from all over their body, especially from the eyes. The only way to cure Engoldening is to kill the victim.

## Trivia

* The word "Virusite" is a combination of the words "Virus" and "Parasite". It was named as such in English due to the beings exhibiting characteristics of both a virus and a parasite.
* "Worm" is a typical slang word for the jiki.
* Plushies of the red jiki exist and are often sold during Fear Season. It is unknown if plushies of the other jiki exist.
* The Rhythm Disease was inspired by the Dancing Plague of 1518, in which citizens in the streets of Strasbourg suddenly began to dance for days on end.
* When the diseases were first revealed, Monstrosity briefly mentioned a second purple jiki illness that makes the victim constantly hungry. It is unlikely that this disease is still canon, as it has never been mentioned again in future lore dumps.
	+ Likewise, it was also mentioned that each Paradigm had multiple illnesses associated with them, though unless one counts the different strains of Blossom Disease, this was never brought up again.