Sculk

## Origins:

Sculk originates within the deep dark. Far below the surface of the overworld deprived of any life. Desolate and barren. Sometimes found within large caverns and the long forgotten ruins of an ancient civilization.

## Function:

Sculk is a type of cordyceps that needs death to thrive, alike to many other fungus. Sometimes confused with Fungaloid, the only difference from common fungus being it actively seeks out to cause that death.

Infecting living organisms (usually on the larger side) to build off of and use to kill. To spread. To feed its never ending hunger. Taking over it's host body and mutilating it into something more fitting for its one and only purpose.

## Infected

The infected are people who are unfortunate enough to face direct exposure to the cordyceps. Either succumbing immediately or living on to be an active threat upon facing another exposure event.

Upon being exposed infection can take over rapidly if said person isn't removed from the cause of exposure immediately, resulting in the sculk quickly hijacking their body entirely. Leading to immediate aggression before inevitably being mutilated and deformed into a beast set out to kill in order to further spread.

If removed from source of exposure the infected can exhibit a range of symptoms as the Sculk slowly takes over their body's system. From symptoms like the common cold to seizures. Attacking the hosts immune system before immediately moving to the nervous system and brain (usually the cause of paranoia, insomnia, and seizures) All of this usually lasting for a little over a week.

During this time host can spread the infection through bites, scratches, and bodily fluids.

After the estimated time symptoms will persist, though sparingly and infection through the host can only rarely occur through bites.

Host will remain aware and in control of themselves entirely, so long they don't have another exposure event. In the case they do they will suffer the same fate as previously shown.

The only way to reverse the mutilation Sculk will put it's host through is separation of exposure and deprivation of energy. Once done, with the lack of energy to support itself the Sculk will allow the host to revert back to themselves. Host will often suffer lethargy, confusion, migraines, difficulty breathing, light sensitivity, noise sensitivity, nausea, dizziness, and aggression. Rarely they may suffer seizures. All of this will last for a few days after returning to "normal."

Forms the infected may take upon being contorted for suitable use for the Sculk can vary depending on the host and location the Sculk the host was exposed to. Though, some things can be expected no matter what. Blindness, hearing sensitivity, elongated limbs, extreme durability, enhanced speed, enhanced strength, size, and a somewhat human but animalistic appearance.

## Variants:

Variants, as previously stated depend on the location of the source in which the host got infected.

### The Warden

The Warden, one of the few you may come across is the most likely of the three. Source infection commonly being the ruins of ancient cities.

It is both a bipedal and quadrupedal variant that mostly moves around on two legs. Standing on average of 7ft tall. Accustomed to traversing the seemingly endless halls and flat caves, moving with ease around obstacles and chasing with neverending endurance.

Unlike the mob, it does not have a ranged attack as the human body, as contorted it is in this state, cannot harbor such functions to do those sort of things. Along with that, it's appearance can be more lean in nature, the hosts skull seemingly protruding from the skin. (Skin becomes almost translucent around the head and neck resulting in this effect)

### The Hollowed

The Hollowed, source infection usually patches within large and open caverns.

It is slowly quadrupedal, though the most human out of the three variants. Elongated arms with backwards joints meant to propel itself forwards at alarming speeds, easily scaling walls and squeezing into tight spaces to continue pursuit of prey. Usually stands around 6ft on all fours.

Hosts of this variant can exhibit increased aggression at all times due to The Hollowed being the most aggressive variant.

### The Stalker

The Stalker, source infection found within long winding caverns in small