Fungal Zombie

About

These undead are the result of fungal infection. The grey-green dust covering the victim forms a rhizome network that grows to replace the existing nerve structure of the host, replacing their personality, and individual identity with a single minded purpose - to spread to other hosts. An infected becomes increasingly aggressive towards any potential hosts - living animals, or people; as direct physical contact may ensure a sufficient amount of spores transfer.

They seem to ignore pain and will continue their assaults despite suffering grievous injuries.

If not alerted to potential victims, the infected host stands or sits inert awaiting noise, smells, or visual cues to spring into action. A victim ignores their base needs for sleep, food and water, as the mold spreads deeper into their tissues eventually causing organ failure and the release that comes with death. The corpses of those whom die from the disease continue to remain animate, aggressively attempting to further spread the fungus through contact with living hosts.

Unless a victim resists the infection during the initial incubation period, they are doomed, as there is no known cure for advanced cases.

Abilities

These creatures are driven to make physical contact with other living beings in order to spread the spores. No other concerns exist.

Fear

In many cultures, most living mortals have an ingrained fear of animated corpses, because the dead should remain as such. Where such prejudice exists, Zombies have the innate ability to strike terror into those who view them. Anyone viewing such an entity and aware of its undead nature may flee to be frozen in terror.

Combat

Fungal zombies show no concern for personal safety. They do not suffer pain or fatigue, do not bleed, and may ignore shock from trauma and injury. Significant mortal wounds, which would kill a living creature, may still be fatal to a fungal zombie. Physical injuries may still prevent or impede body movement. Severe or grievous damage can even cripple them.

Infection

Fungal Zombies releases spores on contact. Every successful melee attack, by or against the zombie exposes those engaged with it to possible infection. Even if killed, the body remains infested, and anyone who handles the corpse risks exposure. Once spores infect a living host through inhalation or prolonged skin contact, and the fungal parasite grows for a few days, it begins to chemically interfere with natural body chemistry making its host more aggressive and incapable of sleep. As the infection proceeds the host may expose others to possible infestation by fungal spores. Once a host succumbs completely they cease to live, but their bodies remain animate until destroyed outright. Within ten days post infection, the hosts outer skin begins to become covered in obvious green dusty scab-like patches.