Cymothoa sanguinaria is an entirely non-supernatural parasite that causes its hosts to take on certain vampiric behaviors.
Overview[]
A parasite endemic to hot springs and similarly warm water, this creature infects and grafts itself onto humans. During stage 1 of infection, C. sanguinaria compels the host to other afflicted individuals and mates. Stage 1 victims typically behave more gregariously than normal, with brain chemistry being altered so as to induce mild euphoria and elevated mood.
During stage 2, the parasite puts the host into a fugue states during which they will seek out and feed on blood so as to provide the nutrients its eggs require to mature. These states will increase in frequency over time, eventually becoming permanent. Kindred who have used telepathic observation on post-stage 2 victims have noted that said victims remain alive and aware, though unable to override C. sanguinaria's control.
Eventually, after reaching stage 3, the parasite will find a pool of water in which the host plants itself. The new larvae explode out into the pool, along with the host's decaying intestinal tract. The host will then guard the area viciously; if people come by, it will incapacitate them and render them new hosts. Naturally, the old host dies shortly thereafter, along with the original parasite.
Trivia[]
- C. sanguinaria was inspired by the real-life parasite C. exigua, which preys upon various species of fish. The females of this isopod attach themselves to the host's tongue, severing its blood vessels so as to make it fall out; at this point, the parasite effectively becomes the fish's new tongue, feeding on either its blood or mucus.
- Despite the format used by the authors in the sourcebook (i.e. Cymothoa Sanguinaria), proper capitalization for any scientific name is Genus species (e.g. Cymothoa sanguinaria) or G. species (e.g. C. sanguinaria).
Gallery[]
References[]
- VTR: Night Horrors: The Wicked Dead, p. 37-42
