Powderkeg Fungus

Discussion in 'Deferred' started by Alias, Jun 13, 2020.

  1. Alias

    Alias Galactic Citizen

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    Name: Genetically modified sample 31631021 – “Powderkeg” fungus

    Description: Powderkeg is a type of fungus genetically modified for rapid growth in a variety of environments. In a hyphae state it appears as a rusty brown-orange film on surfaces, but in colonies it develops large extrusions and develops ‘bulb’ shaped perithecium with a deep brown coloration.

    Abilities:

    Grows extremely quickly, even in adverse environments.

    Latches onto plants, extrudes spiny growths into them, and leeches nutrients from them to accelerate growth by 1mm/24 hours in highly ‘green’ areas.

    Incredibly survivable, able to endure and reproduce in spite of harsh environments, or even space travel. At or below 5°C it enters a dormant state until entering an area at least 20°C. In this state it dehydrates, becoming completely inert, and is able to survive temperatures as low as 2° Kelvin.

    Conditional Abilities (Optional):

    When exposed to fire or a heat source above 180°F, Powderkeg’s bulbs violently explode and jettison several spore pods made of an ultralight film, as well as causing the bulb’s shell to splinter and scatter with enough force to break the skin of most non-furred or armored species.

    Powderkeg thrives on heat and it’s growth is explosive in ash. When in an ash-rich environment it’s growth rate allows it to increase in size by 40% every 24 hours. Additionally, sizable colonies (>5m in diameter) are capable of surviving in trace quantities (1%) in up to 3200°F.

    In environments colder than 90°F the surface of the fungus is hydrophobic, with the mechanisms allowing intake of water through non-parasitic means closing off.


    Limitations:

    The spores produced are incredibly hydrophobic until they are mature, allowing them to be washed away easily during the first 18 hours of their life cycle.

    Spores and juvenile colonies attempt to propagate in heat despite being unable to, exposing vulnerable spores and allowing the colony to be completely burned out at only 280°F+ temperatures in the first 24 hours of life.

    The spores are highly dependent on wind and heated air to spread, reaching distances of only centimeters in still air.

    How does it work:
    Powderkeg is an artificially created organism, designed to grow rapidly and outcompete native species for nutrients. It does so by excluding actin patches greatly from the exocytic zone to facilitate this rapid growth, between 2mm and 5mm in 24 hours. When in a hyphae state it grows over surfaces, attempting to invade or penetrate through them, emitting a chemical that facilitates cell disruption and increases available nutrients for the fungus to absorb.

    In the span of approximately 24-36 hours it develops into a mature state, withdrawing water from the exterior walls of its perithecium and filling miniature chambers inside. When heated, the water in the chambers pops in a manner similar to popcorn, resulting in an explosive release of energy that flings spores at high speeds.

    Flavor text: Powderkeg was originally created by a scientist who was employed in the CBRN division of a U.S.C.M. research facility. The original sample was believed destroyed, and the scientist was later relieved of their position. A few decades later, a functionally similar fungus was used on a planet occupied by the U.S.C.M. and was not correctly identified before thermal weapons were used to destroy it. The planet was deemed unsafe for habitation and unusable for commercial interests within months and evacuated, resulting in an abundance of samples – if quarantine is broken on the planet.

    Referenced Technologies (Optional): N/A

    Attainability:
    Semi-Closed – The U.S.C.M. and a defunct terrorist-separatist group have the only known live samples of the fungus off of the quarantined planet it was deployed on. Those willing to risk breaking quarantine and being fired upon could attempt to retrieve a sample for use or reverse-engineering.

    Tags: [Military]

    Category: Other
     
  2. Skid

    Skid God Incarnate Staff Member Community Monitor Diamond Donator

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    Deferred - This is probably more appropriate as a beastiary app.
     
  3. Khaos

    Khaos Purple Man Impervium Donator

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    Seconding the deferral. Reformat this and put it in the bestiary application section, and we'll grade it from there.
     
  4. Pinkbat5

    Pinkbat5 pocl v3.6.7 Staff Member Moderator Diamond Donator

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