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3rd largest recorded Corpus Vitis
Overview
Entity 49, “Corpus Vitis”, is an incredibly invasive and parasitic plantlike creature which gestates in and later hunts outdoor levels of the Backrooms with low natural light after harnessing the corpse of a human or animal. The life cycle of Corpus Vitis has 3 distinct stages: Bulbous, Ravaging, and Predatory. In its first stage, Vitis Corpus presents itself as an unassuming onion-like plant which grows under shaded regions of outdoor levels. After a human or animal comes in physical contact with the bulb, it will spread roots through the victim’s body, internally and externally; this process can be halted with immediate application of Almond Water or Agrugua to the contact area, and can be eliminated after longer infection periods via amputation/cauterization of the infected area. The final stage of Corpus Vitis’ life is marked by the death of its host, allowing the plant to reanimate the corpse and begin the process of executing and absorbing living creatures to increase its size, entirely enveloping the original host and slain prey in brown-green vines. Corpus Vitis spends the rest of its lifetime laying Corpus Vitis bulbs and hunting and absorbing prey, allowing some specimens to grow as large as train cars, and transforming itself into a monstrous conglomerate of rotting corpses and thick vines.
Habitat
Bulbous: Corpus Vitis bulbs mainly grow in the soil of low-lit areas below ~75°F. Occasional instances exist of bulbs growing in indoor spaces, such as now a defunct BNTG Corpus Vitis laboratory. Standardly, bulbs grow in clusters of 7-8.
Ravaging: When Corpus Vitis is in the Ravaging stage (attached to a living host), it has not yet gained control of the victim’s body; it only has the ability to traverse through it. As such, Ravaging Corpus Vitis is not constrained to any particular habitat.
Predatory: In its final stage, Corpus Vitis usually hunts in dark, natural areas with dense plant life, such as Level 204. When available to it, it often chooses to submerge itself in murky ponds or pools. Including indoor areas, anywhere with thick overgrowth of vines, leaves, and anything it can camouflage with is prime territory for Corpus Vitis ambushes.
The 3 Stages, Explained:
Bulbous:
Bulbous
Corpus Vitis’ Bulbous Form resembles a small onion in shape and color, and bears a pungent mustard-like smell. When buried, bulbs have an 8-15in stalk that sits above ground, which are just as capable of transmitting CVR (Corpus Vitis Ravaging Sickness) as the bulb itself. In this stage, Corpus Vitis will not spread or move in any way, save for if it is picked or eaten. After coming into contact with a possible host, bulbs remain dangerous to touch, as they still carry CVR. If you come into contact with Bulbous Corpus Vitis, immediately wash the area thoroughly, contain the specimen or pick it up with gloves (CVR can only transmit through direct contact with a bulb), and find the nearest MEG outpost for medical attention. PLEASE NOTE CVR IS INCURABLE IF INGESTED ORALLY.
Ravaging:
Once any amount of Corpus Vitis has come into contact with a living being, that amount of Corpus Vitis is considered to be in the Ravaging stage, now having parasitized the victim to eventually kill and reanimate it. CVR sickness is fairly unpredictable in progression, lethal if left untreated (treatment is still not a guarantee, however), and horribly painful. The usual first symptom of CVR is loss of sensation in the area of contact, which will progress to loss of muscle/joint function. The second telltale sign of CVR is the feeling of “bugs crawling underneath the skin”, attributed to the progression of vines and leafy material spreading throughout the body. Following this, wanderers display the following medical symptoms: coughing blood, internal bleeding, necrosis, paralysis, swelling, migraines, heartburn, cramps, and nonspecific organ failure.
The most jarring symptom of all is the presence of green-brown vines underneath and protruding from bodily orifices and tears in skin. As the plant tissue grows through the body, it slowly chokes organs until they fail, crushing muscle and bone as it does so. Once its host has died, the Corpus Vitis is considered to have entered the Predatory stage. It should be noted that CVR is not contagious and cannot spread Corpus Vitis. In most cases, CVR symptoms show 1-2 days after infection, more severe symptoms and vine growth arrive 3-4 days after infection, and death occurs within 9-10 days.
Predatory:
Early Predatory
The final stage in the development of grown Corpus Vitis is when it becomes neither a plant nor parasite, but its own creature entirely. After its original host dies, stiff, thick vines grow rapidly from the facial and posterior orifices of the corpse, also tearing holes through the flesh in areas with less body fat, such as the chest. The vines will then wrap around areas of the corpse to maintain a grip on its host, eating through the remaining organs and muscles so that it may partly animate the corpse. In specimens animating the body of a 4-limbed creature, the Predatorial Corpus Vitis will, at first, travel using the corpse’s limbs, not yet having grown vines of sufficient musculature. Killing via strangulation, sometimes crushing the victim’s bones to disable them, Corpus Vitis will first ambush and consume smaller prey, absorbing each new corpse into its viny skeleton. Each newly absorbed victim allows the entity to grow in size and complexity; it will begin moving with its own firm limbs, built of vines and muscle, giving it more dexterity and brute strength. Attacking Corpus Vitis in the wild is futile, as only organized MEG traps using intense flames designed for local specimens have ever succeeded. The largest ever Corpus Vitis was recorded (not killed) in 2011 by the MEG on Level 544: 30ft+ tall, 6 enormous stalks used for legs, dozens of smaller flexible vines for latching onto things, and approximately 40 visible animal, human, and entity corpses decorating the skeleton.