Squirg

Squirg are a variety of parasitic cephalopod found on many worlds, including a particularly deadly variety found on Nexus. They attach themselves to the skulls of their hosts and take director control of the brain, feeding off nutrients in the victims' bloodstream until those are exhausted. They then leave their victims to die and move on to the next.

Physicial description
Squirg resemble small, short-legged octopuses, roughly the size of a human head. Many grow much larger on Nexus, where larger victims such as giants and Osun are available. When not parasitically attached to a living host, they scuttle about on their tiny tentacles seeking their next victims.

Squirg possession
Individual squirg hunting in smaller groups tend not to use as much neurotoxin on their victims, leaving these "possessed" individuals with a great deal more control over their bodies than those transformed into "squirg zombies." Possess squirg victims may use weapons without difficulty, for example, and have no problem running, jumping, and using basic tactics in combat. They are still usually unable to speak, however, and they still display the same unchecked aggression as squirg zombies. Perhaps most horrifying of all, empathically sensitive individuals have determined the possessed victims are conscious of the actions the squirg is making them perform - including the slaughter of friends and family members.

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"At least the squirg zombies ain't got a brain left to feel any twinge'a remorse. Them poor possessed bastards gotta sit back and watch as their own hand spread terror and murder. S'pose they're lucky there ain't no cure, though. Who could live with themselves after doin' somethin' like that?" - Deadeye Brightland

Squirg "Zombies"
Squirg victims whose brains have been poisoned with neurotoxin are often called squirg "zombies." Though not the result of necromancy, the behavior of squirg hosts is remarkably similar to the reanimated corpses created via necro-alchemy. Unlit the latter, however, squirg zombies only last a few days before their bodies cease to function due to starvation or dehydration. While active, however, they can spread rapidly throughout an area and cause a great deal of death and destruction.