[color=CECECE][h1][center][b]Unnatural Selection[/b][/center][/h1][/color]

To visit old feeding grounds was a cathartic thing, especially for such a god as Yesaris. And there was nothing more cathartic than the realm of the hivelands, the site of their crash upon the Galbar. And their favored spawn had certainly done them proud. The fungal hive had spread rapidly ever since its first creation, its roots and mycelium stretching beyond their crater home. Trees dominated by the wide brims of fungal sporocarps, beasts made twisted mockeries of their forms, sporocarps pushing through their skin and bones, and great fungal cores organized it all, it was truly beautiful. But, there were still problems. 

First, there was that annoying desert of salt, its heat cooked their spawn alive, there was nothing to eat or consume and even if every last inch of it was poisoned, and if you didn’t watch your step, it would explode! It was a barrier the hive could not pass, yet, it was one they would need to find a way to break or go around, as the grounds of uncorrupted lands were dwindling rapidly, and the only other options to go beyond was the ocean, which their favored spawn were not equipped enough to traverse. 

Then, there were those beings of stone and dirt, it was clear to Yesaris the mark of their kin of the earth, and they had chosen to take note of that, as these grand beasts of stone were pains in their plans. Fighting back the infections from their spawn, destroying Hive Cores and causing havoc whenever the hive tried to expand. This was a serious problem, and if these beings became powerful enough, they might even threaten the hive itself, this, this would not do. 

 As they stared upon the first hive core, its massive bulb suspended above a small lake deep in the crater, its fungal form pulsing with life. They tried to figure out a solution. The hive needed more power, they were trapped in their confines and faced with extinction, but more power would surely mean the attention of their kin, and there was little doubt in the Lord Parasite’s mind that if the hive was a great threat, the kin would not be hesitant to strike it down. They needed something more, subtle, and not as overt. 

Their gaze was drawn towards one of the beast forms as it drank from the putrid, algae filled, lake. It’s feline body was covered by the sporocarps that broke through its skin, dried blood caked upon its fur. Yesaris began to ponder this, perhaps, was there a way to twist the natural world to their advantage? They were a parasite after all, it was only in their nature to do such things. Yes, yes, this would do, perhaps they could just, speed up some natural processes. Perfect.

Yesaris grasped at their mouth once more, emanating a retching sound as their chest heaved. Slowly, a pale yellow sludge began to fall from their mouth into their waiting hands, soon, there was more than enough for their plans, and they yanked their mouth closed once more. Digging through the dirt that laid beneath them, they soon found what they were looking for, the large and extensive mycelium network that ran through the entire region, keeping the Fungal Hive connected. Grasping it in between their claw hands, they smeared the sludge along its length, allowing the substance to fuse along the network, its pale yellow stain soon coming to pulse alongside the white glow of the fungus. 

The effects were quick to take effect, the beast form just nearby began to convulse and twist, bones snapped, elongating, only to be forced to fuse back into place, what remained of its flesh strained and cracked in efforts to keep up with the growth, a sickly blood pouring forth, drenching its rotten matted fur in its dark red colouration. Soon, the beast was larger than before, its maw filled with teeth and a jaw that could crunch stone when needed, its body able to take more blows. 

The Lord Parasite couldn’t help but widen their smile at the presentation, exactly what they had wanted. They had, in short, twisted the natural process of mutation into something far more, beneficial. The hive did not reproduce, so it would have to be sped up some, happening to any being connected to the greater network and thought, its effects were still random though, merely influenced by what the hive was dealing with, and not all would be beneficial to the hive. But, this would certainly do, it was something more to aid it. 

Content, Yesaris arose, as much as they enjoyed being around their favored spawn, things needed to be done. There were still lands that had yet to see their beautiful creations to their full power. And that, needed to change. 

[hider=Summary]
Yesaris visits the fungal hivemind once more, and discovers things aren’t all that well. A salt desert and ocean keep the Hive from expanding beyond their already defined borders, and some earth things keep killing the forms and cores. Knowing that just solving this outright would draw unwanted attention, Yesaris decides to give the hive something else, a little twist of the natural order(sorry not sorry Phelenia). The hive is given the power of enhanced mutation, which will hopefully prove useful in the long run. Yesaris then decides to leave, knowing there are still Parasites to spread. 
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[hider=Vigor]
Yesaris Start: 12

2-Gift the Fungal Hivemind the power of enhanced mutation. The mutations are still random, but can happen to anything connected to the greater hivemind(Cores, Producers, Beasts, etc) and will often(though not always) be beneficial to the hive and will be influenced by what the hive is currently dealing with. (Ex: Large stone golems? Give the beasts heightened strength and size in order to be on a more even match.)

Yesaris end: 10
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