MedusaeThe creature stays affixed to its host, wrapping its vile tendrils around his brain and vertebrae. The parasite's meaty body is covered with strange swollen growths that vaguely resemble succulent fruit. You haven't noticed them before.
YOU[Tug at the strange appendage]
MedusaeThe growth makes a squelching sound as it separates from the creature's little body. The place where it used to be quickly fills with new flesh as if the tuber wasn't there. The fruit pulses in your hands like a small bearing heart.
YOU[Take a loser look]
MedusaeYou bring the parasite's appendage close to your face and sense an unusual smell, attractive and repulsive at the same time. The fruit feels ripe under your fingers...
YOU[Take a bite]
Medusae(sequence)
ArgentaSister Argenta rushes forward. "You will thank me later!"
end of branch
Yrliet"Ber-taa-shal, stupid mon-keigh!" Yrliet rushes to you and knocks the xenofruit out of your hand.
end of branch
Heinrix"Enough!"
end of branch
MedusaeThe parasite's slimy flesh melts on your tongue... The taste buds start going insane — a thousand of tastes merge into one that no human language can describe. You salivate, yearning for more... Another piece! A pleasant warmth spreads through your body, making your limbs comfortably numb. The entire world shrivels into a single grain of sand, and then... Bursts into a maelstrom of colours you have never seen before!
MedusaeBut the very next second a never-ending nightmare engulfs you. You survive the agony of your own death time and again, drowning in the desire to kill, maim, purify... One time after another, unable to stop — forevermore.
Medusae"[Name]!" How many infinities had passed before you heard this voice? It rings louder and louder in your head, growing ever more urgent. "[Name]!" But what is... a head? And what is a [Name]? Colourful shadows slip into the void and drive back the darkness. The yellow ones fill you with warmth, the blue ones grant tranquillity, the red ones give life to a strange feeling in your chest... And you open your eyes.
CassiaCassia's frail body is shivering with exertion: "[Name], you are awake! Praise the Emperor! You have been swept up by a tempest of colours and nightmares, a maelstrom of emotions plunging toward abyss... But I showed you the way upward, toward us all." Cassia takes a shuddering breath, her gaze drifting out of focus. "The effort cost me dearly, [Name]. Please do not subject yourself to such danger ever again."
end of branch
MedusaeBut the very next second a never-ending nightmare engulfs you. You survive the agony of your own death time and again, drowning in the desire to kill, maim, purify... One time after another, unable to stop — forevermore.
end of branch
YOU[Give up on the endeavour]
MedusaeYou shake off the compulsion and push the object away from your face.
YOU[Take a loser look]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Preserve the fruit for study]
MedusaeYou carefully place the appendage into a reinforced container, trying not to damage its organic surface. The fruit continues to pulsate softly — it looks like it may be stored in such matter a bit longer.
YOU[Kill the creature]
end of branch
YOU[Leave the creature alone]
MedusaeYou retreat to a respectable distance, the creature hesitates for a few seconds and shuffles away into the lightless corridors.
end of branch
YOU[Capture the creature]
MedusaeYou come closer and reach to separate the parasite from the body of its host, but the creature feels something is wrong...
end of branch
YOU[Crush the fruit]
MedusaeYou forcefully squeeze your hand and the appendage busts with a squelching sound, splattering reddish and yellow liquid everywhere. A pungent sickly sweet stench permeates the air, and all of your attempts to wash it off remain futile.
YOU[Kill the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the creature alone]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Capture the creature]continues where this line first appears above
Medusae(sequence)
Abelard"Lord Captain, what are you even thinking!?"
end of branch
Heinrix"Rogue Trader, by the Emperor... What are you doing? Take this filth away from your face."
end of branch
Jae"O-o-oh, shereen, no-no-no, I know this look and it seldom bodes well! Just toss away this rubbish and let's scram. Sounds like a plan, hm?"
end of branch
Yrliet"The Dark Ones partake of such fruit to revel in the pleasure from pain and suffering it contains. Mon-keigh minds are not open and flexible enough to survive such an experience, however."
end of branch
YOU[Preserve the fruit for study]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Crush the fruit]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the creature alone]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Capture the creature]continues where this line first appears above
Medusae(sequence)
Heinrix"I once was witness to the vivisection of such a creature. These parasites are called Drukhari medusae. As long as its current host lives, a medusae has no need to attack and dominate your mind. If its host dies, be careful not to let it latch onto your head."
end of branch
Yrliet"A medusae... A harvester of torment and nightmares. My dark cousins use these creatures to amass emotions and experiences, which they then feed on."
Argenta"By the Emperor, just burn this monster already!"
end of branch
Entry point 2 of 2
MedusaeThe dead body of the host is twitching convulsively, but the creature does not seem to be in a hurry to let it go. The parasite's meaty body is covered with strange swollen growths that vaguely resemble succulent fruit. You haven't noticed them before.
YOU[Tug at the strange appendage]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Kill the creature]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Leave the creature alone]continues where this line first appears above
YOU[Capture the creature]continues where this line first appears above
Medusae(sequence)continues where this line first appears above