A scientist on Rysalia Prime named Dr. Dearing Noah Jarl took his pet dog Brídín with him on a botany expedition to the rainforests of Resuello deep in the mountains of the planet Meiriceá in the Aneas Quadrant. Once amid the lush tropical flora and fauna, the dog became attracted to a certain plant growing there. It was a fern-like growth, low to the ground, with several spiky stalks jutting up from the center of spiky, serrated-edged fronds. Upon each stalk was a large round seedpod with what resembled a small crown sitting atop a pale green inverted bowl. Upon disturbance of this pod, a cloud-like mist of spores arose from the plant. The dog inhaled these spores and violent sneezing erupted in the animal. Blood began seeping from its eyes and nostrils.
Rushing his pet back to the shuttle craft, Dr. Jarl returned to Rysalia Prime and took the dog to his lab. The animal began exhibiting signs of acute distress. A scan of the canine’s internal organs revealed a shocking discovery. The unknown spores had invaded his bloodstream and were multiplying at a rapid rate. It soon became obvious the spores were of a virulent variety and Dr. Jarl surmized the inhalation of them by humanoids might have devastating consequences. Later than evening, the animal began to change.
According to Dr. Jarl’s statement: “He started to convulse, falling to his side, howling in agony, his paws flailing the air. His bones began to crack, to elongate, his flesh turning to a leathery consistency, and his canine shape evolving into that more of a lupine creature. What had once been a very tame, gentle animal became a ravaging beast with glowing red eyes, sharp claws, and even sharper fangs. The enraged animal tried savagely to get out through the bars of the secure environment. I had no doubt had Brídín been able to break free of his enclosure he would have attacked me without fail.
Feeling great remorse at what had become of my beloved pet, I knew the best thing to do was to put Brídín out of his misery. Taking up my laser rifle, I shot him, crying the entire time I attempted to put him down. But the canine did not die. Seven times I shot him at close range but I could not kill the beast. I did manage to knock him out with a high-powered narcotic dart and as he lay unconscious I made the most devastating decision of my life. I decided to spray him with a quick-acting combustible and set fire to it. I was in agony as I was forced to end my pet’s life. I sat by his cage until his body was nothing but a charred husk.
But Brídín—at least a part of my beloved Brídín—was still not dead. From out of the smoldering carcass of the canine something crawled and lay there slithering on the floor.
What came from the canine was a revenant worm (see Parasite).
Note: It would later be discovered that the highly toxic spores that had infected Brídín were from a strange fungus that grew upon those seedpods on Resuello and not from the pods themselves as originally thought. The fungus growing on the plants was unlike anything known to science at that time. This fungi—like all fungi—reproduced by scattering thousands of spores. Upon each spore, there was a strange microscopic growth and it was this growth that had infected Brídín and that had grown to maturity inside him. The plant was given a name: lycant and warnings were sent out that the plant was deadly and all traces of it should be eradicated.
With the arrival on Rysalia Prime of two scientists named Coden Sejm and Barriq Cean (see Ceannus)—both of whom were genetic engineers—Dr. Karl began experimenting with the parasite’s DNA. Sejm had been carrying on stem cell research in Diabolusia…which is against the laws of that world…and had fled before he could be sent to prison for what he was doing. It appears Cean had a hand in helping Sejm escape though it is unknown from where Cean had come. It is believed Sejm and Cean were lovers.
Apparently Cean was not unfamiliar with the spores although he was unaware of the parasite that could result. The team worked with mice at first, genetically modifying the embryonic stem cells. The altered cells were implanted into a blastocyst—an embryo—which was in turn then implanted into the uterus of a mouse. A mouse was created that was stronger, more intelligent, more cunning, and far more vicious than the other mice. It was also capable of transforming into something no man could adequately describe. They moved on to dogs then apes, genetically modifying the DNA of the animals, eliminating traits they felt did not enhance the creature and magnifying traits they found acceptable.
It was only a matter of time before Karl, Sejm, and Cean began experimenting on humans. The first known subjects were the daughters of King Brell of Chale. Known as the Seven Sisters of the Sword, these women had been brought to Rysalia Prime by Captain Drae Cree and his men of the Rysalian Fleet Command. The women were given parasites in utero when it was learned they had been impregnated by their captors. The result was the creation of the first in utero Reaper, Kamerone Cree.
According to Dr. Jarl’s statement: “He started to convulse, falling to his side, howling in agony, his paws flailing the air. His bones began to crack, to elongate, his flesh turning to a leathery consistency, and his canine shape evolving into that more of a lupine creature. What had once been a very tame, gentle animal became a ravaging beast with glowing red eyes, sharp claws, and even sharper fangs. The enraged animal tried savagely to get out through the bars of the secure environment. I had no doubt had Brídín been able to break free of his enclosure he would have attacked me without fail.
Feeling great remorse at what had become of my beloved pet, I knew the best thing to do was to put Brídín out of his misery. Taking up my laser rifle, I shot him, crying the entire time I attempted to put him down. But the canine did not die. Seven times I shot him at close range but I could not kill the beast. I did manage to knock him out with a high-powered narcotic dart and as he lay unconscious I made the most devastating decision of my life. I decided to spray him with a quick-acting combustible and set fire to it. I was in agony as I was forced to end my pet’s life. I sat by his cage until his body was nothing but a charred husk.
But Brídín—at least a part of my beloved Brídín—was still not dead. From out of the smoldering carcass of the canine something crawled and lay there slithering on the floor."
What came from the canine was a revenant worm.
Note: It would later be discovered that the highly toxic spores that had infected Brídín were from a strange fungus that grew upon those seedpods on Resuello and not from the pods themselves as originally thought. The fungus growing on the plants was unlike anything known to science at that time. This fungi—like all fungi—reproduced by scattering thousands of spores. Upon each spore, there was a strange microscopic growth and it was this growth that had infected Brídín and that had grown to maturity inside him. The plant was given a name: lycant and warnings were sent out that the plant was deadly and all traces of it should be eradicated.
With the arrival on Rysalia Prime of two scientists named Coden Sejm and Barriq Cean—both of whom were genetic engineers—Dr. Karl began experimenting with the parasite’s DNA. Sejm had been carrying on stem cell research in Diabolusia…which is against the laws of that world…and had fled before he could be sent to prison for what he was doing. It appears Cean had a hand in helping Sejm escape though it is unknown from where Cean had come. It is believed Sejm and Cean were lovers.
Apparently Cean was not unfamiliar with the spores although he was unaware of the parasite that could result. The team worked with mice at first, genetically modifying the embryonic stem cells. The altered cells were implanted into a blastocyst—an embryo—which was in turn then implanted into the uterus of a mouse. A mouse was created that was stronger, more intelligent, more cunning, and far more vicious than the other mice. It was also capable of transforming into something no man could adequately describe. They moved on to dogs then apes, genetically modifying the DNA of the animals, eliminating traits they felt did not enhance the creature and magnifying traits they found acceptable.
It was only a matter of time before Karl, Sejm, and Cean began experimenting on humans. They called themselves the Ceannus after Dr. Cean. Their first known subjects were the daughters of King Brell of Chale. Known as the Seven Sisters of the Sword, these women had been brought to Rysalia Prime by Captain Drae Cree and his men of the Rysalian Fleet Command. The women were given parasites in utero when it was learned they had been impregnated by their captors. The result was the creation of the first in utero Reaper, Kamerone Cree.
