Imperium Fungus

Imperium Fungus Is a parasitic fungus that "takes control" of the host's brain and drives them to further spread the infection. When the fungus kills the host, the host's body grows stalk-like fungal projections which release infectious spores. The infection can also be spread through bites from living hosts. Hosts can only be infected while alive, as the fungus is unable to infect dead bodies due to its parasitic nature, though dead Infected can release spores regardless of stage.

The Daybreak Empire views the spreading disease as a curse meant to expose and eradicate blasphemers. And it is their rightful duty to root out and remove the vermin that attempt to avoid righteous eradication, lest they become demons (which is what Daybreak refers to the infected as). Doing so ‘frees’ the person’s soul, otherwise they would be damned to purgatory. The Eclipse distinguish those who have the curse from those who don’t by having the suspected host consume a small handful of charcoal dust, the charcoal symbolizes that which has been consumed by the flames of Heliod, and the Heliod himself shall expose the evil hidden within the host. If the body is to reject this ever so gracious gift, then it is evident that this body has been corrupted by the curse, and must be taken by the holy flame, burned atop a holy pyre just as any other blasphemer would and should be.

Stages of Infection
The fungus grows while the host is still alive, with hosts undergoing four stages of infection.

Stage One
Stage one begins within two days since infection, wherein the host loses their higher brain function (and with it, their humanity), rendering them hyper-aggressive and incapable of reason or rational thought.

Stage Two
Within two weeks, the host enters stage two of the infection, wherein the fungus begins altering their sight as a result of progressing fungal growth over the head and corruption of their visual cortex.

Stage Three
After a month of infection, the infection enters stage three later; the infection scarring their face and blinds them, resulting in them developing a primitive form of echolocation to compensate.

Stage Four
If the host survives for over a year, they reach stage four. They develop hardened fungal plates over most of their body.