Barnacle

Name: Barnacle

Troupe: Parasite

Archetypes: Jester, Converter

Description: Set up a nest of hidden barnacles on the station and unleash unstoppable infectious chains on death.

Objectives: None.

Masquerade notes: N/A

Now you've done it. The barnacles are coming.

Concept

The Barnacle is a parasite which is focused on the positioning and concealment of powerful barnacle nodes across the station.

Abilities

The Barnacle has the ability to plant up to 3 'barnacle nodes' on the station. These nodes can be destroyed, but have high resistances and require relatively strong weapons to break.

When the mask is killed, each node creates a moving stream of barnacles in the direction of the body. The stream start slowly but speeds up exponentially over time until it either reaches the body or goes off-grid. Making contact with the stream will convert non-parasites into a Barnacle, although after a moment it will become noninfectious, leaving only a harmless trail on the walls and floor.

Gameplay

The Barnacle creates a unique challenge in positioning their nodes in order to infect as many people as possible. Since the strength of the effect is highly dependent on both distance and path between you and the node, the barnacle will need to spatially plan out where they want to set up their nodes such that they have the greatest chance of intersecting with populated areas.

However, these nodes are not invisible. Since they can be discovered and destroyed by crew, the barnacle will need to ensure that their nodes are well-hidden. This encourages a level of nest-building, a distinguishing factor for the mask that gives it a unique dynamic.