Ooze

Level: 1
Type: Amorphous Fungal Organism
Classification: Ooze
Faction: Wild
Status: Active

Overview

The Ooze is a slow-moving amorphous organism composed of a thick gelatinous substance covered in mold, fungal colonies, and other forms of organic growth.

Its body resembles children’s slime that has been abandoned in a warm, humid environment and allowed to decay for months. The base is usually a sickly mixture of yellow, orange, brown, and translucent green. Blue-green mold colonies grow across its surface while white fungal threads spread through its interior.

The Ooze possesses no visible eyes, mouth, organs, or central nervous system.

Despite this, it detects nearby living creatures.

It moves with purpose.

The Ooze does not appear to hunt through speed. Instead, it approaches slowly and consumes anything that comes into direct contact with its body.

Whether the organism is intelligent remains unknown.

Appearance

The Ooze has no permanent shape.

Its body continuously stretches, folds, separates, and reconnects as it moves. It flows around roots, rocks, vegetation, and debris rather than climbing over them.

Common visible characteristics include:

• Thick yellow-orange gelatinous tissue
• Translucent green sections
• Blue-green mold colonies
• White fungal growth
• Dark areas resembling decayed organic material
• Mycelium-like threads beneath the surface
• Small mushroom-like growths
• Spore-producing structures
• Gas bubbles trapped inside its body

The organism may change in size depending on how much material it has consumed.

Objects and partially digested remains may remain visible inside larger specimens.

Movement

The Ooze is extremely slow.

It moves by extending portions of its body forward and gradually pulling the remaining mass behind them. Its movement resembles thick slime folding over itself.

The organism can deform around obstacles and pass through openings smaller than its resting body.

It does not appear capable of jumping or rapidly pursuing prey.

Its lack of speed should not be mistaken for a lack of danger.

Behavior

The Ooze appears primarily opportunistic.

It moves toward living organisms, organic material, heat, movement, or other unknown stimuli. It does not display fear and may be unable to recognize danger.

When attacked through direct physical contact, the Ooze attaches itself to the attacker.

Attempts to pull away may cause the organism to stretch without releasing its grip.

The more a victim struggles, the farther the Ooze spreads.

The organism has been observed consuming a Canis Draco.

The Canis attacked first.

The Ooze won.

Unique Skill

Engulf

The Ooze spreads across a target and gradually surrounds it.

Once attached, the organism moves toward exposed tissue and natural openings. It may enter through the:

• Mouth
• Nose
• Eyes
• Open wounds
• Damaged armor

The Ooze uses its body to restrain prey while beginning the digestive process.

Struggling may accelerate the spread of the organism by distributing pieces across additional areas of the victim.

Once fully engulfed, a target may experience:

• Restricted movement
• Loss of visibility
• Difficulty breathing
• Chemical burns
• Progressive tissue damage
• Corrosive digestion

Targets significantly stronger than the Ooze may escape before becoming completely engulfed.

Traits

Corrosive Digestion

The Ooze produces digestive compounds capable of breaking down organic material.

Observed affected materials include:

• Flesh
• Muscle
• Internal organs
• Bone
• Vegetation
• Wood

The full strength of the corrosive substance remains unknown.

Contact should be avoided.

Amorphous Body

The Ooze has no fixed physical structure.

Blunt attacks may deform or scatter portions of the organism without causing permanent damage. Cutting attacks may divide the body into smaller masses.

Separated pieces may remain active.

Fungal Colony

The visible fungal growth may be part of the organism or a separate biological system living in a symbiotic relationship with it.

The fungi may assist with:

• Digestion
• Environmental awareness
• Reproduction
• Nutrient absorption
• Regeneration

The relationship remains unknown.

Spore Release

Fungal growths may release airborne spores when the Ooze is disturbed.

The effects of inhalation remain unknown.

Avoid exposure.

Adaptive Consumption

The Ooze may absorb biological material from consumed organisms.

Whether this changes its abilities, size, traits, or behavior remains unknown.

Known Weaknesses

Fire

Fire rapidly damages the fungal colonies growing across the Ooze.

However, fire should not be considered a safe method of disposal.

When exposed to intense heat, gases trapped inside the organism may rapidly expand. This causes the Ooze to swell and may result in a violent rupture.

The resulting explosion can scatter burning corrosive material across a large area.

Fire may destroy the organism.

It may also make the immediate situation significantly worse.

Resistances

The Ooze may possess resistance to:

• Blunt-force damage
• Cutting weapons
• Conventional projectiles
• Physical trauma
• Blood loss

The organism has no known vital organs.

Damage that would immediately kill an animal may have little effect.

Known Dangers

Ooze fragments may remain corrosive after separation from the primary organism.

Burning fragments can adhere to:

• Skin
• Clothing
• Equipment
• Vegetation
• Structures

Affected material may continue burning or dissolving after contact.

Do not touch Ooze remains without protective equipment.

First Recorded Encounter

The first documented Ooze was encountered at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park during the team’s first intentional Canis Draco hunting operation.

The organism emerged during a large engagement between the team and a Canis Draco pack.

A Canis Draco attacked the Ooze.

The creature’s jaws became trapped inside the gelatinous body. As the Canis attempted to escape, the Ooze spread across its muzzle, entered its mouth, covered its head, and gradually engulfed the entire creature.

The Canis was consumed.

Joker considered this kill theft.

He responded with fire.

The resulting explosion scattered burning corrosive material across the surrounding area.

No recoverable material remained after the encounter.

Known System Information

Ooze
Level: 1
Type: Amorphous Fungal Organism
Special Attack: Engulf
Trait: Corrosive Digestion

Possible Materials

No materials have been successfully recovered.

Potential future materials may include:

• Corrosive slime
• Fungal tissue
• Spore sacs
• Digestive compounds
• Regenerative gel
• Fungal core

These materials remain theoretical and are not established canon until recovered or identified in the story.

Potential Uses

If safely collected, Ooze material may have applications involving:

• Acid-based weapons
• Corrosive ammunition
• Equipment coatings
• Traps
• Incendiary weapons
• Chemical research
• Medical research
• Regenerative materials

All potential applications remain speculative.

Research Questions

• Is the Ooze a single organism or a fungal colony?
• How does it detect living creatures?
• Does it possess intelligence?
• Can separated pieces become independent organisms?
• Does consuming stronger creatures increase its level?
• Can the Ooze inherit traits from consumed organisms?
• Are its spores dangerous?
• Can it reproduce through fragmentation?
• Does it possess a central core?
• Can its corrosive material be safely harvested?
• Did Oozes exist before Tuesday in microscopic or dormant forms?
• Did Tuesday create the organism or transform something already present?

Lore Notes

The Ooze should remain biologically disturbing rather than becoming a traditional fantasy slime.

It is not clean.

It is not colorful in a playful way.

It does not bounce.

It does not possess a visible face.

It crawls.

It stretches.

It consumes.

Its horror comes from the possibility that it is not one creature.

It may be an ecosystem moving as a single body.

Quote

“It is not alive in the way we are. It is alive in the way rot is.”