Cordyceps

Information

Type	Demon
Designer	GrayPockets
Example	JSON

"Is it evil? No. It's fruitful. It multiplies. It feeds and protects its children, and it secures its future with violence, if it must. It loves."

Appears in

Related Jinxes

Summary

"You know an opposing alive player: swap characters & alignments if you die & a Minion lives. Each night*, they choose an alive player (not a Minion): that player dies."

The Cordyceps infests the good team with its tendrils, forcing them to kill on their behalf.

During the first night, the Corcyceps is woken, shown a good player as well as their character. That player is the Host. The Storyteller chooses the Host.
If the Host dies or changes team, the Cordyceps is shown a different good player as their Host.
The Host, not the Cordyceps, chooses players to kill.
If the Host chooses a dead player or a Minion accidentally, the Storyteller prompts them to choose again.
The Host can choose themselves.
If the Cordyceps dies and at least one Minion is still alive, the Cordyceps and their Host swap. Like the Snake Charmer, the Host becomes the evil Cordyceps, the Cordyceps becomes the good character of the former host.
The new Cordyceps is shown a new Host
If the Cordyceps dies and no Minions are still alive, no swap occurs. The Demon is dead.

If a Minion survives to the final three, the evil team has likely won. However, the Cordyceps and their host might swap one more time.

How to Run

When setting up the game, choose a host by marking any good character with the HOST reminder. During the first night, wake the Cordyceps. Point at the host, then show them the THIS PLAYER IS info token and the host's character token. Put the Cordyceps to sleep.

If the host dies, the Cordyceps gets a new host, mark any good character with the HOST reminder. Tonight, wake the Cordyceps. Point at the host, then show them the THIS PLAYER IS info token and the host's character token. Put the Cordyceps to sleep.

If the Cordyceps dies, the old Cordyceps changes into the new (good) host's character, and the old host changes into the new (evil) Cordyceps. Swap the Cordyceps token and the host's token. Tonight, wake the old Cordyceps, and show them the YOU ARE info token, a thumbs-up, the YOU ARE token, then the old host's token. (This shows they are now good and the old host's character). Wake the new Cordyceps, and show them the YOU ARE info token, a thumbs-down, the YOU ARE token, then the Cordyceps token. (This shows they are now evil and the Cordycep). Mark any alive good character with the HOST reminder. Point at the host, then show them the THIS PLAYER IS info token and the host's character token. Put the Cordyceps to sleep.

Each night except the first, wake the Host. Show them the THIS CHARACTER SELECTED YOU info and Cordyceps tokens. They point at any alive player except a Minion. That player dies - mark them with the DEAD reminder. Put the Host to sleep.

In the rare instance there are no opposing alive players, the Cordyceps has no Host.

Examples

The Cordyceps is shown the Poppy Grower*. The next day, the Poppy Grower* is executed. The Beekeeper immediately becomes the new Host.

The Cordyceps is shown the Cannibal. The next day, the Cordyceps is executed. Because the Piracuru is alive, the Cannibal immediately becomes the evil Cordyceps, and the Cordyceps becomes the good Cannibal. The Merchant becomes the new Host.

The Cordyceps is shown the Scavenger. That night, the Scavenger kills the Cordyceps. Because all the Minions are dead, good wins.

Tips & Tricks

You have little control over your own destiny as the Cordyceps, so do your best to play a social game.
Every time a player is chosen for death, you may end up becoming good. If the Minions find this out, they will do everything they can too keep you alive and get the host to kill good players.
You can lie to the Minions about which Demon you are. If the Minions think you are a Demon with an ability that helps the evil team when executed, they might get you executed so you can switch teams.
If the host finds out who you are, they might out you and do their best to keep you alive until they can kill all your Minions.
If you can convince the host you would be a good character to kill at night, such as a Ravenkeeper, they might help you join their own team.
If you are a Minion, do your best to keep the Cordyceps alive. If they die, they might out your entire team.
So you were the Host, and you've just become the Cordyceps? You might need to worry. The old Cordyceps will probably reveal the entire evil team. Paint the old Cordyceps as a Minion, and hope the town believes you.

Fighting the Cordyceps

Focus on killing Minions. If the Minions are alive, the Cordyceps can't die, and it will become a problem real quick.
If you are the Host, you might need to be careful. If you attack a Minion, you will learn who they are, and might be able to get them executed. If you accidentally kill the Cordyceps, you will join the evil team and have a problem convincing the town you are not the new Cordyceps.
So you were the Cordyceps, and you just died and joined the good team? Great! Tell your new team who the evil team is, and hope they believe you.