Virus

Virus is a Plague subspecies created by Severance

Lore
Viruses pride themselves on being the most subtly invasive of subspecies, originating from the Wyrmwound Cauldron. As the decayed remains of other living creatures, typically the unfortunates who've fallen in, they seek to find themselves strong, living hosts to regain life and mobility. Once attached to its host, a Virus grows to overtake the selected victim mentally, emotionally, and physically. During this evolution, it loses the ability to leave its host. A host life expectancy can last the entire natural lifespan of its species. The Virus may also be inherited by children born from these sickly dragons. While displayed outwardly as a simple pattern, the circuitry on the scales of a Virus host are the luminescent glow of its progress throughout the host 's body. Therefore not only the brightness of the patterning can display the health and strength of the Virus, but also the accumulation of branching circuits. The more circuitry, the longer a Virus has occupied its host.

Lifestyle
Virus interaction does not typically go beyond their mate until their first children are born. The goal of each Virus is to spread, without coming into contact with a stronger Virus clan or something that may harm it. Therefore a lone Virus will seek out a meet and breed relentlessly to grow their clan, as will their children. This often leads to Virus territory wars regardless. Viruses typically will not spread beyond water or larger than a confined territory permits, as to not over consume the resources of said area.

Viruses consume any type of given resource--organic or otherwise. They feed to consume, not because they need to survive, often leaving destitution in their wake. They are minimally conscious of the consequences this could have on an overpopulated clan. Because of this, they thrive in Lightning and Nature territories best, but ironically suffer in the Plaguelands where they originated. Due to being strained by the lack of resources during their birth, many Viruses cannot live to find hosts, attributing to the rareness of large Virus clans.

Viruses typically display a bright array of circuit-like patterns along their scales. Weak Viruses can display muted, or faded patterns. The healthier and stronger the Virus, the brighter their patterning. Clans will typically try to nurse friendly weak Viruses back to health to ensure the constant continuation of the clan, while viciously attacking weak enemy Viruses if at a territorial dispute with them.

Additional
This subspecies thrives best in Nature and Lightning, due to their vast consumption of any sort of resource. Their potential for clan enormity can cause them to overtake miles upon miles of any territory close to their birthplace. The progenitors of a Virus horde typically do not stray far from their breeding grounds.