Red Algae
Description
A living organism spreading through both air (iridescent spore dust) and ground (red fibrous algae). It deformed the corn at Fletchley Farm — kernels the size of golf balls alongside tiny ones, stalks growing in wrong directions, some cobs popped like popcorn — and produced large moist mounds from which spores emitted.
The iridescent dust in the air causes vivid hallucinations of the viewer's dead. Extended exposure causes physical deterioration. Alcohol counteracts the effect (explaining why Bart's condition improved after a whiskey). At sufficient concentration, the dust could physically displace people to different parts of the field.
In water, the organism grew into mobile algae bushes. These could extend tendrils to restrain victims and spray a white mucusy sap that burned through flesh and corroded metal like acid.
In the cold open of Session 3, a creature in a creek disguised itself as a red snake and consumed a hawk with white mucus — confirmed this session to be the same organism.
Combat Notes
| Stat / Ability | Detail |
|---|---|
| Form (land) | Airborne iridescent spore dust; moist fibrous mounds |
| Form (water) | Mobile algae bushes with prehensile tendrils |
| Weakness | Alcohol destroys on contact; Cuthbert's magic collapses mounds |
| Hallucination | Spore dust causes visions of the viewer's personal dead; extended exposure causes physical decline |
| Teleportation | Concentrated dust could physically displace people (Doctor Webb and Ms March teleported within the cornfield, Session 3) |
| Tendrils | Algae bushes restrain targets and can drag them into water |
| Sap | White mucusy sap burns flesh and corrodes metal; must be removed quickly with alcohol |
| Disguise | Demonstrated ability to resemble a red snake |
Notes
- Bart Fletchley suffered years of exposure; the spore dust caused him to see visions of his dead family daily and physically deteriorate — he did not understand the cause
- The organism's source was a creek near the hot springs south of Hole; fibres grew thicker the closer you got to the water
- Alcohol was the most reliable weapon — spores dissolved in moisture, algae hissed and ashed on contact
- Doctor Webb and Ms March each retain a vial sample of the red algae — not yet analysed as of Session 4
- The cornfield's deformed corn (oversized and tiny kernels, misdirected growth, popped cobs) was caused by the organism's long-term presence
Session Appearances
| Session | What Happened |
|---|---|
| Session 3 | Cold open: red snake form consumed a hawk with white mucus; cornfield investigated — spore dust, iridescent particles, deformed corn, red fibrous mounds; first mound collapsed by Cuthbert's magic |
| Session 4 | Second cornfield mound collapsed by Cuthbert (at cost of a shoe); fibrous trail burned with alcohol; six algae bushes destroyed at the hot springs by the gang; organism defeated |