In the apocalyptic world, humanity uses psychedelic substances to power psychic abilities and unique technologies. No longer can these materials be grown in sterile labs or found in deep mines. They must be harvested from their only known source.

Gargantuans are zombie creatures composed of the flesh and bones of multiple zombies, as well as psychedelic mushrooms that grow from the organic materials inside them. They amalgamate into a large humanoid form, but the skeletal structures remain the same size.

When they approach, a psychic static can be felt in the mind of those within the area. When they expire, either due to decaying to the point they can't move anymore or destruction though human means, they eventually explode into a cloud of spores that catches on the wind. Valuable for research, dangerous to harvest.

Weep is a blue sludge that comes from this unknown species of psychedelic mushrooms and is often harvested from Gargantuans. Weep was once thought to create auditory hallucinations in the form of whispers, until it was discovered that it pulled information directly from the heads of those around the user. Causing minds to stutter, forgetting what they were just thinking to some degree. Those with high psychic resistance can be communicated with, while those without have their minds temporarily wiped. If prepared correctly, it has no measurable chance of turning one into a zombie.

In addition to chemical methods, those who came before developed a class of devices known as psyactive technologies. These tools channel psychic energy into physical effects such as generation of telekinetic force, reshaping of matter, generation of fire, or restoration of biological structures.

To power psyactive technology, one typically uses a fuel that is derived from the psychedelic mushroom mentioned before. A substance called noise. Noise is created by rotting away the organic compounds of these mushrooms then running the remnants through extreme strainers to create a small amount of the inky black ichor that powers psyactive devices.

Though originally intended for exploration and research, these technologies are now primarily used for combat or survival. Their inner mechanisms remain poorly understood.

Farming psychedelic mushrooms is a process of cutting into the corpse to prevent gastric buildup that could lead to explosions but keeping the body intact enough to continue to grow mushrooms. Most farmers get anywhere between 3-5 years out of a single corpse before it either runs dry or explodes and zombifies them. Most leave before then.

Gargantuans slowly accumulate mass by consuming biological matter. Eventually they start to produce a psychic signal that other mushroom zombies respond to. It notably stunts their growth making it hard to depose the gargantuan as leader. It also helps cultivate a herd.

In any given herd there is a Gargantuan zombie and many lesser zombies. Instead of accumulation of biological mass, lesser zombies excrete a zombifying mixture in their saliva that is linked to the mushrooms. Leading those who ingest it in any fashion to almost certainly turn into one of the undead.

Rot Farming Updated