Spore carrier

Spore carriers are reanimated dead humans, colonized by Beauveria mordicana, a mutated entomopathogenic fungus. They are creatures found in the Mojave Wasteland as well as Zion Canyon and Big MT in 2281.

Background
Beauveria mordicana was originally an entomopathogenic fungus designed for pest control. When a pest is exposed to the fungal spores, the fungus infests it and begins to colonize the host body. The host eventually dies due to failure of body functions, as the colony expands through its body. However, the dead body continues to be controlled by the fungal colony, allowing it to move around and infect more pests by spraying spores around the host body. While effective in the long term, it still takes between 10 to 20 days to kill its prey and achieves limited effectiveness when dealing with unsocial pests. The fungus was originally developed at the X-22 botanical garden at the Big MT, though the technology was eventually shared with Vault-Tec, to enable botanical experiments at Vault 22.

As with many technologies coming out of the Big MT, the fungus was a Pandora's box. Once the Vault scientists began experimentation with the fungus, they effectively signed their death warrant. While ostensibly designed to provide effective means of long-term pest control, the fungus was perfectly capable of infecting human bodies. Fungal spores gradually spread through the Vault, slowly infecting the population. The first confirmed infection was Dr. Harrison Peters, who also provided insight into the development of the infection. It begins with pneumonia as the fungus invades the lungs, eventually transforming into chills, a fever, and a terrible racking cough. The fungal colony causes the body to actively reject anti-fungal treatments, leading to death due to organ failure. As with smaller pests, the fungal colony continues to grow and develop. Eventually, it spreads far enough to establish control over the deceased person's body, becoming a highly aggressive spore carrier, a mindless beast whose sole purpose is spreading the spores. The widespread infection led to a collapse of the social order in the Vault. By 2096, it was abandoned and a party of 118 survivors made way for the Zion Canyon. The dead eventually mutated into spore carriers or became stationary colonies of the fungus.

Biology
A body colonized by the fungus regresses to a feral state, as the colony warps it to make it a more effective spore carrier. This infection vector has green, wrinkled skin (reminiscent of a bark) with stiff, leaf-like protrusions on the back, allowing it to blend in with foliage. The hands and feet possess only four digits and no fingernails. The body is also incredibly flexible and agile.

The spore carrier will typically lay dormant among vegetation. However, once a threat is detected, it will rise out of its slumber and attack ferociously, exhibiting similar behavior to a feral ghoul. It may also spontaneously spray irradiated spores to further damage and infect the target of its attack.

It should be noted that spore carriers have a limited habitat, present only in areas where infected persons were present, such as Vault 22, the X-22 botanical garden, and isolated pockets in the Zion Canyon.

Gameplay attributes
 Spore carriers are quick and use melee attacks. Spore carriers share some characteristics with the trogs from the Fallout 3 add-on The Pitt. If they are not killed quickly, they explode and deal large amounts of damage, breaking limbs and giving a large dose of radiation. When they are hiding in vegetation, they are hard to spot and will not appear on the Courier's compass, nor be targeted via V.A.T.S. until they move.

Walking past unexplored vegetation can result in an unpleasant scare. Spore carriers are also known for sneaking up on their victim. However, their health meter will become visible if they are injured by an area-of-effect weapon, like a flamer or grenade, immediately revealing their presence.

Upon detecting an intruder, the spore carrier will raise themselves out of the large patch of vegetation where they hide and will let off a growl in a similar manner to that of a feral ghoul, but with greater ferocity.

While a spore carrier is getting up or sleeping, attackers in sneak mode who manually attack the spore carrier will get a critical. Combined with a decently powerful weapon, such preemptive strikes can often kill the spore carrier before it can cause any harm.

Spore carrier
The most common of all spore carriers. They hide in vegetation and attack anyone tripping over them.

Spore carrier brute
Spore carrier brutes are found in the same areas other spore carriers are found, and usually tend to act the same. However, brutes tend to be more aggressive, and are tougher and larger than regular spore carriers. A brute's spore burst does equal damage to a regular spore carrier.

Spore carrier runt
Runts are the smallest and weakest of the spore carrier family. However, they are still quite fast and may overwhelm an unaware, low leveled character. Also, a runt's spore burst is equally as damaging as a regular variant's.

Spore carrier savage
Savages are encountered rarely but are essentially a more dangerous form of spore carrier brutes. A savage's spore burst is equal to that of the regular version.

Spore carrier beast (Honest Hearts)
The spore carrier beast is only found in Zion Canyon in the Honest Hearts add-on. They are faster, stronger, larger, and more dangerous than any of the other spore carriers and are often found around spore plants.

Spore carrier scavenger (Old World Blues)
This variant of spore carrier appears only in the Old World Blues add-on at the X-22 botanical garden.

Notable spore carriers

 * Patient Zero
 * Harrison Peters

Appearances
Spore carriers appear in Fallout: New Vegas, and its add-ons Honest Hearts and Old World Blues.

Behind the scenes
Beauveria is a genus of fungi typically known to parasitically infect insects. Beauveria mordicana seems similar in effects to the endomopathogenic fungus Cordyceps unilateralis, which assumes control of the infected organism's immune system and continues to grow post-mortem.

Sounds

 * Hissing spore carrier
 * Conscious spore carrier