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Description
The Grave Tender is the primary host of a deadly pathogen, with which it has a mutualistic relation. This pathogen resides as an innocuous microflora within the gut of the slow-moving Grave Tender. There, they exist as dormant spores. But once they are released into the environment via the Grave Tender's feces, they activate and become infective. Should the infective spores come into contact with an animal, they immediate begin extending tendrils which burrow into the body of their new victim, digesting any bodily tissue in their path. As the pathogen grows, it also secretes an anesthetizing neurotoxin which eventually puts the victim into a permanent coma.

The pathogen then sprout brightly-coloured fruiting bodies which erupt from the corpse. These fruiting bodies are avidly consume by the Grave Tender and form the basis of its very exclusive diet. Within the gut of the Grave Tender, the spores of the pathogen are liberated and develop into the next stage where it can once again begin the deadly cycle anew.

The Grave Tender roams over a large territory and defecates frequently, spreading deadly, infective spores all over its domain. By doing so, it is in fact planting the seeds which secure its food supply, as any animal which wanders into the Grave Tender's territory has a high chance of becoming infected (and killed) by the spores. As the Grave Tender lumbers across its domain, it harvests and consumes the fruit of its deadly crop. Thus it is easy to spot the territory of the Grave Tender, littered with numerous corpses, each spotting succulent brightly-coloured fruiting bodies.

Description
The Grave Tender is the primary host of a deadly pathogen, with which it has a mutualistic relation. This pathogen resides as an innocuous microflora within the gut of the slow-moving Grave Tender. There, they exist as dormant spores. But once they are released into the environment via the Grave Tender's feces, they activate and become infective. Should the infective spores come into contact with an animal, they immediate begin extending tendrils which burrow into the body of their new victim, digesting any bodily tissue in their path. As the pathogen grows, it also secretes an anesthetizing neurotoxin which eventually puts the victim into a permanent coma.

The pathogen then sprout brightly-coloured fruiting bodies which erupt from the corpse. These fruiting bodies are avidly consume by the Grave Tender and form the basis of its very exclusive diet. Within the gut of the Grave Tender, the spores of the pathogen are liberated and develop into the next stage where it can once again begin the deadly cycle anew.

The Grave Tender roams over a large territory and defecates frequently, spreading deadly, infective spores all over its domain. By doing so, it is in fact planting the seeds which secure its food supply, as any animal which wanders into the Grave Tender's territory has a high chance of becoming infected (and killed) by the spores. As the Grave Tender lumbers across its domain, it harvests and consumes the fruit of its deadly crop. Thus it is easy to spot the territory of the Grave Tender, littered with numerous corpses, each spotting succulent brightly-coloured fruiting bodies.