The
Plaga Guadaña (Guadaña translates as Scythe) is one of the forms of mature
Plaga parasite used by the
Los Illuminados cult. The parasite was injected into a willing host villager (known as a
Ganado) which was then allowed to develop in the body and eventually take over.
The host is usually permitted to remain in control until such a time where the
Plaga deems it necessary to emerge and assume control. This is normally when the host body sustains critical damage. As the parasite itself has an adversity to bright light, this mutation only occurs when the sun is down - therefore there is no risk of a
Plaga Guadaña in the daytime.
When the
Ganado begins to mutate into the
Plaga Guadaña, the body remains still for a few moments while the parasite bursts through the neck which completely obliterates the head, instantly replacing the brain with its own nervous system.
Then, a base structure begins to form rapidly which resembles an upside-down insect. This structure forms two eyes on its sides which appear to function, as the mutant will continue to respond to visual stimulus.
Finally, a large organ sprouts from the top of the base which can only be described as a pair of blade-like structures which appear to be made from bone. The
Plaga can whip these 'arms' around extremely fast which makes it quite dangerous.
Despite their dangerous heads, the host body is still quite slow moving - occasionally they have been observed 'jogging', but only for short bursts. And once the creature has sustained enough damage (either to the host body or the
Plaga directly), the
Plaga begins to die and very quickly turns into pure biomass.
