View source for Mush

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| colspan="2" | [[File:{{lc:Character-portrait-mush.jpg}}|210px]]
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!'''<big>Mush</big>'''
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| colspan="2" width="200px" style="text-align: left" | <i>In space, no one can hear it teem...</i>
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'''The Mush''' is a hostile alien fungus that acts as the namesake antagonist of ''eMush''. It desires the destruction of the [[Daedalus]] and the infection or death of everyone aboard.

By the time the game takes place, the Mush has taken over both the human Federation and the Sol Defense Force (SDF). Helmed by some of the best scientists and explorers in the galaxy, the Daedalus hopes both to develop a cure for the Mush, and to find humanity [[Eden|a new home]]. Little do they know that agents of the Mush have already boarded the ship...

== Gameplay ==

'''Two''' members of the crew will start the game as Mush who have infiltrated the Daedalus.

{{Info|Mush selection does not occur immediately upon joining a game; rather, the role is randomly distributed either when 16 players have joined, or upon reaching Cycle 8 of Day 3.}}

[[File:Ending-MassContamination.png|framed|One-way ticket to the infinite void!]]The Mush's objective is to prevent the humans from [[Return to Sol|returning to Sol]] or [[Settling on Eden|reaching Eden]], by any means necessary. They can achieve this by infecting all humans aboard; by killing the crew and causing the destruction of the [[Daedalus]]; or both. Alternatively, they can try to trigger an endgame condition while the ship still has living Mush aboard, causing the infection either of the rebels on Sol, or of Eden.

=== Features ===

The Mush may resemble humans, but they differ in several important ways:
* They never get '''hungry''' and they cannot restore {{AP}} action points, {{Morale}} morale, or {{HP}} hit points from consumables.
* They will never contract {{Disease}} or {{Disorder}}.
* They never lose {{Morale}} '''[[Morale]]'''.
* They lose 3-4 {{HP}} whenever they use a shower (unless they have the {{Skill|Splashproof}} skill). 
* They have access to the '''Mush channel''', allowing them to communicate with each other at all times, even without an {{Item|iTrackie|16}}.

=== Available Skills ===
In addition to their 3 human skills, the Mush may select up to 4 Mush-specific skills. These skills are '''permanently''' chosen (unless the player uses {{Skill|Epigenetics}}).
{{QuickLink|Mush Skills}}

=== Actions ===
Being Mush gives you several additional actions

{{Action|Extract a spore|2}}({{Visibility|Discrete}}) will create 1 {{Spore}} '''Spore''', which you can use to infect your crewmates or use certain Mush skills.  
* This action will '''always''' make you {{Status|Dirty}}, even if you have the {{Item|Stainproof Apron|16}} equipped!
* Up to 2 {{Spore}} spores can be carried at once. They do not take up inventory slots.
* Does '''not''' set off {{Item|Myco-alarm|16}}s.
* The entire Mush team can only producing up to 4 {{Spore}} spores per day.
** -2 {{Spore}} spores when {{Research|Anti-spore Gas}} is researched.
** +1 {{Spore}} for each Mush that takes the {{Skill|Mycelium Spirit}} skill.
* The cost of this action is raised to 4 {{AP}} when {{Research|Constipaspore Serum}} is researched.
* {{Skill|Fertile}} allows you to extract one free spore per day.


{{Action| and 1 {{Spore}} Spike|1}}({{Visibility|Covert}}) allows you to infect a human (except {{Character|Chun}}) by consuming a spore.
* You can only perform this action '''once every four cycles per character'''.
* After being infected with 3 {{Spore}}s, a human will be converted into a {{Character|Mush}}. 
** This is raised to 4 {{Spore}}s if {{Research|Mushivore Bacteria}} is researched.
** Once converted, the spores carried by the new Mush disappear.
* This is an ''aggressive'' action. It is therefore affected by {{Skill|Bodyguard}} and {{Character|Ian}}'s {{Status|Pacifist}} trait.
* {{Item|Schrödinger|16}} can be infected with the ''Infectious Cuddles'' action. {{QuickLink|Schrödinger}}


{{Action|Sabotage|1}}({{Visibility|Covert}}) allows you to ''attempt'' to break a piece of equipment.
* Each failure ({{Visibility|Private}}) improves your subsequent likelihood of success.
* You cannot sabotage equipment that has been ''reinforced'' with {{Item|Scrap Metal|16}}.
* {{Skill|Saboteur}} triples your chance of success.
* {{Skill|Doorman}} allows you to sabotage one door per day for free.
* The {{Item|Camera|16}} does not reveal its own sabotage.


{{Action|Mutate|3}}({{Visibility|public}}) allows you to transform into a [[File:Character-icon-mush.png|class=icon-margin|Icon]] '''Berzerker'''. Upon mutating, you regain 4 {{HP}}, grants a permanent {{Status|Guardian}} status, and permanently increases your attack damage by +1 {{HP}} per hit.
* The mutated Mush drops all items, statuses, and access to all its actions except for ''hit'', ''move'', and ''sabotage''.
* All of the mutated Mush's skills (except {{Skill|Wrestler}}) continue to function after mutation, though any ''actions'' associated with those skills stop working.
* The mutated Mush loses its [[Titles]] during the next cycle change.

== Community Guide ==
[[File:Mush-banner.jpg]]

As a '''Mush''', you have four main strategies at your disposal to accomplish your mission: ''contamination'', ''manipulation'', ''sabotage'', and ''murder''.
* '''Contamination''': Infect other humans, turning them into Mush.
* '''Manipulation''': Disguise yourself as a human, tricking your crewmates into believing that you are one of them.
* '''Sabotage''': Hinder the humans with destruction or disruption.
* '''Murder''': Kill important humans, along with anyone who gets in your way.

{{Info|In this wiki and in-game, we often refer to Alpha and Beta Mush.
* The two Mush who are chosen during selection are called '''Alphas'''. 
* Additional Mush (contaminated by the Alphas) are called '''Betas'''.}}

=== Contamination ===
Contaminating humans is most commonly used to convert humans to your side by turning them into Mush. To accomplish this, you need extract {{Spore}} Spores, requiring you to spend {{AP}} and get {{Status|Dirty}}.

{{Warning Inline|'''Never''' extract a spore while you're in the same room as another crewmate (including other Mush), or when you're in a room with a {{Item|Camera|16}}. This makes your extraction visible to everyone who enters the room, guaranteeing that a human will see it and alert others!}}

When extracting spores:
* Take the {{Skill|Fertile}} skill. This will allow you to extract one free spore per day - a simple but invaluable ability, especially once {{Research|Constipaspore Serum}} is researched (making extraction very expensive).
* Find good excuses to get {{Status|Dirty}}. Commonly dirtying activities include loading {{Fuel}} [[Fuel]], repairing or building objects, or cooking and eating {{Item|Rations|16}}. If you're seen getting dirty without good reason, the crew will grow very suspicious!
** Alternatively, try to sneakily wash yourself by using a shower as soon as you enter a dorm. Showering is a private action, so no one will know that you've showered so long as you don't pick up the {{Item|Soap|16}}.
* Watch out for {{Character|Chao}} and {{Character|Andie}}. Their {{Skill|Torturer}} and {{Skill|Confident}} skills (respectively) can expose the fact that you've extracted or infected, and are a common cause of death for newbie Mush. 
** To avoid being caught by their skills, try to disguise your action history by making a lot of human-specific actions (like loading fuel, accessing terminals, participating in projects, and lying in beds) ''after'' you extract a spore.

{{Info|If you accidentally extract in front of someone, you could use {{Skill|Defacer}} to delete all room logs at the cost of 2 {{AP}}. This may keep you from being immediately identified, but will still alert the crew once they realize what's happened.}}

Once you have a {{Spore}}, you can infect people by:
* Simply walking up to them and '''spiking''' them.
** This action is not visible to the naked eye. However, ''never'' do it in a room with a {{Item|Camera|16}}, which will make this action public.
* Laying a '''trap''' in a room by using {{Skill|Trapper}}.
** The trap should be the ''last'' thing you do in that room; otherwise, you'll set off your own trap and waste the spore.
** Again, ''never'' do this in a room with a {{Item|Camera|16}}.
** Be aware that {{Character|Chun}} can "clear" traps by performing actions in that room, causing the spore to be wasted on herself.
* Infecting '''consumables''' with {{Skill|Fungal Kitchen}}.
** You can place multiple {{Spore}} on the same consumable; if you place 3 or more, you could ''instantly'' convert anyone who eats them, aside from {{Character|Chun}} and possibly {{Character|Derek}}.
** Be aware that all spores on the consumable will be destroyed if it is cooked.
* Infecting {{Item|Schrödinger|16}} with '''Infectious Cuddles'''.
** This will cause anyone who is scratched by him to contract a {{Spore}} (has a high chance of happening whenever Schrödinger is picked up or cuddled).

{{Warning Inline|Beware of {{Item|Myco-alarm|16}}s! All of the preceding actions will set off the alarm, creating a distinct message in the room (''BRRRRIIIIIING!'') that will alert humans to the fact that you've been doing something Mushy.}}

=== Manipulation ===
To manipulate humans, it is useful to try to stand in their shoes. Here are several common prejudices humans have that are useful to keep in mind:

* A Mush often spends time in a Dormitory, where they have a bed and a shower to wash
* A Mush will try to avoid being the target of {{Skill|Torturer}} and {{Skill|Confident}}
* A Mush will find excuses to be in rooms with others without a {{Item|Camera|16}}
* A Mush will either try to avoid expeditions, or sabotage them with {{Skill|Traitor}}
* A Mush will often get dirty to disguise extracting {{Spore}} spores
* A Mush doesn't participate in research
* A Mush doesn't eat often, because they can't use it to gain {{AP}}
* Etc.

Intentionally defying these prejudices could help you win the trust of the humans. At the same time, you should draw attention to the humans who look more suspicious than you; if they lack leads, the humans may resort to killing their own kind before they kill you.

In addition, you could try to hide your actions from the crew by:
* Using {{Skill|Anonymush}} when converting a crewmember to the Mush team.
* Using {{Skill|Defacer}} or {{Skill|Ninja}} in a crowded room could help you hide infections and other suspicious activity.

=== Sabotage ===
Unfortunately, sabotage is overall an ineffective strategy; too many sabotage options present too much risk for too little reward. However, there are still a few effective options you can take:

* Sabotage [[Expeditions]] with {{Skill|Traitor}}, which will '''guarantee''' a negative outcome in a single zone of your choice.
** Be aware that this can currently be "canceled out" by a {{Skill|Diplomat}}, if your sabotage happens to select a Combat event. Use it wisely!
* If the crew is low on o2, stealing o2 capules, then sabotaging {{Oxygen}} oxygen tanks can guarantee some crew deaths due to oxygen starvation.
* In rare cases, using {{Skill|Massive Mushification}} could help out a crewmate (such as {{Character|Finola}} or {{Character|Paola}}) who badly needs an excuse to get {{Status|Dirty}}.

=== Murder ===
Decimating the crew can be a very effective way to undermine the Daedalus's mission. Target critical crewmates for maximum effect:

* Killing {{Character|Chun}} will both deprive the crew of an important leader, and cause the humans a large (-3) {{Morale}} loss.
* [[PILGRED]] becomes extremely difficult to complete if all {{Skill|Technician}}s are dead.
* Killing the ship's {{Skill|Pilot}}s can make defense of the Daedalus very difficult.
* Maintaining morale is quite difficult without a {{Skill|Shrink}} or {{Skill|Leader}} on board.

{{Info|The death of a crew member (even a {{Character|Mush}}) causes every human aboard the ship to lose 1 {{Morale}}. Use this to your advantage to cause crewmates to die of depression.}}

To aid you in your murderous activities, try the following:
* Secure weapons, especially the {{Item|Knife|16}}, the {{Item|Grenade|16}}, and {{Item|Blaster|16}}s.
* Take {{Skill|Fertile}} and {{Skill|Phagocyte}}, and consume your own spores for 4 {{AP}} + 4 {{HP}}.
* Make yourself hard to kill by taking {{Skill|Hard Boiled}}, carrying the {{Item|Plastenite Armor|16}}, or hiding in the same room as {{Character|Ian}}.
* Use {{Skill|Transfer}} to swap into a body with more {{AP}}, especially if the target character has weapons or combat-oriented skills like {{Skill|Wrestler}}.
** Be aware that you can only Transfer into characters who have at least one {{Spore}} on them.
* Do '''not''' use [[File:Character-icon-mush.png|class=icon-margin|Icon]] Mutate! Unfortunately, Mutating is currently rather underpowered and it will likely get you killed even faster.
* Coordinate with your Mush partners as well as you can for maximum effect!

== See also ==

* {{Spore}}[[Spores]]
* [[Hunger]]

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{{Language|en|fr=Mush}}
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