Brainleech

The brainleech is an extremely common water-dwelling animal. Despite being able to cause zombifying effects on humanoid prey, brainleeches are a common delicacy throughout the S51 world.

Physical description
A brainleech is a worm-like creature with a segmented exoskeleton. It has one large, central eye that occupies much of its face. Its mandibles consist of three jaw parts that open wide enough to fit an average humanoid head.

Behavior
Brainleeches exist in groups and would dwell near the water's surface in search of potential prey. Upon finding one, a brainleech would leap out of the water and try to latch itself onto the target's head.

If successful, the brainleech takes over the sensory system and 'hijack's its victim via the head. The brainleech does not destroy the brain, but manipulates it, overtaking the victim's free will with the objective of serving fellow brainleeches. This means that a 'zombie's intelligence is exactly that of its victim. A 'zombie' does not talk, but only uses brainleech communication. Brainleeches communicate using a language of rapid, shrill noises.

Killing a brainleech whilst it is latched does not kill the victim. A 'zombie' can often be saved by getting rid of the brainleech. However, this can be more difficult than it may seem because the 'zombies' have human intelligence. It is a customary rule with brainleech farmers to always have company whilst in the vicinity of brainleeches, so that if one individual is latched, another can save them on time.