New animal and some of its variants!

Wiltskins are a sentient breed of fungus who live amongst the Spore species in Layogena. A Wiltskin will choose a Spore to serve as its master for its entire life, bonded as close as a companion animal and its master can be. They are often used as guardians of the forest or as dogs of war, but in peace time they help farm by growing wild mushrooms underfoot or pushing/lifting heavy objects.

All Wiltskins project spores around their bodies during combat. To the unwary it just looks like fog, but these spores will land on the skin or get inhaled into the lungs and immediately begin rooting themselves into the victim's body, growing that particular fungus type out of the afflicted person’s skin and bones.

Despite their formidable defenses, they’re relatively skittish and slow, and rely on their masters to give them direction.

Wiltskins are asexual animals. Reproduction of their variants is accomplished when a victim fully succumbs to their spores. If they survive the infection, they are overtaken by the fungus and become the heart core of a new Wiltskin, which continues to feed off of their rotting bodies for a nutrient boost until nothing is left. Among the Spores, if a criminal is found guilty of dire crimes, they are given to the Wiltskins. They are considered to be forgiven once they begin their new life as a member of these treasured fungus creatures- although no memories are transferred in the process, and the Wiltskin has no idea that this happens.

There is no age limit for a Wiltskin. Once their core is used up, they can consume a new person to resume feeding off the corpse for extended years. If they outlive their Masters, they are inherited by the Master’s firstborn.