Völlige Verzweiflung

Völlige Verzweiflung
Owned by:	Graydon Ostler
Purpose:	Blutbaden fatal toxin
Location:	Black Forest Raven & Rose restaurant (formerly)
Appearances

Völlige Verzweiflung (FOHL-ikh-ə fer-TSVY-floong; Ger. "complete despair"), better known as "the Black Despair Mushroom," can be found mostly in the Black Forest. It is similar to a rare strain of fungus called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis from the tropics, which attacks carpenter ants, causing them to climb into trees where their insides burst, spreading the fungal spores.

When eaten raw, the mushrooms are harmless, but when cooked, they release a toxin fatal to Blutbaden.

In "A Dish Best Served Cold", a Bauerschwein named Graydon Ostler opened a new restaurant, Raven & Rose, in Portland and used this mushroom to kill Blutbaden. The mushrooms were only dangerous to Blutbaden after they were cooked, so all customers at Ostler's restaurant were given tartlets as compliments of the chef, and any Blutbad that ate one would die within 24 hours by having their stomach explode. It caused the victim to have a severely bloated stomach, and they would climb a tree where their stomach exploded and they died.

Exerpt from Rosalee's books

The Völlige Verzweiflung is a parasitoidal fungus that infects Blutbaden and alters their behavior. The infected Blutbad becomes irrationally compelled to climb to a high point, at which the atpmosphere (sic) accelerates the growth of the fungus. The fungus consumes its tissues from within the Blutbad and eventually grows so fast that it bursts from the body, releasing its spores to fall to the ground and germinate.

This is a prime example of a parasitoid that alters the behavior of its host in order to ensure its own reproduction. ...Blutbaden march to their death and the fungus lives inside the corpse.

The fungus's spores enter the body of the Blutbad through the stomach by enzymatic activity, where they begin to ... non-vital soft tissues. Yeast stages of the fungus ... Blutbad body and presumably produce ... Blutbad brain and change its behaviour by .... mechanisms.

The Blutbad generally climb about .... ground, on the northern side of the tree... 75-95% humidity and temperature...

Images

A Blutbad's stomach exploding due to the mushroom toxins

Ostler inspects a mushroom

Season 3 Appearances
"The Ungrateful Dead": X	"PTZD": X	"A Dish Best Served Cold": ✓	"One Night Stand": X	"El Cucuy": X	"Stories We Tell Our Young": X	"Cold Blooded": X	"Twelve Days of Krampus": X	"Red Menace": X	"Eyes of the Beholder": X	"The Good Soldier": X
"The Wild Hunt": X	"Revelation": X	"Mommy Dearest": X	"Once We Were Gods": X	"The Show Must Go On": X	"Synchronicity": X	"The Law of Sacrifice": X	"Nobody Knows the Trubel I've Seen": X	"My Fair Wesen": X	"The Inheritance": X	"Blond Ambition": X

Season 4 Appearances
"Thanks for the Memories": X	"Octopus Head": Book	"The Last Fight": X	"Dyin' on a Prayer": X	"Cry Luison": X	"Highway of Tears": X	"The Grimm Who Stole Christmas": X	"Chupacabra": X	"Wesenrein": X	"Tribunal": X	"Death Do Us Part": X
"Maréchaussée": X	"Trial by Fire": X	"Bad Luck": X	"Double Date": X	"Heartbreaker": X	"Hibernaculum": X	"Mishipeshu": X	"Iron Hans": X	"You Don't Know Jack": X	"Headache": X	"Cry Havoc": X