[Ishmell]

When a entity completely takes over the mind and body, do they also gain access to the hosts skills and memories?

Even if it's not spelled out anywhere, what are your opinions on how it should be?

[Namikaze]

This is interesting.  Based on the fluff from Stolen Souls, it seems that no two experiences are the same.  Some of the CFD headcases have access to partial memories, some have access to all, some have access to none.

[Mirikon]

Additionally, not only do some of the headcases retain memories of the 'host', they sometimes retain skills as well, and there is at least anecdotal evidence that in Awakened/Emerged types, they may be able to tap into the host's abilities.

Honestly, at this point we really don't know enough to know what is or isn't possible. All we do know is that it seems nobody is safe. Even dragons might be at risk. Yes, think about what a dragon headcase could do. You're welcome for the nightmare fuel.

At this point, the only ones who might be safe are materialized or possessing spirits, as well as digital entities (AIs, free sprites). We don't even know what happens if bugs are infected with CFD, or whether they can be infected at all. So yeah, as far as we know, anything with a physical body could be fair game.

[martinchaen]

We don't even know what happens if bugs are infected with CFD, or whether they can be infected at all. So yeah, as far as we know, anything with a physical body could be fair game.

Don't tell Ares...

[Horsemen]

But that may be the way to finally weaponize the bugs Martin and use them for the benefit of Ares.      Just think how much easier it will be for the New Revolutionists to finally reunite the old U.S. of A. and return Manhattan to the proper country.   

[Bruce]

The Infected (which seems to be slang for those with HMHVV) seem to be immune; since CFD 're-writes' part of the brain, it would be interesting to see if a physical creature that regenerates would also be immune.

Since Insect spirits are possessing bodies, but operating them through magic, it seems unlikely that CFD's re-write would have much effect.  (Worse, if it did, the new creature wouldn't be part of the 'hive', and probably wouldn't survive very long.)  Also, don't insect spirits have the same problem with nanotech/Matrix that all other spirits do?

[psycho835]

The Infected (which seems to be slang for those with HMHVV) seem to be immune; since CFD 're-writes' part of the brain, it would be interesting to see if a physical creature that regenerates would also be immune.

There ARE ways to temporarily gain Regeneration. I wonder if that could reverse the process...? Probably not, but you are right, that could be an interesting experiment.

[Sengir]

There ARE ways to temporarily gain Regeneration. I wonder if that could reverse the process...? Probably not, but you are right, that could be an interesting experiment.

Regeneration does not affect CNS damage, much less would it work against rewiring neurons.

[Mirikon]

As Sengir said, we can tell from Stolen Souls that the Infected are absolutely NOT immune to CFD. As it stands, the only entities that MAY be immune are Spirits, Sprites, and AIs. And we still don't know if the malicious code involved in CFD can allow it to corrupt an AI it comes in contact with. Sprites should be safe even if AIs aren't, since they are Resonance beings, and Spirits aren't actually physical most of the time (and they can just pop across planes, making infection unlikely). Even the Great Dragons and Immortal Elves are potentially vulnerable to this.

[The Wyrm Ouroboros]

Um ...

Then you and Sengir are both wrong.  The vampire (Subject Alpha of the HMHVV Infected) mist-formed out of being ... let's call it Blighted, since a vampire is already Infected, eh?  Anyhow.  The vampire mist-formed out of being Blighted, and when that capacity was suppressed and the vampire was re-Blighted, the CFD Blight took no hold.  The ghoul that was Blighted with CFD proved utterly resistant as well - 'the CFD infection failed to take hold.'

You just don't want to try to use the HMHVV as a counteragent, because Beta-1 (Infected and Blighted both) 'offered an interesting display of viral dominance.'  That display killed her, as the technological and magical viruses basically overstressed the body's capabilities.

Since CFD Blighting rewrites the personality entirely, a post-Blight Infection would conceivably work; presumably the stable CFD personality is no longer nanite-dependent, the neuron pathways having been revamped.  The individual would then succumb to HMHVV as normal, and be immune to further CFD Blighting.