Myconid (/ˈmaɪkoʊnɪdz/ MY-ko-nidz)

Myconids, also known as fungus ones, and fungus folk, were a race of ambulatory fungus creatures. They were known for their peacefulness and appreciation of quiet, making their homes in the darker corners of the world.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Myconids resembled giant fungi ranging from 2-12 feet (.6-3.6 meters) tall, with their main distinguishing feature being their limbs. Their upper half split into a pair of arms below their caps and their lower half divided into a pair of legs at the stump. Each extremity was pudgy and broad, with their hands ending in two stubby fingers and a thumb, and their feet hosting numerous vestigial toes. This number was not absolute however, with some fungus folk hosting more than the usual number of limbs and/or digits. The bloated flesh of most myconids ranged in coloration from purple to gray. Two eyes rested on their caps, perfectly concealed against the rest of their spongy skin when shut. Some fungus ones secreted a poisonous ooze from near everywhere but their hands.
A mutant strain of myconid referred to as venom spores had a pale milky skin tone contrasted by a bright red cap. Their eyes were a sickly shade of yellow with identically colored spots adorning their caps.

Abilities

In terms of offensive physical ability, most myconids were limited to clasping their hands and pummeling their opponents into submission. Many could apply the poisonous effects of their bodies to their fists and inflict noxious pain onto their opponents. Rather than combat efficiency, the primary ability of the fungus folk was access to various specialized spores they were capable of spewing to achieve a wide variety of effects. As myconids grew older they would gain access to a greater number of types and uses of their spores. Distress spores were the first to develop, able to quickly spread hundreds of feet in a matter of seconds and alert other myconids of danger either by choice or in response to pain.
Once thought to only come later in life, myconids could also release rapport spores which gave them the ability to telepathically communicate with other intelligent lifeforms. This method of communication lasted up to an hour for nonmyconids but for fungus folk, functioned for a full eight hours. Later would come reproduction spores used to create new myconids and that posed no ill effects to non-myconids. After this stage were pacification spores used by older myconids to daze incoming threats, although venom spores contained a toxic alternative that caused nonmyconids to grow incredibly ill. Hallucination spores came next, primarily used in the melding rituals but that could also incapacitate threats.
Finally were animator spores, a type of spore usable solely by a sovereign. These spores would cause a purple, bulbous fungus to grow upon intact corpses, taking over the systems and raising them as spore servants under command of the highest authority myconid present. Animation could last for several weeks, affecting even mostly skeletal corpses until so little flesh was left that the body gave out and disintegrated.[9] So long as the target wasn't too large and was originally composed of flesh and blood, any entity could be animated.
Whether through accumulated skill or natural aptitude, fungus folk had a vast array of knowledge about fungi ranging from optimal growing conditions for various types, the amount an area could yield, and what could be made using them. Through a mysterious bond, myconids could also control a wide variety of plant and fungal monsters, including shambling mounds, phantom fungi, assassin vines and roperlike plant monsters.
This knowledge of fungi extended to the sovereign, who was capable of using various types in order to perform a special kind of alchemy. While capable of replicating the effects of normal potions, this fungal alchemy was also used to create special effects unlike those of run of the mill alchemical concoctions. If the colony was predicted to need to fight they would create special healing potions that only worked on fungi, as well as a hallucinatory power to be stored in spider silk and used as a trap. In times when the population was too short they could also create potions that caused accelerated aging, as well as an anointment potion that was immediately and painfully cause an old myconid to become a king. The rarest of these special brews to be created was a decay potion, that infected a living being with an alchemical version of animator spores, killing them within 3 minutes.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

May care a few coins or trinkets.
May hold a small hoard of collected baubles and such.
A plant-like creature doesn't have any actual meat, but may be composed of edible plants and fungi.

Harvesting

May vary depending on age and other factors.

Rapport Spores (small pouch)

All myconids emit miniscule motes of fuzzy yellow spores, that look almost invisible as they float through the air like dust. These spores allows the myconids to communicate with each other. Alchemists, artificers and spellcasters may be able to repurpose these spores.
Value: 5 sp Weight: 2 lbs. Expiration: 14 days Crafting: Potion of Rapport (HHH)

Pacifying Spores (small pouch)

This item can only be harvested if the myconid hasn't used all of its Pacifying Spores abilities (3/day). These light pink spores have a sweet smell and a calming effect. Alchemists find these spores useful in creating concoctions. Some medicinal experts and healers can create pain killer and sedatives using the spores.
Use: A creature can use an action to make a ranged attack to throw the pouch of pacifying spores at a target within 10 feet that it can see. The target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be stunned for 1 minute. This effect ends if the target is attacked. At the end of each of its turns, the target can repeat the saving throw, ending the effect on a success.
Value: 9 sp Weight: 2 lb. Expiration: 14 days

Hallucination Spores (small pouch)

Myconid sovereigns have the ability to emit a spray of soft purple spores, that appear as a translucent purple mist. These spores can cause hallucinations among non-myconids. This item is sought after by shady alchemists and illicit drug dealers.
Use: A creature can use an action to make a ranged attack and throw the pouch of hallucination spores at a target within 10 feet that it can see. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The poisoned target is incapacitated while it hallucinates. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Value: 2 gp Weight: 2 lb. Expiration: 14 days Crafting: Potion of Rapport (HHH)

Animating Spores (small pouch)

This item can only be harvested if the myconid sovereign hasn't used all of its Animating Spores abilities (3/day). These miniscule gray spores are sprayed like a soft hazy mist. These spores have the ability to raise a corpse as a spore servant (MM p230). Unfortunately, a spore servant can only be controlled by a myconid, so the spore have little to your average adventurer. However, necromancers have a strong appreciation for these spores.
Value: 5 gp Weight: 2 lb. Expiration: 14 Days

Civilization and Culture

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

Personality

Fungus folk were unique amongst the Underdark races for their complete aversion to violent behavior. A general distrust of outsiders was common among the myconids due to their experience with most of other entities. Despite their suspicions however, myconids were a thoughtful race willing to give shelter or allow passage through their colonies to those who approached with peaceful intentions.
The life of a myconid was strictly scheduled and split evenly between sleep, work and 'melding'. Melding was the core of myconid society, with separation from the process viewed as a frightening and pitiful fate.[4] Violence and disharmony was near unheard of within myconid societies as it adversely impacted the melding process and was largely unneeded.
Ethical concerns and moral quandaries were subjects in which the fungus folk showed a relative naivety. Rather than dwell upon the past or fret about the future, myconids focused on present circumstances, reveling in the moment and sharing simple pleasures. Although their communal lifestyle and lack of internal conflict belied the race to some as a collective conscious, each myconid was in fact a distinct individual with their own hopes, dreams, insights, fears, and personality traits.
Although the majority of the fungus folk were peaceful, there existed a far more insidious variant of their kind. Contrary to the gradual growth of normal myconid communities they were heavily expansionist, seeking to quickly grow in both number and territory. In spite of their change in basic behavior they were not known to be evil. Venom spores, however, were a bloodthirsty variety of normal myconids that, while not reckless, relished combat. Their dark blood-lust was tempered by their persisting respect for authority, and they only engaged in combat if permitted.

Interspecies Relations and Assumptions

Myconid Adult

A 6-foot tall, giant fungi with a humanoid form and a mushroom-capped head. Its upper half splits into a pair of arms below its head. Its lower half divides into a pair of legs at the stump. Each extremity is pudgy and broad, with its hands ending in two stubby fingers and a thumb, and its feet hosts numerous vestigial toes (some fungus folk host more than the usual number of limbs and/or digits. The bloated flesh of most myconids ranged in coloration from purple to gray).

Myconid Sovereign

A 12-foot tall, giant fungi with a humanoid form and a mushroom-capped head. Its upper half splits into a pair of arms below its head. Its lower half divides into a pair of legs at the stump. Each extremity is pudgy and broad, with its hands ending in two stubby fingers and a thumb, and its feet hosts numerous vestigial toes (some fungus folk host more than the usual number of limbs and/or digits. The bloated flesh of most myconids ranged in coloration from purple to gray).

Myconid Sprout

A 3-foot tall fungi with a humanoid form and a mushroom-capped head. Its upper half splits into a pair of arms below its head. Its lower half divides into a pair of legs at the stump. Each extremity is pudgy and broad, with its hands ending in two stubby fingers and a thumb, and its feet hosts numerous vestigial toes (some fungus folk host more than the usual number of limbs and/or digits. The bloated flesh of most myconids ranged in coloration from purple to gray).

Lifespan

24 years

Average Height

2 – 12 ft. (0.61 – 3.66 m)