Deathglow Fungus

“Hmm. What a curious little specimen. I see great potential in inks and writings, but also something else. Is it an aspect of death or perhaps some way to pierce the veil? Definitely inks for now, but maybe something more later on. We will have to see.”

— Taldiira Bloodscript, Erumpere dark elf of the Galera clan.

The Deathglow Fungus get its name from its eerie, deep blue, glowing color and its propensity to live on the bones of the dead. It lives nowhere else and feeds on nothing else. As it grows, its filamentous, tendril-like mycelium weave their way across the bones, absorbing the calcium and the essence of death from those bones. When in darkness these bones will luminesce with a low unworldly light.

Basic Information

Genetics and Reproduction

This fungus can reproduce by having a piece of itself broken off from its original and then be carried to a new location. If the proper conditions are present then it can anchor itself to a new bone and begin to regrow. Parts may break off through physical tearing or even crumble away from itself as if dries out. Wind, water, and animals are the main sources of breakage and transportation.

Growth Rate & Stages

This is an extremely slow growing organism that may live for decades or longer if left undisturbed. As the years go on the fungus spreads slowly across the surface of the bone until it is completely covered.

Ecology and Habitats

This fungus can be found growing in almost any environment from hot deserts to ice caves to underground lairs. It lives exclusively on bones or calcium sources. Settings rich in bone matter like forgotten battle fields, caves, dungeons, and places of death are the most common habitats for this species. Locations with steady temperatures, stable humidity, and consistent lighting are the most advantageous for its growth.

Dietary Needs and Habits

This fungus grows on and consumes the bones and teeth of the dead or any other source of calcium.

Additional Information

Domestication

While this species still remains rare, it has been successfully transplanted and grown in laboratories and in new locations. With an expert hand and the proper environmental factors there is about a 25% success rate.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The Deathglow Fungus was once used as a special writing ink called Indiglow, which was used in the creation of magical spell books and magical scrolls. It was favored for its ever glowing dark blue properties. This allowed wizards and magic users to read their spells books in the dark without a light that might give away their positions to any onlookers. This ink lost support after a several tragic instances began to occur with some library scribes and a few wizards apprentices who had misused the ink. Despite those disasters a few unscrupulous magic users still harvested the fungus for the ink and it can still be found in a few dusty spell books and old magic scrolls from time to time.
Born from the tragedies of the apprentices and lengthy experimentations, this fungus and ink would be refined and processed into a very strong liquid drug called Ultraviolet. This new drug can be found being sold on the black market, back alleys, and drug dens of today's major cities.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

These rare fungi are usually found in unusual locations that have experienced a lot of death and dead bodies. The most notable locations have been in the Zarici Forest, the Caverns of Everdeep, the Iceblast Pass, and the Plains of Sorrow.

Average Intelligence

That of a typical fungus.

"It’s spooky to be sure. They say it’s harmless, but I wouldn’t let any get on me if you know what I mean. It didn’t work out too well for those poor scribes a while back."

Scientific Name

Fungo Letum Flagrare

Lifespan

The lifespan of this species in unknown but there have been reports of this species being able to live for several decades under stable conditions.

Conservation Status

This rare fungus is unknown to most people and is not under any type of government protection or conservation laws.

Average Height

These fungi are known to grow and spread outward and not upward, as a result most are very thin, only being a few millimeters to a few centimeters tall.

Average Length

The exact lengths of these fungi are unknown and are thought to be limited only by the amount of bone material that is available for them to grow on, as such they are most often found in small sizes.

Average Physique

This species of fungi grows as a very thin velvety covering that has flattened tendril, root-like structures that weave across the surface of the bones that it grows upon.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

This is a thin grey fungus that stretches out and takes the shape of the bones that it covers. As it feeds on the calcium and essence of death it gives off an eerie deep blue glow.

Related Materials

• Indiglow

"I don’t know where the rest of the group went. Going through those catacombs was terrifying enough, but once I saw all of them glowing bones, I went right to the middle of our pack. I swear I saw one of those glowing skeletons begin to rise up and then suddenly the group of us scattered. Footsteps were everywhere and I nearly lost it and took off right the way we came in and never looked back. I assumed the others were close behind, but no one came out of the entrance with me. I haven’t seen them since."