Fleshweaver Mushroom

by Kydra_Hunter using MidjourneyAI

Deep in the canyon forests, there are many hidden plants that glow from within with core light. A rare sight amongst the towering trees is a a large mushroom with a bulbus glowing cap and thin drifting tendrils. The tendrils are thin as thread and extend from the edges of the mushroom cap down to the floor of the forest.

The twisting vine-like stem of each mushroom form a natural shelter, flooded from the light of the gills above. Elementine who are familiar with the deepest canyon forests often shelter within these giant mushrooms for shelter and revitalization.

Don't be deceived by the ominous name. It is a bit misleading. These mushrooms are the perfect camp. They shelter us from physical threats, rejuvenate the soul, provide light to see by, offer healing abilities... and they smell quite lovely!

— Viridian, Deep Forest Sage

Medicinal Uses

The Fleshweaver Mushroom gains its name from one of it's more unusual uses. The fine threads hanging from the edge of the cap are composed almost entirely of core light, contained within a very fine membrane. These threads quickly break down when applied to wounds. The membrane helps to close the injury, while the released core light heals anywhere it touches.

The two most common ways this is used is in stitching wounds shut, or being woven into bandages. When stitching a wound shut, the membrane holds the stitch in place while the core light leaks into the body to heal it. Due to the rapid breakdown of the membrane, it is important that whoever is doing the stitching does so quickly. Holding on to the thread too long will cause it to break down before it can be used. Gloves can extend this time, but not indefinitely. Rather than natural healing timelines, a would stitched with these threads will fully heal within hours.

Weaving the threads into bandages is a little more complicated. The threads still cannot be held for long, and must be woven quickly and with minimal contact. Most of these bandages are woven by Deep Forest Sages and packaged in chilled containers to keep the living cloth fresh and intact.