Fungi folk
The Fungi Folk
When a Witch dies before her time in this forest, her remaining magic seeps into the ground as a natural part in the Magic Cycle. In the process of decomposition, the natural fungi of the forest floor combines with the magic and creates a new colony of Fungi Folk. Tiny, fairy-like creatures with both human and fungi features. The emerging colony of fungi folk takes on not only the witch's magic, but some of her personality traits as well. If she was a healing witch, they will take on healing powers. If she used dark magic, they will possess some dark powers as well. Fungi Folk communicate with their colony using their mycelia, which also functions as their main sense of spacial and "visual" perception. This mycelium is a network underground which spans the the range of their territorium. The The Mother is connected to her offspring via mycelium until they reach maturity, when they disconnect and create their own structure The Breakoff . Since the Fungi Folk are created from the death of another creature, their poisonous caps as well as their cultural celebration of decay, they are often seen as a bad omen, and are often exposed to violence from other species.Basic Information
Anatomy
The Fungi Folk takes on characteristics of both human and fungi anatomy.
All individuals of this species are female, since they always stem from a female Witch.
These creatures can reach the height of about 20 cm.
The Mother in the colony is connected to all her developing children through a net of mycelia under the ground. The mycelium is used to collectively absorb nutrients, to communicate with each other and to sense their immediate environment.
As a defence, they are poisonous to many humans and animals, and show this with their red colouration with white dots, which they share with their fungus relative, the Fly Amanita.
Genetics and Reproduction
To create a new colony of Fungi Folk, a Witch much die before her time in this forest. Her remaining magic seeps into the ground. In the process of decomposition, the natural Fungi of the forest floor combines with the magic and creates a new colony.
Individuals in a colony will take on different parts of the Which's personality, forming differences between them. This also means that a single creature of the Fungi Folk has a one sided mind and emotional life, but together they form a complicated and cohesive collective, with every individual as a piece of the perfect cog.
The colony composes of a Mother Mushroom, The Mother,which is the first to spawn and contains most of the magic, and her innumerous children, which are later spawned from the Mothers Mycelium in the decomposing body.
Growth Rate & Stages
All children are connected to their Mother Mushroom, The Mother, by their Mycelium, which connects to their feet (or "sock" / "volva") through the ground.
When a child grows to maturity, it breaks off from the mother's Mycelium and forms its own. Their coming of age ritual consists of disconnecting from their mother for an entire day. If they succeed, they will be permanently disconnected, and will never regain her main way of communication with her old colony The Breakoff When a Child of the Fungi Folk breaks off from her Mother, she loses her mycelium until she settles down to form her own. During the time she searches for her new home, she will be extremely vulnerable, having lost her main sense. She will then rely on her secondary sense, using her magic as a means of echolocation.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Fungi Folk absorb all their nutrients through their joint mycelia, as a process of decaying organic material, especially the decomposing Witch, which also provides them with the magic they need to survive. When the Which's magic runs out, the colony and all "sister colonies" fade away forever.
Additional Information
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The collective mycelium is used to absorb nutrients, to communicate with each other and to sense their immediate environment.
This species doesn't have eyes, but they use their magic to "see" their surroundings through a process similar to echo location. Due to the Magic Cycle, this sense is used minimally compared to the mycelium, in order to not waste the life giving magic.
Scientific Name
Fungus Maga
Conservation Status
Since this species is located in a single forest, and very specific events need to happen to commence their creation, these creatures are very rare. Fungi Folk are often seen as bad omens, which means they are often subject to violence by other species.
Average Height
10-20 cm
Geographic Distribution
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments