Shroomies are very small nature dragons that live in
Etrea. They live in mushroom forests and swamplands, constantly absorbing nutrients from the ground to fuel the mushroom that grows atop their heads.
Basic Information
Shroomies have a spherical body, with two arms and two legs. These legs are short, and don't allow the dragons to run particularly fast. On each foot are 4 small hooves. Their heads are large, and are so heavy that it's difficult for them to look up. They possess two large curved horns, and a beak that is very strong. The mushroom that grows on their heads are a different species depending on the dragon, which are completely rooted into their brains and controls some of their actions. Shroomy wings are very large too, and when not in use they fold up and wrap around their bodies, keeping them warm and out of the way. Their overall colouration is a light green, with darker splotches all over their bodies, and a yellowish tinge along their bellies.
Mushrooms
Shroomies are infected with mushrooms practically as soon as they are born. Mushroom spores are attracted to baby shroomies, and to help the process of morphing together, babies have a tiny hole in their head that is perfect for a spore to fit in. Over time the spore grows into a mushroom, its roots embedding itself into its brain, becoming a co-host.
Shroomies, instead of feeding in the normal ways, have pads on their feet that are able to suck nutrients out of the soil as they walk. They are a big factor for a lack of nutrition in some forests, and have thus developed a bad reputation. Most of the nutrients that the dragon gets go to the mushroom, as they have more control over the brain.
This is an interesting concept! A mushroom growing out of dragons' head O_O Can the mushroom infect other species too, or are they too specialised by now and only work on those dragons? As part of the mushrooms develop in another direction to infect other species or are those not specialising in those dragons extinct?
Glad you like the concept! I haven't figured much out, but I expect that the mushrooms only work on these dragons.