Taxites (TAK ee TEZ)

Pryde Mushrooms

Taxites is a type of giant mushroom native to the islands of the Pryde Waters west of Novyum. These mushrooms have a large trunk-like structure up to 3 feet thick, reaching up to 26 feet tall. At the top of the taxites is a wide fleshy domed cap reaching anywhere from 7 to 14 feet wide, with spore bearing gills underneath. Though they can grow anywhere in northern latitudes, they do not seem to grow as well outside the Pryde water islands. Taxites will only growing a third of their size in mainland Ethae. The edible nature of the young mushrooms make them a delicacy to many, making it even harder for them to survive on the mainland.

The mushroom grow in forests, flourishing around the thermal fissures of the Pryde Water islands, but also grow as well in the older forests, seemingly feeding off the decay of fallen trees. The taxites roots burrow into the roots of the oldest trees, killing them, weaking the roots until the tree falls where young taxites, can grow, taking the nutrients from the dead wood. This only seems to happen with the oldest tallest trees. The taxites roots will grow around and avoid young roots, burrowing and seeking the nutrients of old wood.

Taxites grow rapidly in their first days of life and can grow up to a foot tall within days. Once this initial growth is complete, these mushrooms expansion slows and will take a year to reach another foot tall. The growth rate remaining, on average, consistent at a foot per year until they reach their tallest height at 26 feet.

The first four years of the mushroom's life are the dangerous for the taxites. The mushrooms are edible to forest life, and a delicacy to Humans. After the third year taxites begin growing in toxicity, but still edible. In this fourth-year these mushrooms give the eater vivid hallucinations. This has created a growing market in cities across the world for these mushrooms. These 'shrooms' are costly as it is difficult to find fourth year growth. After the fifth year, eating any part of the taxites will create these hallucinations, but also can cause vomiting, dehydration and death.

The populations of the Parcel Cluster have used taxites in ship-making for centuries. The Parcel have master methods of converting their fleshing trunks into planks that are as durable as wood, but significantly lighter and more buoyant. The method of creating this is a closely guarded secret, but is known to consists of the material being boiling in saltwater for several days. After which it is cured, cut and molded into shape before drying. As stated, this gives the material a buoyancy that makes it near impossible to sink a Parcel ship. Claims of split in half ships returning to port are common. This, while the taxites planks retaining the strength of similar wood based ships give the Parcel League fleet a fearful reputation.