Moshiboom
"That's not a mushroom.
The Moshiboom, "Amorpho Mossi", is a Large Ooze that exists compacted inside its own body, springing to heights of 20 ft or more before descending upon prey items with lightning reflexes, snatching them quickly with gummy suction cups and sticky folds. Drawing them into the "box" that forms the exterior shell of its base, the Moshiboom coats the prey item in adhesive material and waits for it to digest inside. Moshiboom become energetic, bouncing on the pliable cube and attaching to surfaces with their imposing, adhesive bodies.
Dominant Glumi that change into Mounds use a method of colonizing to form into the final form of the "Amorpho Gumu", the incredible Moshiboom. With the colony assimilated and recessed, the Moshiboom has formed a strange anatomy which protects it from many forms of attacks- inside and out.
Basic Information
Anatomy
This Large Ooze has adapted traits that make it an excellent ambush hunter, surprising prey by bouncing or springing into the air and crushing them beneath its bulk. It is unknown why the Amorpho Gumu evolved to adapt this bizarre form. During its life cycle as a Glumi, it maintains a near herbivorous diet, surviving on plant matter (living or dead), photosynthesis and carrion only when it must. Becoming a Mound increases its aggressive tendencies; it is believed that as a Mound, the Moshiboom developed its predatory instincts.
Moshiboom are similar to Oozes, but as a member of the Invertebrate Phylum, the springy spine has finally formed a tight coil inside the Moshiboom; the spine is formed of hardened calcium and nitrogen as well as other materials that have been stored inside the Moshiboom since it was a Glumi.
The other difference of the Moshiboom to its Glumi and Mound relatives is that it has formed a semi-hard external shell in the form of a "box". It's porous, sticky surface secretes an adhesive through layers of the Ooze. It's digestive organs have also flattened and spread throughout the Moshiboom's system, creating redundant networks that prevent it from harm when engulfing prey.
Biological Traits
A Mossiboom has well-developed suction cups, two pods on its sides and the base of it's cube that allow it to attach to horizontal surfaces and clutch prey items into its shell.
Mossiboom produces spores defensively, inducing the Slimy Sickness condition, which can prove fatal if left untreated with alcohol.
Mossiboom secrete adhesive substances from their bodies, both inside and out. While the exterior is porous and pliable, the inside of the Mossiboom fills the inner chamber with spores and fluids which dissolve prey items directly inside the digestive tracts. Mossiboom preserve their prey until it decays, consuming the material later.
Alternatively, these digestive enzymes break down plant material and aid in the process of photosynthesis for the Mossiboom. It can do so either inside of its cube or outside, beneath it's base bulky surface area. Spots of vegetation fed on by Mossiboom appear wilted and dark, as well as slimy.
The hardened vertebrate of the Mossiboom is flexible, allowing it to literally spring at its prey. When it is inside its own shell, the spine forms into a tight coil. Often, it will entrench itself into the earth and spring up from below.
Genetics and Reproduction
Glumi form colonies of 3-5 Glumi once they are 3-5 yrs old. Dominant Glumi dominate the others of the colony until they recess into the form, increasing the Glumi's size (Small to Medium). Once a Glumi has collected 5 or more other Glumi, the colony becomes a Mound. The Mound forms for another 3-7 yrs, increasing in size (Medium to Large) through consumption. 5-7 years into its life cycle as a Mound, the drive to find another Mound causes the Ooze to seek others. Using pheromones from its scales, two Mounds assimilate, as the dominate of the two Mounds invades the other by engulfing it.
After a period of dormancy during the cold seasons when this occurs, a Moshiboom is born from the two Mounds. When a Moshiboom reaches the end of its lifespan (usually 1-3 years later) it releases special Spores, forming new Glumi over time. A dominate Glumi bud forms from the "head" of the the Moshiboom, which tends the Spores after the Moshiboom has expired. Breathing the Spores of any of the "Amorpho Gumu" species is dangerous and may result in a terrible physical condition, known as Slimy Sickness. Death from this ailment may also result in another dominate Glumi, which will nurture any Moshiboom spores.
Growth Rate & Stages
Those of the Amorpho Gumu Ooze begin life from the spores of a Moshiboom that have infected the environment. the Glumi forms and lives its life until it begins to form gangs of Glumi. These packs become colonies which later form into Mounds. Mounds live for another 3-7yrs before they experience the drive to seek other Mounds. Assimilating another Mound, the Moshiboom forms from the two halves. When the Moshiboom perishes, it spreads spores and pheromones that attract other Glumi in the area that will protect the field of gooey spores. Living creatures that breath the spores may result in new Glumi once they die from the allergenic disease, Slimy Sickness.
Ecology and Habitats
Moshiboom exist in swamps and marshes, where they can submerege their bodies beneath stagnant sources of water. Rivers, forests, and hills also provide the Moshiboom with an essential environment. These Ooze are able to thrive in more arid locations by retreating into their box but will still dry and harden in direct extremes of temperature.
Dietary Needs and Habits
The Amorpho Mossi absorbs plant matter either through the base of its body or inside the cube, where it can metabolize things much faster. It prefers dead material to other forms now, having consumed carrion throughout the earlier life stages, it now needs a large amount of nitrous and glucose material from its environment. Its mixed diet allows it to expand its options. It will store things such as rotting timber or living animals inside its body to consume later.
Capturing prey inside its body isn't to digest them immediately. Instead, the Moshiboom wears the prey item out inside its body, filling the chamber with the thick viscous fluid that makes its inner body. Drowning the prey in fluids, the Moshiboom then allows the prey to decay naturally, adhering it to webbing made of its digestive tracts.
Biological Cycle
During extremes of hot and cold seasons, a Moshiboom becomes dormant. Protected by the thick outer exterior of its shell, the Moshiboom waits out the season, using its porous exterior and photosynthesis to survive. Even in dormancy they retain an awareness of their surroundings.
Behaviour
Moshiboom are typically elusive. Considering the process to become one takes approximately 10 years and the life cycle of a Moshiboom is relatively short (1-5 years) by comparison. They also spend much of this time in states of dormancy compared to their more active relatives. As other Ooze, it is still possessed of the same need to consume and proliferate.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Mossiboom are friendly towards Glumi, as they don't seem to threaten the Moshiboom. Gangs of Glumi may form around Mossiboom as they colonize. Mounds, however, face incredible opposition from Mossiboom. The two species are similar in nature, often making them rivals in resource scarce environments.
Domestication
Moshiboom are subject to their own whims and behaviors and are unable to be domesticated without powerful magical spells. While the Verdant Mossi is a tamer variant of the dominant Mossiboom species, the common Mossiboom is a danger to others, making it incredibly perilous as a pet or companion.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
"Gluem", the company that formulated the incredible fixative, "Gluem" Adhesive, only uses Glumi and Mounds in the production of their products. The cultivation process to harvest "Gluem" from Mossiboom is incredibly time consuming and the Mossiboom is naturally defiant.
Verdant Mossi, however, is a Mossiboom that is sought after for its legendary abilities to produce a fluid that can be mixed with a base of water, sugar, Slime Jam, and other restoratives to create a rich gelatine fertilizer for plants, known as Fertile Gel. This miraculous product is also used in curatives related to Slimy Sickness.
When the conditions for a Glumi to become a Mossiboom are present, the Glumi will have a small nodule that is similar to a "Gumu Death-Bloom". Mounds and Glumi that carry this bud are said to become Verdant Mossi, which produces the Fertile Gel needed for those products.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Moshibooms are found in temperate, wet environments, such as swamps, rivers, and forests, as well as near caves or beneath hills.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
The Moshiboom has adapted a heightened sense of vibration compared to the Glumi and Mound. The ridges beneath the cube of its lower body can sense vibrations. By flattening its flexible body, the Moshiboom increases its normal vibrational sense range from 20 to 40ft. Anyone touching the ground or a solid object within this field of awareness alert the Moshiboom, which may ambush the prey by springing into the air or ambushing from concealment.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
During the life of a Moshiboom, a Glumi buds atop its head, growing larger each year. This is known as the "Gumu Death-Bud" and animates once a Moshiboom perishes. The larger it is, the older and closer to expiration a Moshiboom has become.
A species, Amorpho Momo, is a mutation that occurs as a Mound develops into a Mossiboom. Known as a "Verdant Mossi" or "Garden-Box Mossi", this strange variant occurs rarely. Verdant Mossi is a magical type of Mossiboom that secretes a nutrient rich fluid which promotes the growth and vitality of plants. This type of Mossiboom is a boon to the environment around it, increasing the abundance of plant life as it moves through the forests and fields.
Verdant Mossi encourages the growth of plants, returning months later to absorb them of their nutrients. It curates flowers in different seasons, visiting them to feed and replenish their vitality. It's also an avid collector of plant species and dissections have found preserved plants and animal skeletons inside, left unmarred by the digestive enzymes produced within. By absorbing special types of plants into its body, it can provides a synergy between the Verdant Mossi and the plants that absorb nutrients from it. As a Mossiboom, it still feeds on plant and carrion material, but it acts more like a Glumi, preferring to hide and shy away from others. As they mature, they may bud more Glumi, never producing the "Gumu Death-Bud" as others of its species.
Conservationists of rare and exotic plant species seek out the Verdant Mossi as it can aid in the preservation of plants and trees. Though it is a rare anomaly, it is said to be found in thick expanses of overgrown, wild forests.
Civilization and Culture
Culture and Cultural Heritage
Tales of those spirits which inhabit ancient forests describe the Verdant Mossi as forest guardians, spreading life and death throughout the forest realm. They were seen as natural caretakers of those places and provided offerings. Conservationists of the plant kingdom seek out the Verdant Mossi for its restorative properties.
History
Mossiboom appear in later eras as Amorpho Gumu continued to spread and evolve the adaptations for changing into Amorpho Mossi. They were reputable as forest guardians in some areas, especially those environments that habitat a Verdant Mossi, or Amorpho Momo.
Scientific Name
Amorpho Mossi
Origin/Ancestry
Amorpho Gumu
Lifespan
1-5yrs.
Average Height
10-13ft. Tall
Average Weight
900-1100lbs.
Average Length
5-8ft. Cube
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