Myconid

A mostly peaceful species of sapient fungi, Myconids range from 4ft-12ft in height and have appearances similar to that of the fruit of common mushrooms.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Commonly sporting vaugely-humanoid features, most Myconids have two thick trunk-like legs and long arms that reach down to their knees. Some variants have more or fewer limbs, though almost every one has the bulbous cap of a head that looks familiar to the fruiting body of surface-variety mushrooms.
Two small eyes are typical on one side of the head—capable of extreme low-light vision—though again, the exception proves the rule as some Myconids sport more or less eyes, and occasionally have them encircling the whole of their caps.
Though most Myconids communicate with spore networks that allow a form of telepathy, some have mastered the art of vibrating the gills under their caps to produce sounds and are capable of mimicking words and phrases well enough to speak. In some rare cases, Myconid have been observed to create music with their gills, a process called "gill-singing" that creates an overlapping harmony similar to that of a synthesizer or dijeridoo.

Spores

The defining trait of Myconids is the capabilities of their spores.
Like most mycelium and mushrooms, Myconid spores serve a variety of purposes from communication to reproduction and more. Unlike most non-sentient fungi, Myconids are capable of producing, expelling, and utilizing spores with specific capabilities and effects—as one would expect from an intelligent creature.

Genetics and Reproduction

Myconid reproduce like many fungi and flowering plants by breeding with partners, but they also possess a unique attribute of being able to reproduce asexually—essentially creating clones of themselves.

Telomorph Spores

Released when a Myconid circle is merging and ready to proliferate,Telomorph Spores mix and merge in the damp air of the Myconid caves and accumulate in water droplets along the walls and floors where they begin to grow new mycellium from the genetics of two or more parents. When still microscopic, Myconid caretakers will collect all the germinated spores and move them to nursery grounds—caves filled with loamy and damp soil cultivated specifically for this purpose—and begin to nurture them until they grow large enough to begin fruiting themselves.

Anamorph Spores

Some Myconid possess the ability to use self-replicating Anamorph Spores to regenerate themselves entirely.
The process is not entirely understood by outsiders, but observations have lead many researchers to believe that Myconid adults can grow spores capable of retaining not only their entire genetic code, but also their memories and personalities. In a week, a Myconid can regenerate their entire body from one of these spores—retaining all memories they had at the time they dropped the spore.
Some inquisitive researchers have managed to conclude that this process is semi-automated and though Myconid adults will drop millions of Anamorph Spores each day, if the Myconid is incapacitated or their body is damages in a significant enough manner to the point of non-functional, one of the spores will begin to grow into new mycelium and regenerate the Myconid. There seems to be some kind of biological timer on these spores, as it has been observed that the spore dropped most recently—and therefore with the most up-to-date memories and personality—is usually the one that grows to full fruit, though external factors may limit this regeneration and cause memory loss in some cases.

Ecology and Habitats

Myconids prefer the damp, dark caves of the Underdark as their sensitivity to sunlight is both painful and potentially fatal if exposed for long amounts of time.

Biological Cycle

Many new Myconids reach adult-hood at around six years of age, upon which they are functionally immortal unless their Anamorphous Spores are somehow prevented from regenerating.
When a Myconid's body deteriorates from use or old-age, they will seek to find a nursery cave and lay down to decompose while one of their Anamorph Spores re-grows a new body. Though this regeneration can happen with any of their Anamorph Spores in any location, doing so in a nursery allows their previous body to nourish the growing children and speeds up their own regeneration to approximately three days.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Rapport Spores

Most Myconid communicate by using Rapport Spores that, when inhaled by other creatures, allow for a form of telepathy between all connected being. Myconid circles use this almost exclusively between themselves and it is common for them to retain the telepathic connection with each other perpetually, even over moderate to large distances.
Rapport Spores can also link non-Myconid creatures together in limited capacity, allowing multiple creatures to communicate in a group for upwards of 8 hours while still carrying the spores within them.

Sensory Spores

In addition to traditional vision and auditory organs, Myconid also posess Sensory Spores that they can use to blanket and area with an almost invisible layer of spores that can relay simple information like motion and vibration, including sound, to the Myconid.

Alarm Spores

When in distress, Myconid involuntarily release a cloud of Alarm Spores that spread quickly in air and water and can alert other Myconid or allies of their plight. Being a peaceful species, it is rare to witness a Myconid use its alarm spores in anything but an accident but there are rumors from some that these Alarm Spores cause hyper-alertness in Myconids and if left unchecked can cause an entire circle to rage and swarm a potential threat.

Lifespan

1000+

Average Height

1.5 - 3 m