Shrumfolle

"Where the beast falls, the feast is held"

Written by Artgalles

The shrumfolle are hunters of the deep caverns of Meskou. They have one singular gender and only make kids upon death by releasing spores from their chest. The longer they live the more spores form inside their chest and upon death, they burst to allow the sporelings to feast on their corpse and flee. The more sporelings present increases their chance of survival when fleeing from a predator.
Their head has a mushroom cap on top and is used as a place to store energy and food for later use. The caps also can work as a shield as the outer shell is really sturdy. In addition to been used as a shield and storage the cap is also used as a form of communication by giving off vibrations that other shrumfolle can pick up on and understand. Their eyes give them the ability to see in the dark, but they have a soft glow making them easy to spot in the darkness.  They also have no soul which is made most apparent in the realm of Meskou.
They are split up into tribal groups and never settle in one place. They are taught by the elders to create their traditional weapon a spear. Losing this weapon is the ultimate sin of their people and are then banned from taking part in the hunts. It isn't unheard of for a shrumfolle to leave their tribe and join civilization and learn how to speak the language with relative ease.

Basic Information

Anatomy

A mushroom cap on head, Vibrant colours matching their caps, tall and muscular yet slender.

Genetics and Reproduction

Upon death sporelings burst from the breasts and feed of the corpse of their parent. The spores start to develop at the age of 35.

Growth Rate & Stages

Their growth rate early on to 30 is slow and after 35 the only growth left is spore production.

Ecology and Habitats

Meskou's rooted jungles.

Dietary Needs and Habits

They can eat anything and will be perfectly fine, they prefer to eat raw meat since it is a sign of honour of the hunt, with all the extra nutrients they gain gets stored in their cap.

Biological Cycle

They are always on the move if they stay with the tribe, few will settle with other races, but none have started to settle themselves.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Their eye sight is their defining feature giving them full dark vision along side with excellent hearing.

Civilization and Culture

Naming Traditions

They don't normally speak but when they go to civilization they will choose a name based on which landmass they were born in, for example: Vine, Gem and Root.
If they for some reason get into a relationship they will follow the partner's tradition for naming.

Courtship Ideals

They normally don't get into relationships since they only reproduce upon death, but can have a relationship with other races if they so fit.

Relationship Ideals

If they get into a relationship they will follow the partner's tradition for surnaming, as for in their culture you don't get a verbal name at all.

Common Dress Code

In tribes its common to go naked for ease of agility, but if in civilization they might start to dress to fit in better. Sometimes also depending on the biome mass they might get clothes to help protect themselves from the climate.

Common Customs, Traditions and Rituals

To partake in the hunts and slay the mightiest of beasts.

Common Myths and Legends

Civilization believe there might be a connection between the shrumfolle and Cluster parasite.

Lifespan

Depends when they die.

Conservation Status

They are always on the move never settling down, they never sleep and continuously hunt leading to a low number present.