Grimnir is in awe, such a community is incredible. Nobody ever told him this was possible.
While walking away with Phylo and Stool, Grimnir open the conversation. “Greetings Phylo, I must say this place is marvellous. I always liked mushrooms”said Grimnir quite awkwardly. "I mean, I love this feeling of a community. How does that work, are you all linked together ? Are you the leader Phylo ?"
“Stool, what happened to you, what about Sarith. You have to tell us everything. We were really scared to lose you.We grew quite attached to you now you know.”
“Oho! A curious softer you are aren’t you?”replies Phylo. “Yes we are all linked through the spores we share! In that way we are all connected and never more so than when we hold our circle meetings. Soon the Great Seeder will draw us even closer. You do not want to miss that. Basidia and I both share leadership of the grove.”
Stool pipes up, “Sarith brought me here, even though I did not want to leave, but he said it was not safe with the duergar. It was a long trip but we made it! He said you would follow and he was right! I haven’t seen him since arriving though... I last saw him talking to...” Stool is abruptly interrupted by Phylo.
”Ah yes the softer who brought Stool to us. He had business elsewhere, but he told me he would return soon! Perhaps you should take that tour now, friends,” says Phylo quickly.
While Grimnir asks his questions, Oorr communes with the environment to detect non-natural beings.
Primeval Awareness Beginning at 3rd level, you can use your action and expend one ranger spell slot to focus your awareness on the region around you. For 1 minute per level of the spell slot you expend, you can sense whether the following types of creatures are present within 1 mile of you (or within up to 6 miles if you are in your favored terrain): aberrations, celestials, dragons, elementals, fey, fiends, and undead. This feature doesn’t reveal the creatures’ location or number.
“Oho! A curious softer you are aren’t you?”replies Phylo. “Yes we are all linked through the spores we share! In that way we are all connected and never more so than when we hold our circle meetings. Soon the Great Seeder will draw us even closer. You do not want to miss that. Bastidia and I both share leadership of the grove.”
Stool pipes up, “Sarith brought me here, even though I did not want to leave, but he said it was not safe with the duergar. It was a long trip but we made it! He said you would follow and he was right! I haven’t seen him since arriving though... I last saw him talking to...” Stool is abruptly interrupted by Phylo.
”Ah yes the softer who brought Stool to us. He had business elsewhere, but he told me he would return soon! Perhaps you should take that tour now, friends,” says Phylo quickly.
"The Great Seeder, who is that? I mean, if you and Bastida are the leaders ? Is it your deity ? I'm sorry I am asking so many question. I find your people most interesting."
Then looking to his companion for support, "Anyway, our job was to bring Stool and Rumpadump back here safely, which we achieved. I think we will keep moving soon, we're looking for a path to the surface. Do you such a path?"
“Oho! A curious softer you are aren’t you?”replies Phylo. “Yes we are all linked through the spores we share! In that way we are all connected and never more so than when we hold our circle meetings. Soon the Great Seeder will draw us even closer. You do not want to miss that. Bastidia and I both share leadership of the grove.”
Stool pipes up, “Sarith brought me here, even though I did not want to leave, but he said it was not safe with the duergar. It was a long trip but we made it! He said you would follow and he was right! I haven’t seen him since arriving though... I last saw him talking to...” Stool is abruptly interrupted by Phylo.
”Ah yes the softer who brought Stool to us. He had business elsewhere, but he told me he would return soon! Perhaps you should take that tour now, friends,” says Phylo quickly.
"The Great Seeder, who is that? I mean, if you and Bastida are the leaders ? Is it your deity ? I'm sorry I am asking so many question. I find your people most interesting."
Then looking to his companion for support, "Anyway, our job was to bring Stool and Rumpadump back here safely, which we achieved. I think we will keep moving soon, we're looking for a path to the surface. Do you such a path?"
"All will be revealed soon, short softer, you will see. Your questions will be answered but it is better they be answered in person, tomorrow perhaps. The day of joy is nigh!"says Phylo. Basidia then encourages you all to go with them, away from the central mount upon which Phylo and the attendants sit.
Basidia leads you away from the inner circle, back towards where you entered the grove (area 1) and shows you around the forest of mushroom stalks. Once you are a good distance from the inner circle, Basidia explains, "Welcome, friends. Sovereign Phylo has been strange of late, and our world must already seem very different to you. We used to all gather in a great circle to meld, but Phylo separated us, despite my objections. Now only the sovereigns and other leaders meet in the Circle of Masters, while the other myconids meet in their own circles. I will introduce you to them, and tell you what I know. Perhaps you can even help us..."
Basidia leads you through the tall mushrooms, and around marshy collections of fungus to near the edge of the grove. By a squat mushroom is a tall Myconid, who Basidia introduces as Loobamub, someone who shares her concerns about Sovereign Phylo, and the leader of the Circle of Hunters. "We do not hunt as you think of hunting," explains Lobbamub in a slow monotone voice,"The members of the Circle of Hunters search out creatures who have died near the grove, and bring the carcasses back to the sovereigns for composting, which helps us to keep the grove fed, and growing." Loobamub pauses for a moment, but before anyone else can speak continues in the same slow voice. "If you are in need of something to occupy your time here, there are living creatures creating issues for our hunters. Unwelcome beasts that prevent us from foraging. When you are done with Basidia, seek me out, and I will set you on their trail if you wish."
Oorr will ask to Bastidia:" What will happen if the myconids meld separately? "
"Also, Phylo referred to someone as 'she'. Do you have... genders?"
"Phylo believes melding separately helps to increase efficiency in the grove. I am not sure that is correct, but Phylo insists. I do miss melding with all my fellow myconid though."replies Basidia. When you use the word 'genders' Basidia gives you an odd look and tilts their mushroom cap to the side slightly. "Yes, Phylo does refer to the Great Seeder as 'she.' How odd. It is a softer term. The myconid are all the same."
"And what is this melding you keep talking about?" Valrish asks Bastidia.
"The Myconid live a simple existence that takes joy in life. Every day we work for eight hours according to our circle, meld for eight hours with the grove, and then rest for eight hours before starting the cycle anew. When we meld, we gather in meeting places, around mushrooms, and share spores, communing with one another in peace." explains Bastidia.
"I think I am beginning to understand your culture. Bastidia, you must know. Throughout this world we call Underdark, a rupture between our plane and the Abyss is occurring. Madness and fiends are spreading alike. This might affect your people as well."
"I think I am beginning to understand your culture. Bastidia, you must know. Throughout this world we call Underdark, a rupture between our plane and the Abyss is occurring. Madness and fiends are spreading alike. This might affect your people as well."
Basidia replies, "Yes, this is concerning. I have thought perhaps that Phylo has come into contact with a diseased spore. And I believe this spore may reside in the Garden of Welcome that Phylo has kept guarded recently. If you have cause to go there, you should investigate. I do not want to come into contact with this spore, but as softers, it would not affect you the same way I would think."
" We will. What do you say, we help the Hunters first?"
"There will be time enough for everything I hope. Let us finish the tour first."says Basidia. The sovereign bids farewell to Loobamub, and leads your group to another area of the Grove, in the North (Area 2).
Water trickling from the walls of this vast cavern are channeled into a crude but effective terraced irrigation system. A thick, sweet smell fills the air from the thousands of fungi of all colors and sizes, many glowing with a strange, inviting light.
Just before you finish your approach, Basidia turns and confides to you all, "You will now meet the leader of the Circle of Builders, Gasbide. Gasbide is loyal to Phylo, and has strange ideas on structures to make within the grove. You will see. Be cautious what you say... or think." You reach a mushroom table at the center of the middle terrace, with a large bulbous Myconid pacing around it. Up above, you can see other myconid gathering materials and fungus from the edges of the grove. When you approach, Basidia introduces you as 'the recently arrived softers.'
"Yes yes yes! I heard through the spores that you were here,"says Gasbide quickly. "You must tell me all about the overworld. What types of buildings do you have there? Tall ones I bet? Very tall? So tall they reach the, the... the what is it... sky! Yes, you have a sky. Oh, I hope someday to build a towering mushroom to the ceiling of our grove and beyond, beyond to the surface. It will be wonderful, just wonderful. With the aid of Araumycos it can be done!"
"Araumycos?" Valrish asks Gasbide. "Who is this Araumycos that can build something which goes from the Underdark to the surface?"
"Who is Araumycos? Araumycos is not a who, Araumycos is... is... well I can't be sure. What a strange thing to wonder, but it does not matter. Soon we will build. The day of joy is nigh!"Gasbide goes back to their pacing around the mushroom, gleefully speaking of the many tall structures they will build in the grove. Basidia gives a shrug, and motions for you to continue following to the upper terrace.
On the upper terrace you see a forlorn looking myconid resting on the ground. Basidia introduces them as Hebopbe, a friend, and leader of the Circle of Growers, the colony's farmers. "You worry too much, Basidia,"says Hebopbe. "I miss the mass meldings as well, but it shouldn't be cause for too much concern."Hebopbe then offers you food a drink should you need it, laying out a veritable feast of mushrooms, lichen, fungus, and water on a flat topped mushroom table.
Oorr Arcana check for Lesser Restoration on madness 2
You know that Lesser Restoration has worked on other's madness. You don't know if what is afflicting some of the Myconids is the same thing. It may be their natural state, despite what Basidia says.
Basidia continues the tour, taking you back down to the central basin, a little further South than where you met Phylo earlier (still in Area 3). You see a tall slender myconid, swaying gently as if too music, or by a breeze, neither of which you can sense. Behind them appear to be mounds of freshly spored myconids, much smaller than sprouts like Rumpadump and Stool, growing in the fertile grounds. The slender myconid introduces themselves, "Oh, the softers, how nice of you to stop by. I am Yrberop, leader of the Circle of Sporers. Aren't they adorable? We need many more sprouts to spread the happiness brought by the Great Seeder to the Underdark. It will be glorious when we rejoice in the true union that w..."Before Yrberop finishes the sentence, their attention is diverted to the spores, and they go to tend them. Basidia gives you all a look, and a shrug, as if to say yeah, this one is in deep.
Above the circle of sporers, you see a path leading towards the large mushroom, and what you know to be the Garden of Welcome (Area 5) that Phylo warned you against. Guarding the path are two large lobster looking creatures, both with red fungal tendrils sprouting from their heads. They do not look friendly, and Basidia cautions you to keep your distance when she notices where you are looking.
You finish your tour in the furthest southern area of the grove (Area 4).
These terraces are quiet and calm. The only sounds here are soft, “ploopy” splashes as water drips from stalactites above onto the caps of oversized mushrooms sprouting from mushy earth.
It is a small area, and Basidia explains it is a temporary respite for myconid whose job it is to go out into the Underdark to explore as scouts and pathfinders. Pacing back and forth in this area is a squat, surly myconid, who Basidia introduces as Rasharoo, leader of the Circle of Explorers. "I say, I say, Basidia. These are strange times, strange times indeed..." Rasharoo stops talking abruptly, looks all around the circle, then returns to talking. "Diseased spores, softers from the surface world, whoever and whatever this Great Seeder is... we need to be prepared."Again, he stops and looks around, checking for anyone within range of rapport spores. "Prepared to leave at a moment's notice. Just give me the word."
"Your preparedness is appreciated Rasharoo,"says Basidia calmly, "but perhaps our new softer friends can tells us more about what is happening here. Phylo has invited them to the Garden of Welcome tomorrow." She turns to your group, "That ends our tour. I dare not take you near the Garden of Welcome, but perhaps you can talk to the myconid, and learn what you can when you go with Phylo. Be careful though. Softers are sometimes known to go to the garden and not return. Here, perhaps this will help you."Basidia reaches into a pouch at their waste and produces a Scroll of Protection (Fiends) which she hands to Belwar. "Should you return with information perhaps there is something else we could reward you with. I must return now. Phylo will be suspicious if I am gone too long."With that, she leaves you.
Rasharoo harumphs and says, "You can wait for that Phylo, but if you want to get into the Garden of Welcome sooner, I know all the secret paths. Just be sure to get out and get back, so we know what's happening in there." He looks around again, then gives you a solid nod, and returns to his pacing.
“Oho! A curious softer you are aren’t you?” replies Phylo. “Yes we are all linked through the spores we share! In that way we are all connected and never more so than when we hold our circle meetings. Soon the Great Seeder will draw us even closer. You do not want to miss that. Basidia and I both share leadership of the grove.”
Stool pipes up, “Sarith brought me here, even though I did not want to leave, but he said it was not safe with the duergar. It was a long trip but we made it! He said you would follow and he was right! I haven’t seen him since arriving though... I last saw him talking to...” Stool is abruptly interrupted by Phylo.
”Ah yes the softer who brought Stool to us. He had business elsewhere, but he told me he would return soon! Perhaps you should take that tour now, friends,” says Phylo quickly.
Your awareness picks up fiends within 1 mile.
Having the care of not being heard from the myconids, Oorr lets his companions know of the presence of fiends within 1 mile from their position.
"Let's follow the myconids for now, but I do not understand their ways. I don't know what to expect."
"The Great Seeder, who is that? I mean, if you and Bastida are the leaders ? Is it your deity ? I'm sorry I am asking so many question. I find your people most interesting."
Then looking to his companion for support, "Anyway, our job was to bring Stool and Rumpadump back here safely, which we achieved. I think we will keep moving soon, we're looking for a path to the surface. Do you such a path?"
Currently Playing: Regdus Ironfist (Greyhawk) Lvl 1 Storm Sorcerer ; Goraseth Drerjoxian (Icespeak) Lvl 3 Paladin Oath of Glory; Lerak (The Wild Beyond the Witchlight) Lvl 3 Barbarian Wild Magic
In Pause: Grimnir " Shadow-Feet", Lv 11 Owner of "The Basilisk & the Monk" (OotA) - Kurma Kappa, Lv 8 Priest of Oghma (ToA)
Currently DM'ing: Princes of Apocalypse >> Tomb of Annihilation
"All will be revealed soon, short softer, you will see. Your questions will be answered but it is better they be answered in person, tomorrow perhaps. The day of joy is nigh!" says Phylo. Basidia then encourages you all to go with them, away from the central mount upon which Phylo and the attendants sit.
Basidia leads you away from the inner circle, back towards where you entered the grove (area 1) and shows you around the forest of mushroom stalks. Once you are a good distance from the inner circle, Basidia explains, "Welcome, friends. Sovereign Phylo has been strange of late, and our world must already seem very different to you. We used to all gather in a great circle to meld, but Phylo separated us, despite my objections. Now only the sovereigns and other leaders meet in the Circle of Masters, while the other myconids meet in their own circles. I will introduce you to them, and tell you what I know. Perhaps you can even help us..."
Basidia leads you through the tall mushrooms, and around marshy collections of fungus to near the edge of the grove. By a squat mushroom is a tall Myconid, who Basidia introduces as Loobamub, someone who shares her concerns about Sovereign Phylo, and the leader of the Circle of Hunters. "We do not hunt as you think of hunting," explains Lobbamub in a slow monotone voice, "The members of the Circle of Hunters search out creatures who have died near the grove, and bring the carcasses back to the sovereigns for composting, which helps us to keep the grove fed, and growing." Loobamub pauses for a moment, but before anyone else can speak continues in the same slow voice. "If you are in need of something to occupy your time here, there are living creatures creating issues for our hunters. Unwelcome beasts that prevent us from foraging. When you are done with Basidia, seek me out, and I will set you on their trail if you wish."
Oorr will ask to Bastidia: " What will happen if the myconids meld separately? "
"Also, Phylo referred to someone as 'she'. Do you have... genders?"
"And what is this melding you keep talking about?" Valrish asks Bastidia.
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
"Phylo believes melding separately helps to increase efficiency in the grove. I am not sure that is correct, but Phylo insists. I do miss melding with all my fellow myconid though." replies Basidia. When you use the word 'genders' Basidia gives you an odd look and tilts their mushroom cap to the side slightly. "Yes, Phylo does refer to the Great Seeder as 'she.' How odd. It is a softer term. The myconid are all the same."
"The Myconid live a simple existence that takes joy in life. Every day we work for eight hours according to our circle, meld for eight hours with the grove, and then rest for eight hours before starting the cycle anew. When we meld, we gather in meeting places, around mushrooms, and share spores, communing with one another in peace." explains Bastidia.
"I think I am beginning to understand your culture. Bastidia, you must know. Throughout this world we call Underdark, a rupture between our plane and the Abyss is occurring. Madness and fiends are spreading alike. This might affect your people as well."
Basidia replies, "Yes, this is concerning. I have thought perhaps that Phylo has come into contact with a diseased spore. And I believe this spore may reside in the Garden of Welcome that Phylo has kept guarded recently. If you have cause to go there, you should investigate. I do not want to come into contact with this spore, but as softers, it would not affect you the same way I would think."
" We will. What do you say, we help the Hunters first?"
"There will be time enough for everything I hope. Let us finish the tour first." says Basidia. The sovereign bids farewell to Loobamub, and leads your group to another area of the Grove, in the North (Area 2).
Just before you finish your approach, Basidia turns and confides to you all, "You will now meet the leader of the Circle of Builders, Gasbide. Gasbide is loyal to Phylo, and has strange ideas on structures to make within the grove. You will see. Be cautious what you say... or think." You reach a mushroom table at the center of the middle terrace, with a large bulbous Myconid pacing around it. Up above, you can see other myconid gathering materials and fungus from the edges of the grove. When you approach, Basidia introduces you as 'the recently arrived softers.'
"Yes yes yes! I heard through the spores that you were here," says Gasbide quickly. "You must tell me all about the overworld. What types of buildings do you have there? Tall ones I bet? Very tall? So tall they reach the, the... the what is it... sky! Yes, you have a sky. Oh, I hope someday to build a towering mushroom to the ceiling of our grove and beyond, beyond to the surface. It will be wonderful, just wonderful. With the aid of Araumycos it can be done!"
"Araumycos?" Valrish asks Gasbide. "Who is this Araumycos that can build something which goes from the Underdark to the surface?"
PbP Characters
Valrish (Dragonborn // Barbarian 6) - Out of the Abyss - play by post
PbP DMing
SPANISH - Storm King's Thunder
"Who is Araumycos? Araumycos is not a who, Araumycos is... is... well I can't be sure. What a strange thing to wonder, but it does not matter. Soon we will build. The day of joy is nigh!" Gasbide goes back to their pacing around the mushroom, gleefully speaking of the many tall structures they will build in the grove. Basidia gives a shrug, and motions for you to continue following to the upper terrace.
On the upper terrace you see a forlorn looking myconid resting on the ground. Basidia introduces them as Hebopbe, a friend, and leader of the Circle of Growers, the colony's farmers. "You worry too much, Basidia," says Hebopbe. "I miss the mass meldings as well, but it shouldn't be cause for too much concern." Hebopbe then offers you food a drink should you need it, laying out a veritable feast of mushrooms, lichen, fungus, and water on a flat topped mushroom table.
OOC Myconids teams
Lobbamub (Hunters) team Basidia
Gasbide (Builders) team Phylo
Hebopbe (Growers) team Basidia
Yrberop (Sporerers) team Phylo
Rasharoo (Explorers) team Basidia
Oorr Arcana check for Lesser Restoration on madness 2
You know that Lesser Restoration has worked on other's madness. You don't know if what is afflicting some of the Myconids is the same thing. It may be their natural state, despite what Basidia says.
Basidia continues the tour, taking you back down to the central basin, a little further South than where you met Phylo earlier (still in Area 3). You see a tall slender myconid, swaying gently as if too music, or by a breeze, neither of which you can sense. Behind them appear to be mounds of freshly spored myconids, much smaller than sprouts like Rumpadump and Stool, growing in the fertile grounds. The slender myconid introduces themselves, "Oh, the softers, how nice of you to stop by. I am Yrberop, leader of the Circle of Sporers. Aren't they adorable? We need many more sprouts to spread the happiness brought by the Great Seeder to the Underdark. It will be glorious when we rejoice in the true union that w..." Before Yrberop finishes the sentence, their attention is diverted to the spores, and they go to tend them. Basidia gives you all a look, and a shrug, as if to say yeah, this one is in deep.
Above the circle of sporers, you see a path leading towards the large mushroom, and what you know to be the Garden of Welcome (Area 5) that Phylo warned you against. Guarding the path are two large lobster looking creatures, both with red fungal tendrils sprouting from their heads. They do not look friendly, and Basidia cautions you to keep your distance when she notices where you are looking.
You finish your tour in the furthest southern area of the grove (Area 4).
It is a small area, and Basidia explains it is a temporary respite for myconid whose job it is to go out into the Underdark to explore as scouts and pathfinders. Pacing back and forth in this area is a squat, surly myconid, who Basidia introduces as Rasharoo, leader of the Circle of Explorers. "I say, I say, Basidia. These are strange times, strange times indeed..." Rasharoo stops talking abruptly, looks all around the circle, then returns to talking. "Diseased spores, softers from the surface world, whoever and whatever this Great Seeder is... we need to be prepared." Again, he stops and looks around, checking for anyone within range of rapport spores. "Prepared to leave at a moment's notice. Just give me the word."
"Your preparedness is appreciated Rasharoo," says Basidia calmly, "but perhaps our new softer friends can tells us more about what is happening here. Phylo has invited them to the Garden of Welcome tomorrow." She turns to your group, "That ends our tour. I dare not take you near the Garden of Welcome, but perhaps you can talk to the myconid, and learn what you can when you go with Phylo. Be careful though. Softers are sometimes known to go to the garden and not return. Here, perhaps this will help you." Basidia reaches into a pouch at their waste and produces a Scroll of Protection (Fiends) which she hands to Belwar. "Should you return with information perhaps there is something else we could reward you with. I must return now. Phylo will be suspicious if I am gone too long." With that, she leaves you.
Rasharoo harumphs and says, "You can wait for that Phylo, but if you want to get into the Garden of Welcome sooner, I know all the secret paths. Just be sure to get out and get back, so we know what's happening in there." He looks around again, then gives you a solid nod, and returns to his pacing.
"I say we gon in there now. Zippy and I can be quite stealthy."