Homebrew Awakened Mushrooms Species Details
Awakened Mushrooms
These fungi inhabit the isolated forest of Arebore, a collection of ecosystems connected by a vast mycelium network. Awakened Mushrooms are born through a mysterious process. Through the process of growth/birth, they may experience a series of smells, sounds, images -- like memories not quite whole. Eventually, they sprout across surfaces, and those memories are washed away by fresh rain or buried beneath the earth they came from. Awakened Mushrooms are born at random ages, but most commonly 20-50 years old. Children and elders are uncommon. They age like a normal human and die around 90 years of age.
There is a form known as an Empty Mushroom that neither speaks nor moves. It exists as a tree or bush would, and is seen as a taboo food source or material. Though some Awkaened Mushrooms find comfort in living among them.
Awakened Mushrooms take many forms and vary widely depending on their species. A Puffball Awakened Mushroom might have a large soft head, with a stubby body, short arms, and 3-4 fingers. An Enoki might stand 9 inches tall, with a long, thin body and arms-- their face comprised of small black, orb-like eyes and a ridged mouth opening. Their skills, attributes, magical abilities, and social habits also differ by species.
Awakened Mushrooms have only existed for 2-3 generations. During that time, they established towns, roads, and trading routes, charted the land, and established farms, ranches, schools, and entertainment venues.
GROUPS
Awakened Mushrooms began to divide themselves into 4 groups:
Edible Mushrooms: These Mushrooms are the "common folk" of the forest; they are the pillars of society. Often they are farmers, traders, ranchers, and craftsmen. Often, they take care of any child Awakened Mushrooms that are wandering around the forest. Edible Mushrooms contain vital vitamins and protein. Some common species are Button, Enoki, Chicken of the Woods, and Morel.
Hallucinogenic Mushrooms: These Mushrooms are known as "strange" in the forest. Their effects on others vary, from mild highs to nightmarish reactions. Some hallucinogenic mushrooms are honored as leaders, shamans, or clerics. Some are shunned from town, even victims of violence. Common species are Fly Agaric, Gold Caps, Liberty Caps, Wavey Caps, and Flying Saucer.
Non-Edible Mushrooms: These Mushrooms are often seen as outliers in society, sequestering themselves into isolation. They can create uncomfortable, but not lethal, effects on other mushrooms. If they do not isolate, they can join a community, but they are viewed as slightly indifferent. They often are quiet, mild-mannered, and introspective. Sometimes they take on the role of druids, scholars, guards, and adventurers. Common species are Bitter Bolete, The Vomiter, Artist's Conk, and Yellow Stainer.
Poisonous Mushrooms: These Mushrooms were quickly and violently pushed out of the edible Mushroom society. They have dangerous and lethal effects on other mushrooms, even unintentionally. Some poisonous mushrooms have created their own society, some isolate, some slip into towns, hiding their abilities. Common species are Death Cap, Destroying Angels, and False Morels.
Not all Awakened Mushrooms fit into these categories, and special privileges can be made.
MYTHS
Their creation has a few myths in their society. Some say Chauntea, The Ubundent Wheat Field, let a part of her body rot. From the rot, the first Awakened Mushrooms were created. The followers of Chauntea are often farmers, ranchers who tend small spiders, artisans, or those who utilize her divine guidance to protect their home.
Some say Lliira, The Joyful Owl who watches over the forest during the night, watched over the first birth of an Awakened Mushroom. In confusion, she ate the mushroom. Through the fungi's effects, Lliira felt pure joy, as if she could see every star and every mouse across the forest floor. Now, she shepherds her favorite creations, warning them of great danger with soft "hoo's that echo through the night. Followers of Lliira are commonly bards, craftsmen, or entertainers.
Silvanus is another popular God honored, who takes the form of The Great Oak -- its location is protected by druids. Followers of Silvanus believe the first Empty Mushrooms sprouted from the arcane leaves of The Great Oak, which it sheds during autumn. Then, the sap of The Great Oak was absorbed -- creating the first Awakened Mushrooms. From there, a mycelium network spread across the land, creating a safe home for all of Silvanus's creations.
Inedible mushrooms tend towards the myth of Myrkul, The Bone Cave. They believe Myrkul was once a great giant who lived in a cave deep in these woods. He loved all aspects of nature, and on his deathbed, he lay on top of an outcropping of Empty Mushrooms. From his death, the Awakened Mushrooms grew with the love his corpse left behind. They see themselves as nomadic stewards of the land, often seeking secluded places to live and die. They are often scholars, adventurers, and stewards of the land.
Some Awakened Mushrooms worship Umberlee, the ***** of the Lake. They say Umberlee was once a young and hot-tempered Celestial Stage who lived near the Shattered Sea, a massive body of water that divides a section of the forest. Once, the Shattered Sea was still, murky, and black. Empty Mushrooms sprouted around the toxic body of water, but the algae was thick and suffocating. One day, Umberlee grew angry that the water lay stagnant and green. She began stomping her great hooves, using her divine magic to purify the water. She waded deeper and deeper into the Sea, her regious anger soon clarifying the water. But her movements created great waves. She soon stumbled in her anger, falling into the deep water. The current pulled her deep into the center of the lake. They say her divine anger purified the water, as she sank to the bottom of the Sea. Now, the Shattered Sea is as clear as a mirror. Myth says her divine power fused itself into the Empty Mushrooms, creating the first Awakened Mushrooms. Some Awakened Mushrooms say that if you sail to the center of the Sea, you can still see the thrashing Stage; her movements creating violent waves that radiate from the center. Umberlee is respected, but feared by many sailors and traders. They honor her for her sacrifice, and fear her for her violent waves.
The last common myth of the creation of Awakened Mushrooms is The Empty Plague, Talona. According to the followers of Talona, Awakened Mushrooms have always existed. At one point, their population overran Arebore. They choked out the trees, they trampled the grass, they hunted the wildlife -- soon the forest was a husk of its former self. It's said you can still find structures from the old world, now reduced to rubble. Talona grew angry with the ignorance of the Awakened Mushrooms and sent a plague across Abebore. The plague stole the consciousness from the Awakened Mushrooms, leaving their empty husk across the forest as Empty Mushrooms. Soon, the plague passed, as some Mushrooms built an immunity to Talona's plague. Many, many years later, the forest begins to regrow, along with the Awakened Mushrooms. A group of Poisonous Mushrooms believes they are the only remaining Awakened Mushrooms from the old world. Not all followers of Talona are evil; some are healers and adventurers, learning lessons from the remnants of the old world.
Awakened Mushrooms Traits
Creature Type: Fey Construct
Size: Tiny (about 5 –12 inches tall)
Speed: 30 feet
Spore Plume
Level 3 - 5 ft radius/cone [ 1 d4 of poison damage + [special effect] ]
Level 5 - 10 ft radius/cone [ 2 d4 of poison damage + [special effect] ]
Level 8 - 15 ft radius/cone [ 3 d4 of poison damage + [special effect] ]
will update with progress....
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Some Awakened Mushrooms can train for or are born with different forms of spore transportation. The special effect is determined by species; basic mushrooms may not have one.
Darkvision
You have Darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
Fey Ancestry
You have Advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the Charmed condition.
Keen Senses
You have proficiency in the Insight, Perception, or Survival skill.
Trance
You don’t need to sleep, and magic can’t put you to sleep. You can finish a Long Rest in 4 hours if you spend those hours in a trancelike meditation, during which you retain consciousness.
Comments