Homebrew Myconid (Spore Song) Species Details

Mushrooms and Spore

Ranging anywhere from 4 to 6 feet Myconids are brightly coloured fungi creatures who come in all shapes and sizes.Their physical features vary greatly from circle to circle and even within the circles themselves. The inside of a myconid has a soft texture similar to that of a mushroom however their bones are near the surface, and are hard and have a seemingly metallic feel. Because of their fungi origins myconids are very light, however, their endoskeleton does contribute something and they are usually between 20-30 pounds (9 to 14 kg) Though they are of a similar height to humans they are slow to move, however, their tough natural hide makes up for the disadvantage. All myconids have an aversion to sunlight and most do not wear clothes.

A Timeless and Alien Perspective

Myconid can live well over 1000 years, giving them a broad perspective on events that might trouble the shorter-lived races more deeply. Myconids live in the underdark in various colonies called circles, a circle consists of twenty or more myconids who live together work together and meld together. A meld is usually presided over by a sovereign which is the largest in the myconid colony. A sovereign can preside over multiple circles. myconids are intelligent fungi who seek enlightenment and deplore violence. When approached peacefully myconids will very happily allow safe passage provide shelter and give advice about the surrounding area. Most time spent in a circle is devoted to melding. A meld is a form of communal meditation in which myconids are able to transcend their boring underground existence. The myconids have special spores called rapport spores which are used to communicate telepathically. During a meld, they use these spores to bind into a group consciousness. Hallucinogenic spores are then introduced to create a shared dream which provides social interaction and entertainment. Many myconids consider this to be the sole purpose of their existence. They meld in pursuit of collective union spiritual apotheosis and higher consciousness. Myconids reproduce through carefully controlled sporing so as to not overpopulate the colony.

Hidden Realms and trade

Most myconids dwell in small colonies called circle hidden in the Underdark and swamps. They are talented artisans, crafting finely worked sculptures that illustrate their experiences in the meld. Their contact with outsiders is extremely limited, though myconids make unique trinkets and items that are highly prized by some collectors.

Exploration and Adventure

Myconids take up adventuring out of wanderlust or a great need. Since they are so long-lived, they can enjoy centuries of exploration and discovery, but rare do. They dislike the pace of human society, which is regimented from day to day but constantly changing over decades. Myconids also enjoy exercising their martial prowess or gaining greater magical power, and adventuring allows them to do so. In the end the Myconids that travel the surface world, learn and grow only to return back to the circle they left behind. 

Myconid Names

Myconids do not identify as one sex or the other and thus do not have male or female names. Because myconids usually communicate telepathically, they do not have names for each other, however, members of other races who are not as fond of telepathic communication will give names to their myconid friends. Thus nicknames vary greatly, but are usually mushroom related. 

Names: Jamar, Marly, Hendrix, Jenika, Manson, Psyllie, Psybie.

 

Myconid (Spore Song) Traits

Your myconid character has a variety of natural abilities, the result of thousands of years of melding.

Ability Score Increase

Your Wisdom score increases by 2.

Your Intelligence score increased by 1.

Age

A myconid claims adulthood and an adult name around the age of 6 and can live to be older than 1000 years old. The upper age limits of the myconid are unknown due to lack time perception their culture has. 

Alignment

Most myconids are True Neutral with good myconids are fairly common and evil myconids are very rare.

Size

Myconids range from 4 to 6 feet and weigh 70 to 120 lbs. Your size is Medium.

Speed

Your base walking speed is 30 feet.

Superior Darkvision

Accustomed to the darkness of the underdark, you have superior vision in dark and dim conditions. You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You can't discern colours in darkness, only shades of grey.

Meditate and Meld

Myconids don’t need to sleep. Instead, they meditate deeply, remaining semiconscious, for 4 hours a day. While meditating, you can dream after a fashion; such dreams are actually mental exercises that have become reflexive through years of practice. After resting in this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep. During this time you can also share your dreams with being you share a telepathic link with.

Languages

You can think, read, and write Common and Undercommon.

Pacifying Spores

Pacifying Spores. As an action, you can eject spores at one creature you can see within 15 foot of you. The target must succeed on a Constitution saving throw equal to 8 + your proficiency modifier + you Constitution modifier or be stunned for 1 minute or until it takes damage. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success. You regain use of this trait once you have completed a short or long rest.

Rapport Spores

Rapport Spores. You may as an action, extend rapport spores in a 20-foot radius. These spores can go around corners and affect only creatures with an Intelligence of 2 or higher that aren't undead, constructs, or elementals. Affected creatures can communicate telepathically with one another while they are within 30 feet of each other. The effect lasts for 1 hour.

Animating Spores

Animating Spores. As an action, you can target one corpse of a humanoid or a Large or smaller beast within 5 feet and releases spores at the corpse. In 24 hours, the corpse rises as a spore servant(MM p.231). The corpse stays animated for 1d4 + 1 days or until destroyed, and it can't be animated again in this way. You can only have one spore servant at a time. You regain spent use of this trait when you complete a long rest.

Fungal Movement

While this form of movement is slow by comparison (borrow speed of 5), you can now press yourself into soil and travel through it  unimpeded. You can also travel in any direction along any surfaces made of soil, such as a creatures borrow or dirt mine shaft.