Homebrew Myceli (Mimic Mushroom Folk) Species Details
Myceli are a species of umbrella mushroom folk that feeds on corpses and their memories. While it is in it's beginning stages of taking over a corpse, it replaces the parts it eats with mycelium cells mimicking the humanoid anatomy it inhabits. When fully matured, the Myceli will begin learning to move, and eventually walk like a humanoid. The memories of the corpse it eats will become vivid, but often incomplete memories of its own. Slowly it will become almost identical to it's host except for the the large umbrella mushroom cap seated on the top of its head. It takes 1 month to reach full maturity.
They are a docile scavenger race of myconid based humanoids found in damp forests, and swamps. Most are naturally dozy, simple-minded with care free personalities. This is due to always being under the influence of their spores. While they are resistant to poison and necrotic effects, they aren't completely immune to the hallucinogenic toxins created within their body.
Life of Mush. Myceli are wanderers that tend to live on their own or in small clusters in a nomadic lifestyle searching for dark damp environments. They prefer to avoid areas with a lot of light to keep from drying out and stunting spore growth. Ones that choose to live in clusters also have no caste or hierarchy. While its not impossible to live amongst other races, they sometimes struggle to live amongst other humanoids who take issue with the very nature of their creation. They may be accused of being parasites that were the cause of their hosts death, or seen as defilement of the dead. This is not the case though. Myceli are creatures that are well in touch with death, and are shepherds to lost or corrupted spirits unable to pass. Myceli can reproduce only once a year by releasing spores over a body with a spirit that is still present. As the mycelium takes root, it mends both the body and spirt cleansing them to a purer state, and allowing the spirt to move on. In return the spirit gives the Myceli the spiritual blue print needed for the body to be reborn. They are a misunderstood race only repairing the cycle of life and death.
Spore for One, Spore for All: Myceli being a Myconid are well fitted with a variety of spores. Either for protecting themselves, supporting others or inhibiting their enemies. From the cap of their mushrooms rests thousands of dormant spores ready to be altered to fit the Myceli needs, and release into the air. Depending on the type of spore, it can travel through the air at various distances.
Luminance: Myceli are not true humanoids, and don't require rest in the same way others do. But they do require a form of rest called Luminance to promote spore growth. Luminance is a meditative state Myconids can enter if they rest in darkness or dim light, and have a way to dampen their bodies through means such as drenched clothes are dipping in a source of water. The excessive spores in its cap will shed creating bioluminescent spores that give off dim light around it, and fresh new spores will grow in their place. A Myceli without fresh new spores is a defenseless Myceli vulnerable to predation.
Myceli (Mimic Mushroom Folk) Traits
Your Myceli character has an assortment of inborn abilities, part and parcel of Myceli nature.Ability Score Increase
Your Constitution score increases by 2, and another ability score of your choice increase by 1.
Age
After the one month process of converting a corpse into a Myceli, they do not age. They physically maintain the same age until the meet an unnatural death.
Alignment
Most Myceli are neutral and live their lives as wandering nomads. They are born without a family, and therefore usually start their lives with an allegiance to no one and decide their own way in life.
Size
Myceli stand between 3 and 5.5 feet tall and average about 70 pounds. Your size can be Small to Medium.
Speed
Your base walking speed is 30 feet.
Shade Lurker
Being a mushroom you are naturally well adapted to the darkness and try to avoid too much sun. You gain darkvision that has a radius of 90 feet.
You have disadvantage on attack rolls and on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight when you, the target of your attack, or whatever you are trying to perceive is in direct sunlight.
Mushroom's Resistances
You gain Resistances to Necrotic and Poison Damage
Spore Growth
Myceli can release spores up to three times per day depending on the type of spores created and doesn't require a action. You must maintain a 4 hour rest state of luminance to recover daily spore uses.
Animating Spores (1/Day). The myconid targets one corpse of a humanoid or a small to large beast (CR of 1/4 or less) within 5 feet of it and releases spores at the corpse. In 8 hours, the corpse rises as a spore servant. The corpse will hold no memories of if its previous life, and lives to serve its master to the best of its abilities. If humanoid the creature may use known cantrips and 1 level one spell known by you per day. If the creature is a beast it uses its natural attacks. The corpse stays animated for 1d4 + 1 weeks or until destroyed, and it can’t be animated again in this way. (Max 2 servants) You cannot use any of the other racial spore abilities the same day you use this one.
Telepathic Spores (3/Day). A 30-foot radius of invisible spores extends from you. 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 you while within 30 feet. The creature will not be aware of the connection unless you let them and you can only communicate with one target at a time. The effect lasts for 1 hour.
Luminescent Spores (3/Day). A 30-foot radius of glowing spores in pink, green, blue and/or white colors forms around you providing dim light. The effect lasts for 1 hour.
Hallucinogenic Spores. (2/Day) A 5-foot radius of toxic spores release from your body hovering in the air at your current location. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned or frightened (Your choice) for 1 minute. The poisoned target must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw, taking 6 (2d6) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. The target can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Luminance
Myceli don’t require sleep as long as they can keep their body damp for 4 hours a day while staying in a dark environment, and instead can enter a meditative state called Luminance. In this state, you appear inert, but it doesn’t render you unconscious, and you can see and hear as normal. You gain a 60 feet radius of faint glowing spores and can sense the size and shape of creatures that enter within the spores radius. After resting this way, you gain the same benefit that a human does from 8 hours of sleep.
Languages
You can speak, read, and write Common.
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