Myconid
4 variants
Lurking in the dark corners of the world, Myconids seek out peace and quiet. They come in varieties as plentiful as fungi themselves. Their spores have a variety of effects. They live as a group and are distressed when separated. They live to grow and grow and form a world of fungus where they can become one with nature.
Varied Humanoid Fungi
Myconids resemble giant fungi ranging from 2 to 12 ft tall, with their main distinguishing feature being their limbs. Their upper half splits into a pair of arms below their caps and their lower half is divided into a pair of legs at the stump. Each extremity is pudgy and broad, with their hands ending in two stubby fingers and a thumb, and their feet hosting numerous vestigial toes. This number is not absolute however, with some fungus folk hosting more than the usual number of limbs and/or digits. The bloated flesh of most Myconids ranged in coloration from purple to gray. Two eyes rest on their caps, perfectly concealed against the rest of their spongy skin when shut.
Outliers in the Underdark
Fungus folk are unique amongst the Underdark races for their complete aversion to violent behavior. A general distrust of outsiders is common among the Myconids due to their experience with most other entities. Despite their suspicions however, Myconids are a thoughtful race willing to give shelter or allow passage through their colonies to those who approached with peaceful intentions.
The life of a Myconid is strictly scheduled and split evenly between sleep, work and 'melding'. Melding was the core of Myconid society, with separation from the process viewed as a frightening and pitiful fate. Violence and disharmony was near unheard of within myconid societies as it adversely impacted the melding process and was largely unneeded.
Ethical concerns and moral quandaries were subjects in which the fungus folk showed a relative naivety. Rather than dwell upon the past or fret about the future, Myconids focus on present circumstances, reveling in the moment and sharing simple pleasures. Although their communal lifestyle and lack of internal conflict belies the race to some as a collective consciousness, each Myconid is in fact a distinct individual with their own hopes, dreams, insights, fears, and personality traits.
Melding and Circles
Myconid society is composed of groups known as circles, tight social cliques of twenty or so members. Circle members are very intimate with one another as they melded regularly, although melding was not normally restricted between circles. Known circle duties include agriculture, exploration, construction, child rearers and hunters, although contrary to intuition hunters were more akin to scavengers who located corpses to use as fertilizer.
Their schedules are strictly organized into eight hour blocks of conducting their specialized work, melding, and then sleeping before the cycle repeats the next day. Every circle is tightly grouped in such a way that distress spores from one could reach at least one member of another, and the presence of distress spores was the only thing capable of breaking myconids from a meld. Melding serves as a combination of all recreational activities from entertainment, social interaction, worship, and meditation.
Lurking in the dark corners of the world, Myconids seek out peace and quiet. They come in varieties as plentiful as fungi themselves. Their spores have a variety of effects. They live as a group and are distressed when separated. They live to grow and grow and form a world of fungus where they can become one with nature.
Varied Humanoid Fungi
Myconids resemble giant fungi ranging from 2 to 12 ft tall, with their main distinguishing feature being their limbs. Their upper half splits into a pair of arms below their caps and their lower half is divided into a pair of legs at the stump. Each extremity is pudgy and broad, with their hands ending in two stubby fingers and a thumb, and their feet hosting numerous vestigial toes. This number is not absolute however, with some fungus folk hosting more than the usual number of limbs and/or digits. The bloated flesh of most Myconids ranged in coloration from purple to gray. Two eyes rest on their caps, perfectly concealed against the rest of their spongy skin when shut.
Outliers in the Underdark
Fungus folk are unique amongst the Underdark races for their complete aversion to violent behavior. A general distrust of outsiders is common among the Myconids due to their experience with most other entities. Despite their suspicions however, Myconids are a thoughtful race willing to give shelter or allow passage through their colonies to those who approached with peaceful intentions.
The life of a Myconid is strictly scheduled and split evenly between sleep, work and 'melding'. Melding was the core of Myconid society, with separation from the process viewed as a frightening and pitiful fate. Violence and disharmony was near unheard of within myconid societies as it adversely impacted the melding process and was largely unneeded.
Ethical concerns and moral quandaries were subjects in which the fungus folk showed a relative naivety. Rather than dwell upon the past or fret about the future, Myconids focus on present circumstances, reveling in the moment and sharing simple pleasures. Although their communal lifestyle and lack of internal conflict belies the race to some as a collective consciousness, each Myconid is in fact a distinct individual with their own hopes, dreams, insights, fears, and personality traits.
Melding and Circles
Myconid society is composed of groups known as circles, tight social cliques of twenty or so members. Circle members are very intimate with one another as they melded regularly, although melding was not normally restricted between circles. Known circle duties include agriculture, exploration, construction, child rearers and hunters, although contrary to intuition hunters were more akin to scavengers who located corpses to use as fertilizer.
Their schedules are strictly organized into eight hour blocks of conducting their specialized work, melding, and then sleeping before the cycle repeats the next day. Every circle is tightly grouped in such a way that distress spores from one could reach at least one member of another, and the presence of distress spores was the only thing capable of breaking myconids from a meld. Melding serves as a combination of all recreational activities from entertainment, social interaction, worship, and meditation.
Traits
Size Variability
Like fungi, Myconids come in a variety of sizes. Roll 1D4 to determine your size. 1- Tiny 2- Small 3- Medium 4- Large
Superior Darkvision
120 ft
Distress Spores
When you take damage you scatter spores that alert all Myconids within 300 ft of you.
Sun Sickness
While in the Sunlight you have disadvantage on Perception Checks and attack rolls. After one hour of continuous exposure to Sunlight you die.
Language
Myconid, Undercommon