The Mushroom Men (Šqrårøñic Bröökēnians)

For information about Mushroom Man culture, see Bröökēntown.

The Mushroom men are an extra-planar race of fungus people with many sub-species with distinct differences. They can most commonly be found in Avari and Hapatmitas, though their migratory nature can take them all across both worlds.

Appearance
Mushroom Men are light for their size, especially for their stocky appearance. Their pale skin is relatively tough with a texture similar to dry plaster. Younger Mushroom Men are short compared to the adults of most other species, while older ones can grow to be twice or thrice the height of their younger bretherin. This height disparity, along with the growth rings on their feet, makes a Mushroom man's age extremely noticeable, especially for those with a trained eye. A Mushroom man is considered an adult by the age of 15, and can live to be anywhere from 60-150 years, depending on how often they travel and the nature of their work.

Their caps are large, and rest on top of a thick, flexible stem which allows them to turn it. This cap can appear in a few colors, depending on their genetics, and is almost always monochrome. This cap acts as an eye, ear, and head for the Mushroom man, with an opening on their "chin" which allows them to breathe, smell, and eat/drink. Some Mushroom men have rudimentary eyes under their cap, as well, though this feature isn't usually found in older individuals.

Physiology
A mushroom man's senses include (from best to worst):


 * Scent: Mushroom men have an excellent sense of smell. Their sense of taste is directly linked to their sense of smell. This allows them to detect anything from foods, ores, fires, and friends. However, especially strong scents can overwhelm them.
 * Hearing: Most of a Mushroom man's spacial awareness comes from sound. Their caps are extremely sensitive to vibrations in the air, which allows them to get a good gauge on their surroundings, even with their abysmal sight.
 * Touch: Their sense of touch is on-par with humans.
 * Sight: Mushroom men only have a rudimentary sense of sight. At best, they have simple, dark eyes underneath their cap which can sense shapes and colors. Most Mushroom men have light sensing cells in their cap, though, which can help them detect brightness and darkness.

Mushroom men can live without their cap (as most of their brain and bodily functions occur further down in their body), but this is both distressing and disabling for them, and should never be done on purpose. Mushroom men have limited regeneration abilities, though. They are capable of healing more than that of a human, even growing back their cap, though the process of growing back a limb may take years and leave the limb weak and incapable.

Their limbs are flexible, with no distinct joints. However, they do have hands and feet, though these ends are a bit more rudimentary than their human counterparts, as they only have three fingers and thick, hoof-like feet.

Diet
Mushroom men can derive a part of their daily nutritional intake from the ground. However, most prefer to take a majority of their diet from their mouths. There isn't a lot that a Mushroom man cannot eat, though they prefer to have mashed or liquid foods, as those pass through their digestive system easier. Mushroom men can survive without food for months, as long as they do not move much.

For their intake of water, Mushroom men can either drink with their mouths or absorb it from the ground and air. If a Mushroom man does not get enough water, or spends too long in the sun, they are prone to dry out, which can become dangerous if nothing is done to counteract it.

Reproduction
Mushroom men can reproduce asexually, though they prefer to reproduce with another of their species. They reproduce by releasing spores into the air. When two spores collide and stick together, they are capable of forming a zygote, which, when placed in nutrient-rich soil, can develop further into a child. The child can be "harvested" after a few weeks, when the brain has formed enough to allow for learning, and a mouth has formed. However, these offspring can be left in the ground for a year or more, after which they will leave the ground on their own.

Little is known on interspecies offspring, or even if they are possible.

Mutations
Mutations can lead to smaller changes which are not substantial enough or too evenly distributed to result in a subspecies classification. These include, but are not limited to;


 * Rudimentary eyes, more common in those who spend a long time in sunlight
 * More digits
 * Multiple heads, a rare occurrence which is more commonly seen in older individuals.
 * Environmental camouflage (I.E. rock- or ice-like structures)

Subspecies
Mushroom Men come in many different types, or subspecies. These types are determined by their cap and blood color. Due to the exotic environment of Rathnir and Eldham (at least to this species), mutations have become increasingly common among offspring.

Psyche
Mushroom men are communal, loyal, and superstitious folk. Many worship the pantheon of Šqrårøñ from their home plane, but even those without the knowledge of their native religion can be found vehemently worshiping and supporting other religions. They will usually remember those who have helped them in the past and often return the favor, even if the favor is extreme compared to the act.

They are often curious and like to explore, migrating together from place to place. Those who decide to settle in one place are called "rooted" in their culture, and usually live longer than their nomadic counterparts.

Habitat
Mushroom men prefer to live in the Underrealm, as it is most similar to what life was like for them in Ścgrāhëim. However, Mushroom men have increasingly been leaving their subterranean homes for exploration's sake, and some have even made homes above ground.

Usually, they cultivate mushrooms, fungus, and lush plants underground, and have been known to use the stalks of giant mushrooms as building materials with a similar property to wood.

Culture
Mushroom men culture can be as varied as their cap colors, though a majority of them follow the Confederation of Magic and Stone, which originated from Ścgrāhëim. They generally do not discriminate based on cap color in day-to-day life, though some have been known to reproduce with mushroom men of a specific color to create desired offspring. A vast number of Mushroom men wear head coverings, as it helps to protect their head from harsh sunlight and stray debris. Mushroom men usually like to show their cap color still, but can choose to wear clothing to signify their color instead.

Notable Mushroom Men

 * NevinHenry
 * Helmling "Henry" Agaricus