Limkas

> "*If a man says he is not afraid, he is either lying, or he is a Limka.*"
> ― Duke Velu "the Stag" Hanesca
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**Limkas** are an intelligent, mobile species of fungus, humanoid in shape and small in stature. Limkas are overwhelmingly subterranean creatures, and are often nocturnal when they live on the surface. The largest Limkian settlement is Shengema in Nesaria, though Limkian settlements exist across much of Inecuria, and some are linked by subterranean tunnels. It has been suggested that all Limkian lands were once connected as a grand underground empire, which could explain the cultural and linguistic similarity of Limkian communities despite their isolation, but there is yet to be any conclusive proof of this.

Limkas average 5 feet 2 inches tall, with the tallest recorded Limka standing at 5 feet 6 inches. They possess similar facial features to hominids but lack hair or lips, and have multiple eyelids rather than eyelashes to protect their completely black eyes. These eyes have excellent vision in darkness, but they are very sensitive to sudden lights. Their flesh is varying shades of pale grey, slightly darker at the ends of the arms and legs. They possess three fingers and a thumb on each hand, and three toes on each foot. Their whole body is covered in a short, thin white fuzz which is only visible in some angles of the light.

Limkas can digest essentially anything, even if it is rotting or not even "food" at all; starving Limkas have been known to survive, although just barely, by eating soil and rocks. Limkas are highly resistant to diseases and toxins from rotting food - however this also makes them resistant to medicines, and comparatively huge doses are needed for such small creatures.

Although many minor details regarding specific functions differ from their animal counterparts (such as the exact nature of their metabolism and digestion), Limkas are, for all intents and purposes, just like intelligent hominids of the animal kingdom, and it was not known they were fungal until the 1890s - however, it was still obvious that they were distinct from the other creatures of the world.

Limkas reproduce asexually through spores, possessing no genitalia, and therefore they have no concept of physical attraction or modesty. As such, Limkas only wear clothes for warmth and protection - since Limkas are resistant to the cold and natively live underground in stable, relatively warm temperatures, this means that Limkas do not often wear what other species would consider a full set of clothes. Because they reproduce asexually, Limkas have no sexes, but they refer to themselves as male, and they are referred to in other languages as male.

Limkas release spores once per year late in the spring, in an event that is highly ritualised. One Limka can emit 10-30 spores at once, but most spores do not take root and fewer still live to adulthood - many Limkas do not emit a single successful spore in a year, but this is made up for by the consistency and scale of spore emission. Limka spores are fed by being laid on a bed of ground-up food, which is regularly and gently stirred. Limka spores are extremely vulnerable in this state, so they have to be constantly protected, and Limkas feel a very powerful protective instinct over spores, even if the spore is not their own.

The act of producing and emitting spores consumes considerable energy, making the Limka incredibly hungry - as such the spore-releasing ceremony is usually preceded by a lavish feast. Limkas produce spores from reaching maturity (after approximately 1 year and 3-5 months) until their death, but they can suppress spore production by reducing their food intake during the spore production period. Doing this enough times in succession will stop spore production completely until normal food habits are restored. This practice is often carried out by ascetic priests.

Limkas have a life expectancy of approximately 50-60 years, with the oldest on record living to 70. The growth period of a spore to something that could be considered a self-sufficient entity is 3 months, and it takes another year to grow to full size.

Although generally weaker and shorter-lived than Humans, Limka are slightly more intelligent, with their average IQ estimated between 105 and 110. Limkas are also the only species with the same level of grim determination and insurmountable courage as the Humans, which is perhaps more impressive given their smaller size.