Backshrooms

## Object 10: Backshrooms:

### Description:

Mushrooms and fungi known as **Backshrooms** can be found in almost every known level in the Backrooms, the amount and species of these unique mushrooms and where they can be found vary from level to level.

Although some Backshrooms are perfectly edible and beneficial to wanderers many species of Backshrooms are hazardous to consume as they can be poisonous or cause adverse and often anomalous effects depending on the species of Backshrooms in question, these more dangerous species can be weaponized and used to a wanderer’s advantage such as in the creation of *Shroom Dust* or *Spore Bombs*.

Much like regular mushrooms in The Frontrooms, Backshrooms are commonly found in damp places with high levels of moisture such as thick forests, jungles, caves, swamps, sewage systems, subterranean levels or even in the damp, soaked walls and ceilings of buildings with high levels of moisture. Backshrooms typically grow in large masses known as “clusters” and have a very fast rate of growth, making them quite plentiful in instances where one finds a cluster to harvest from.

Backshrooms can be separated into two categories, **Edible** and **Volatile**.

### Usage:

#### Cooking:

Edible Backshrooms can be eaten raw and are a valuable food source as they are high in protein, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants but they can also be used for cooking and a large variety of meals can be made using them such as Backshroom Stir Fry, Cream of Backshroom Soup and Backshroom Pie. These meals also bestow unique beneficial effects to the consumer that vary depending on the dish in question, such as Backshroom Pie giving the consumer a considerable boost to their strength and durability for a short time, making “Mushroom Meals” a very useful tool in survival outside of deriving nourishment.

#### Weaponry:

Volatile Backshrooms are backshrooms unfit for human consumption. Many species of Volatile Backshroom exhibit unique properties that are often highly dangerous to other entities especially if consumed or exposed to in a highly concentrated state. These unique Backshroom types can be used to craft useful and often powerful items and weaponry to improve one’s survival, these include the following.

* Shroom Dust - Volatile Backshrooms can be ground up into a fine powder known as *Shroom Dust* which can be thrown or blown into the faces of hostile entities and induce the effects associated with the Backshroom it was created with. Bags or satchels used to store Shroom Dust are often referred to as *Spore Bags*.

* Shroom Juice - By mixing Shroom Dust with Almond Water, a highly volatile slurry commonly known as *Shroom Juice* can be made. Shroom Juice is very strong as the effects of the associated Backshroom species used to make it are amplified by the Almond Water’s properties and it can be used to create a spray known as “Spore Spray” and a variety of other tools.

* Spore Bombs - One of the most useful and powerful of fungi-related weaponry a wanderer can craft. Spore Bombs are made by combining any kind of container (bottle, can etc.) of Shroom Juice with a pipe bomb. Spore Bombs can be used as an effective tool in killing and crippling hostile Entities and Wanderers.

* Spore Thrower - Spore Throwers are ranged weapons created by combining a water gun with a container of either Shroom Dust or Shroom Juice, using either or as ammo to fire at targets several feet away, causing great damage and inducing the effects associated with the Backshroom used.

* Spore-Enhanced Weaponry - Any weapon that wanderers may have on hand such as blades, blunt objects, armor or even firearms can be enhanced by soaking them in Shroom Juice, greatly enhancing their combat by imbuing them with the attributes associated with the Shroom Juice used, such as giving a baseball bat fiery properties or giving the bullets of a gun acidic properties.

The M.E.G. occasionally use Backshroom-based weaponry such as Spore Bombs and Spore Throwers but they are stronger and much more technologically advanced than the makeshift counterparts that wanderers can craft.

### Types of Edible Backshrooms:

#### White Backshrooms:

White Backshrooms (*Shroomusca Parumalba*) are the most common species of Backshrooms, edible or otherwise. White Backshrooms are high in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and have a taste similar to shiitake mushrooms. White Backshrooms are observed to slightly improve the user’s mood and a decent boost in energy when consumed. White Backshrooms even possess medicinal properties, making them useful in creating strong medicines to fight off disease and other ailments.

#### Gold Backshrooms:

Also known as **Gold Shrooms**. Gold Backshrooms (*Shroomusca Aureumus*) are exceptionally rare and very valuable as a result. When consumed, Gold Backshrooms give the consumer a considerable boost in energy and strength, an indomitable sense of courage and determination and are very nourishing to boot. Gold Shrooms can be used in cooking and doing so will yield a “golden” version of a dish. Gold Shrooms are described as tasting very savory and buttery.

#### Sugar Shrooms:

The second most rare variety of edible Backshroom. Sugar Shrooms (*Shroomusca Confectionus*) get their name for their exceptionally sweet taste and are described as tasting like cotton candy with a slight aftertaste of mushrooms. Sugar Shrooms are known to give a considerable boost in energy to consumers and improve their mood dramatically and can be used to create desserts such as the very popular brand of popsicles produced by Fungi Farms known as *Shroomie Pops*.

#### Neon Shrooms:

Being somewhat rare, Neon Shrooms (*Shroomusca Auroros*) can be found in artificial-themed or man-made levels, such as Level 199, Level 399, or Level 6.1. When consumed, it will cure most of the consumer's diseases or wounds, giving them the strongest healing qualities of any species of edible Backshroom. Neon Shrooms are described as tasting like soda, giving it a taste similar to Sugar Shrooms. Neon Shrooms produce neon gas, giving them a bioluminescent glow. Neon Shrooms can be used in cooking and doing so will yield a “neon” variant of that dish that will cause the user to glow in the dark upon consumption.

#### Ink Rain Shrooms:

Also known as Writers Downpour. Ink Rain Shrooms (*Shroomusca Dripluvious*) are Backshrooms that mainly grow in theatre or cinema-based levels, such as Level 68. Ink Rain Shrooms produce an edible, viscous, soundproof ink that drips from the crater at the tip of the cap. This ink and the cap of the mushroom have a savory and fishy taste, making it a popular ingredient in faux seafood dishes such as Ink Rain Spaghetti and as an alternative to soy sauce as well. The ink is also used for its soundproofing abilities, such as lining the bottoms of one’s shoes to make the user inaudible while moving, even while running.

#### Brain Shrooms:

Brain Shrooms (*Shroomusca Fictuscerebrum*) are a grayish-white fungus resembling a brain that typically grows to be around the same size as a human brain and is described as having a taste similar to cauliflower. When ingested, Brain Shrooms induce a temporary state of greatly heightened intelligence, strategic know-how and intuitive aptitude, granting them the ability to learn new knowledge and skills they may not have had the capacity to learn before consumption in record time. The effects of Brain Shrooms typically last for 1-2 hours but the duration is actually shorter when Brain Shrooms are cooked and thus, eating them raw is most efficient when utilizing their effects.

#### Decoy Shrooms:

Decoy Shrooms (*Shroomusca Parumeffingo*) are edible Backshrooms that evolved to highly resemble White Backshrooms, thus the name. Ingesting Decoy Shrooms will cause mild weakness, fatigue and a cranky disposition, essentially causing the opposite effects of White Backshrooms. Despite these effects Decoy Shrooms are relatively harmless to eat and have modest nutritional value. Decoy Shrooms can be identified by noting small, grey spots at the base of the stem.

### Types of Volatile Backshrooms:

#### Boom Shrooms:

Boom Shrooms (*Shroomusca Ignitus*) are highly unstable Backshrooms that explode with the same volatile force as an MK2 hand grenade when pressure is exerted onto the caps such as when being stepped on. Boom Shrooms can be rendered harmless by slowly detaching the cap from the stem, from there both can be made into explosive Shroom Dust or Shroom Juice. Boom Shrooms can even be used as bombs as is by throwing them but dust or juice made from them are much more potent.

#### Pyro Shrooms:

Pyro Shrooms (*Shroomusca Infernalis*) emit strong levels of heat and are hot to the touch as a result due to a fluid found in its stem similar to napalm. When made into dust or juice, the resulting substance becomes scorching hot and will ignite any organic matter it comes in contact with, becoming engulfed in superheat flames that can’t be extinguished with regular water.

#### Cryo Shrooms:

Cryo Shrooms (*Shroomusca Glaciesnati*) are extremely cold to the touch and can cause frostbite from prolonged exposure due to a fluid found in its stem similar to liquid nitrogen. Cryo Shrooms can be made into dust or juice that instantly dry freezes anything that comes into contact with it, making the effected object very brittle and easy to break in it’s frozen state.

#### Hypno Shrooms:

Hypno Shrooms (*Shroomusca Psychedelica*) and their spores have intense psychoactive effects as they cause those affected to experience vivid hallucinations, intense euphoria and a state of increased suggestibility, making those affected easy to command. The dust or juice made from Hypno Shrooms can be used as an effective psychological weapon against hostile entities and wanderers or as a method to distract a hostile long enough to attack or escape.

#### Death Shrooms:

Death Shrooms (*Shroomusca Styx*) are one of the most fatal of all volatile backshrooms. Death Shrooms are extremely toxic and secrete an inky, black ooze that is very caustic, prolonged contact with Death Shrooms or it’s poison will cause fast-spreading necrosis of the flesh similar to the effects of gangrene, making it a highly effective weapon when made into dust or juice.

#### Shock Shrooms:

Shock Shrooms (*Shroomusca Fulgurous*) are one of two Backshrooms capable of a process similar to photosynthesis, as they absorb sunlight and convert it into potent electrical energy that gives them their bioluminescent glow. Shroom Dust and Shroom Juice made from Shock Shrooms are so electrically charged that they are capable of fatally electrocuting entities and powering electronic devices.

#### Sun Shrooms:

Sun Shrooms (*Shroomusca Solarii*) are one of two Backshrooms capable of a process similar photosynthesis in which they absorb sunlight and amplify it over time, essentially “charging up” the sunlight into potent solar radiation that allows them to glow very bright during the nighttime and radiate intense heat as well. Shroom Dust and Shroom Juice made from Sun Shrooms is capable of vaporizing almost anything, instantaneously burning/melting targets, making Sun Shrooms one of the most dangerous of all Volatile Backshrooms.

#### Prikly Shrooms:

Prickly Shrooms (*Shroomusca Trepidatious*) are covered in small barbs capable of extending to long, sharp, needle-like spines capable of piercing through flesh in response to physical stimuli such as by being touched. These spines are coated in a neurotoxin capable of inducing effects similar to cyanide poisoning. Shroom Juice made from Prickly Shrooms are capable of creating toxic spines onto any surface it is coated with, making it highly useful in enhancing melee weapons and armor.

#### Splatter Shrooms:

Splatter Shrooms (*Shroomusca Sanguinolentus*) secrete a natural super glue in the form of an incredibly sticky, red-colored mucilage that is very difficult to remove and can be used to make Shroom Juice that makes for an effective tool in hindering entity movement and making them stick to surfaces long enough to escape or kill them in their gummed up state.

#### Sick Shrooms:

Sick Shrooms (*Shroomusca Degeneracidum*) are extremely caustic Backshrooms that secrete an acidic ooze capable of dissolving flesh and bone in a similar fashion to sulfuric acid when making physical contact, the spores burn through nasal passes and can even cause severe damage to the lungs. It’s acidic qualities intensify when made into dust or juice.

#### Snooze Shrooms:

Also known as Wooly Shrooms. Snooze Shrooms (*Shroomusca Morpheusia*) and their spores are capable of causing exposed entities to become groggy and fall into a deep, coma-like sleep that can last for days at a time as well as causing exceptionally vivid dreams that are difficult for the effected to discern from reality. The effects are intensified when made into dust or juice.

#### Love Shrooms:

Also known as Heart Shrooms. Love Shrooms (*Shroomusca Succubi*) are flat, pink, heart-shaped Backshrooms that possess an enzyme capable of inducing feelings of intense love, infatuation or even lust as well as a state of increased suggestibility when ingested, making those effected to be undyingly loyal and obedient to those that the mushroom made them “fall in love with” until the effects wear off. Shroom Dust and Shroom Juice made from Love Shrooms are useful in turning hostile entities/wanderers into loyal pets.

#### Sea Shrooms:

Also known as Scum Shrooms. Sea Shrooms (*Shroomusca Aquarius*) are aquatic Backshrooms that are common in ocean-themed levels and levels with large bodies of water. Sea Shrooms produce a thick, sticky, blue-colored slime laced with a strong neurotoxin that causes a cold, clammy sensation, intense nausea, light-headedness and finally a paralyzed state that can last for hours. Shroom Dust and Shroom Juice made from Sea Shrooms have the same effects as the slime as well as possessing the attributes of water such as being capable of putting out fire, including the flames caused by Pyro Shrooms.

#### Nuke Shrooms:

One of the most rare and dangerous of all Backshroom types. Nuke Shrooms (*Shroomusca Rexinteritus*) generate immense amounts of radiation, an aura of which can span up to a dozen feet around the mushrooms, making them very difficult to approach, let alone safely handle them without proper protection. Shroom Dust and Shroom Juice made from Nuke Shrooms can induce radiation poisoning to targets, induce small nuclear explosions when triggered to and weaponry enhanced by Nuke Shrooms possess immense destructive capabilities that rival Sun Shrooms as well as possessing the ability to induce radiation poisoning.

#### Mana Shrooms:

Also known as Magic or Wizard Shrooms. Mana Shrooms (*Shroomusca Magias*) are the second rarest out of all the volatiles. These shrooms emit colorful and vibrant spores that burst when making impact with other surfaces, causing a vibrant explosion of rainbow-colored, light-based energy that surges in all directions, causing grave danger to anyone in the area of the explosion as well as inducing blindness when looking directly into the light. Weaponry enhanced by Mana Shrooms are capable of exceptionally powerful light-based attacks. Mana Shrooms also illuminate at night giving off a glow similar to LED lights, Due to this, they are often used as a last resort in dark levels.

### Fungi Farms:

Similar to what Royal Jelly Farms does with Moth Jelly, Fungi Farms is a company and subsidiary of the M.E.G. who’s main goal is to distribute Backshrooms and Backshroom-based products and items all throughout the Backrooms for the benefit of Wanderers, this includes growing and planting Backshrooms in easily accessible places, cultivating stronger Backshroom variants capable of thriving in any environment and distributing items made from Backshrooms such as canned backshroom soup and even pre-made Shroom Dust and Shroom Juice to wanderers.

Thanks to Fungi Farms’ cultivation and distributing efforts, Backshrooms have become much more prevalent and common in the Backrooms than they were before the company’s formation, making it easier for wanderers to survive. Backshrooms now even grow in clusters that are twice as large as they were before thanks to Fungi Farms’ crossbreeding and cultivation research.

Fungi Farms produce other items associated with Backshrooms such as a guidebook to Backshrooms and how to utilize them, a backshroom-centered cookbook, food and snacks such as the previously mentioned Shroomie Pops and even merchandise centered around Backshrooms such as clothing. Fully crafted Spore Bombs and on much rarer occasions, Spore Throwers can be found on certain levels throughout the Backrooms but Fungi Farms state that they don’t make the weaponry that uses Shroom Dust or Shroom Juice so these are most likely “drops” from other Wanderers.