Shroomfolk

**Shroomfolk** are a race of mushroom humanoids that are native to the Kobari. They live in small communities, mostly on the Southernmost island of **Bako**, and often underground in caves hidden from the surface via a mushroom cap protruding from the ground. However, some live a more nomadic lifestyle, making their home wherever they may be at the time.

They can communicate with each other over long distances regardless of the physical biology of a Shroomfolk, and mostly communicate without making actual verbal sounds or cues, rather either tuning into the ground to transmit complex messages, or by sending off currents in the air to communicate more simple conversations and ideas.

Shroomfolk tend to not have names, however those that do usually hold it only as a title rather than a normalized title like most names are. Example: "The Farmer" instead of "George."

## Appearance

Shroomfolk have a very diverse spectrum of how they appear physically, with their bodies potentially able to resemble any mushroom on the island they live on. Because of this, each Shroomfolk can maintain different activities, with some having distinct biological traits such as particular types of poison lacing them, or even the ability to replicate speech that others may not be able to do. As they do not require speech as a necessity in the first place, it is actually rare to find Shroomfolk that are able to communicate verbally.

All Shroomfolk will appear shroom-like, with the majority appearing more mushroom than humanoid, though regardless of physicality all Shroomfolk can easily communicate with each other using the same methods, being the underground network and through electric currents, and they can additionally harvest information from actual mushrooms as well, essentially giving them omniscient knowledge within the mushroom forests they find themselves living within.

Some Shroomfolk, known as **Hosts**, find themselves able to cultivate many different types of mushrooms on their bodies, though they are rare among this already elusive species.

## Biology

Shroomfolk reproduce by shedding spores from their bodies, which take only several days to develop into smaller versions of the same type of mushroom the parent shroom resembles. After an initial spurt of growth, Shroomfolk children take about 5 years to reach their full size, and in tandem, maturity.

Shroomfolk, if not nurtured properly by a parent, take on the traits of the mushrooms around them rather than explicitly those of their parent shrooms, causing for some diversity in biology via either hybrids between a type of shroom and another, or even a completely new species or Shroomfolk being created by such an event due to the sheer diversity of mushrooms within Kobari

Shroomfolk vary in their abilities dependent on what shroom they resemble, however all Shroomfolk find themselves able to shed clouds of spores as a mode of either trapping or defense if need be, which pollute the air temporarily before falling to the ground and sprouting mushrooms of the same type of mushroom the Shroomfolk is based on onto the ground. While these clouds of spores are simply part of the Shroomfolk, they occasionally are able to grow into Shroomfolk themselves, though this is not a guaranteed phenomena.

## Strengths & Weaknesses

Shroomfolk are able to subsist off of very little nutrients, and maximize energy efficiency whilst feeding. They can eat nearly any biological matter, though if possible, many tend to enjoy feeding on actual food rather than just decomposing scrap.

While naturally elusive and evasive, Shroomfolk themselves are naturally quite skittish, often becoming scared and panicked if they do end up being caught off-guard. In this panicked state, there is about a 50/50 chance that they will either release a massive cloud of spores and attempt to flee the scene under the cover, or alternatively become extremely defensive, not unlike a cornered animal. Shroomfolk pack surprisingly powerful punches for their make, so angering one could lead to a painful incident if one is not careful in the encounter.

When a Shroomfolk discovers something, they immediately input the information into the ground so that other Shroomfolk may understand it, however these spread in a broad line, with lack of personal communicative availability. However it yet remains a powerful means of intelligence gathering for the entire species, which only further increases their ability to stay hidden from threats.

Shroomfolk are great climbers, able to scale objects with great dexterity, though the larger they are the harder this becomes. They can additionally "plant" themselves, rooting to a spot as a means of rest. In this state, they rescind their more humanoid appearances, and appear as if they were simply normal mushrooms themselves, though Shroomfolk are able to determine if a resting Shroomfolk is of their kin or not.

While adult Shroomfolk do not share this weakness, immature Shroomfolk (Ages 0-5) have a weakness that sees them unable to get up after falling, leaving them completely vulnerable if they find themselves lying on their back or side.

## Trivia

What mushrooms sound like? -> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=efSXd56gMCg

* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4Z1ZUuZDPg
* https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-nIBA0V\_No (Literally sounds like terraria)