A World Of Fungi

Forels are mysterious fungal creatures that resemble a cross between a horse and a reptile. They all live together on a recently discovered island called Aeridulch off the coast of Merlot's main continent. Not much is known about how they came into existence in the first place, but they're here to stay and some have even begun migrating to the mainland.

Anatomy

The anatomy of Forels varies depending on their subtype, though they are typically quadrapedal with two squared front toes and three squared back toes. They have a spore "heart" or sac, the source of their magic, that can appear on their belly or back and has smaller bulbs surrounding it. Their noses are pointed, and their jaws are jagged.

Some Forels prefer to travel through water (Toadallops) and some travel on two legs (Broncusi). They have special adaptations depending on their form of locomotion. Though most Forels are normally within the same height and weight range, the oldest Forels are often much larger and heavier than their younger counterparts.

Social

The social interactions between Forels depends on their home region and subtype. Standard Forels are nomadic and will travel in colonies that vary from 5-20 individuals on average, visiting different parts of the island depending on the season. They are neutral with one another and usually only form colonies for the sake of safety.

Toadallops occupy lakes, rivers, swamps, and other bodies of fresh water. Their condensed populations have no distinct size, and they will construct dams or underwater caverns to live in. They are friendly with one another but are wary to interact with other kinds of Forels. They may even use their special aquatic adaptations to scare away or hide from others.

Oysters are not nomadic and instead establish large underground systems of tunnels and caves to live in. Each Oyster colony can have hundreds of individuals, but each chamber in their system usually only fits up to four. Oysters are either neutral or hostile towards other members of their colony, sometimes outright attacking one another if they are hungry or aggravated.

Broncusi, like Oysters, are not nomadic and gather in settlements varying in size. They are more intelligent than other Forels, and as such will often establish rules or moral codes to keep their fellows in check. They are friendly towards other Broncusi, and typically do not interact with the other Forels outside of their settlements.

Behavior

Forels are individual creatures and their personalities vary widely beyond their typical feelings about members of their colonies. Oysters are the only exception to the rule-- as their symbiotic fungus takes further control of their body, they may resort to their base instincts and discard any anthropomorphism they may have.

Relation to Other Species

There have been little to no interactions between Forels and other species, and as such they do not have concrete relations with them yet.

Homes

Standard Forels do not establish permanent homes due to their unique nomadic nature, but will create makeshift shacks or tents if they settle down in any given region for an extended period of time.

Oysters live in large underground colonies with multiple tunnels and chambers. In each colony, there is always a dedicated chamber for food storage, gardening, cooking, and composting. Most other chambers are residential spaces or social spaces.

Toadallops build dams or underwater caverns in their aquatic homes. They need a consistent source of oxygen, however, so many of their homes will have entrances connected to the surface. Most Toadallop homes are equipped to house a handful of individuals, but some have been reported to host whole Toadallop colonies, built by the combined work of many.

Broncusi live in villages and towns with houses built of clay, brick, wood, or in some special cases, metal. They resemble human homes and have rooms for all of their daily activities. Broncusi separate themselves into small groups depending on their shared interests, professions, or other determining factor.

Magic

Forels' spore hearts are the source of their magic. They power the spores and spore pockets on their bodies, which are full of potent dust that can be expelled at will. The effect of the dust depends on the situation-- it may cause poisoning, paralysis, drowsiness, hallucinations, chemical burns, or burning of the eyes. Alternatively, they can cover the user's body in a defensive aura, instead inflicting the aforementioned effects to anyone who enters the aura, excluding the user.

Diet

Forels consume a wide variety of foods, including fungus, grasses, insects, small mammals, and fish. Their national food is fungus soup, which is made differently depending on the Forel colony, and consists of any number of their preferred foods. They like to season their food with spicy peppers, horseradish, onion, and garlic. Many Forels keep gardens where they grow their favorite roots and vegetables.

Life Cycle

Forels begin their lives as spores that fall from the Gigantaspores, which seed in the nutrient-rich soil surrounding them. They grow over the course of a month, and when they are ready to emerge they crawl out of the spore sac as Buttons. Buttons are cared for by the Forels local to the area where they hatch, and mature after just a month of growth. Forels can live for a theoretically infinite amount of time, beyond two factors that can bring their life to an end. If their spore heart is destroyed or they go without food for about a week, they will perish.

Parentage and Families

Forels do not have a sense of family beyond their allegiance to Forels of the same type and origin. They do not have parents or bloodlines, because they do not reproduce with one another, but older Forels do their best to take care of younger Forels and Buttons. Elderly Forels are particularly involved in raising young Forels, and as such are highly revered.

History

Recently discovered by cartographers travelling the oceans across Merlot, Forels have been living on Aeridulch for what seems to be a very long time. The only real records of their history have been recorded by the Broncusi, but are kept a secret from prodding explorers. They have a hard time communicating with other species, and their language is yet to be understood.