Shroomeria

The Queendom & the Caves Below

Shroomeria extends through an immense system of caverns and passages known collectively as the Threaded Halls. The first tier comprises cathedral-like vaults adorned with stalactites that drip at measured intervals, creating a natural chronometer.   Deeper lie the Fungilands, cultivated terraces where edible moulds and towering fungal structures are farmed. Bioluminescent runnels, referred to as the "milk of the stone," irrigate these terraces; the waterways are carefully directed by means of clay sluices and ritual chanting.   Beyond the farmlands, winding corridors carved by ancient winds lead into the Archive Galleries. These are the remnants of a civilisation long lost, marked by benches of carved stone and walls inscribed with spiral motifs overlain by present-day spore gardens.   At the deepest extent is the Ever-Glow, a dazzling network of caverns encrusted with luminescent crystals. Here, vast curtains of light-producing stone and fungal webs combine into a subterranean phenomenon described as an eternal dawn. The queendom is bound together by the great network of living mycelium, which functions as both structural reinforcement and an organic alarm system sensitive to intrusion.    

Society, Court & Custom

Shroomeria is governed by Queen Mycelia, who presides from the Spore-Throne, a mound of living fibrous matter that resonates as she speaks. Social hierarchies are identified by the form of cap worn. Courtiers wear bell-shaped caps, healers flat gills, wardens toothed conical caps, and artisans concave pored caps.   The culture favours slow deliberation followed by quick execution. Court gatherings take place in deep silence while the queen listens to the murmurs conveyed by the earth, rendering judgement only after careful discernment.   Festivals are understated and symbolic. Glow-processions mark the renewal of spores, harvest feasts celebrate communal meals of truffle broth and moss bread, and the Night of Shed Skins ritually transforms old stalk coverings into lanterns for the following year.   Trade with the surface is conducted both carefully and infrequently. Shroomeria exports lantern-caps, medicinal poultices, fermentation tonics, and pigment-spores. In return, subterraneans import necessities such as bronze tools, woven cloth, glass vessels, and oral histories. Storytelling has particular value, for spoken tales cannot travel through stone without the correct rhythm, making accomplished orators highly prized.  

Magic of the Mycelium

The magical tradition of Shroomeria derives entirely from fungi, moisture, and mineral networks. Practitioners interact with the subterranean environment through tone, rhythm, and spores, shaping growth, communication, and light.   Core disciplines include:   Mycelial Whisper: Transmission of thoughts across root systems, enabling long-distance communication.   Biolumen Craft: Regulation of fungal phosphorescence to produce practical light or coded signals unreadable without training.   Spore Weaving: Manipulation of spores for protection, healing, or influence. Groups of sporemancers can create artificial weather such as fog or dew.   Regrowth: Application of fungal energy to repair injury, restore wood, and even stabilise stone.   The magic functions best communally. While a single individual may kindle minor effects, a choir of casters can transform caverns dramatically, creating warmth equivalent to summer sun.  

Allies of Sap and Stone

Shroomeria maintains longstanding alliances. Chief among them are the Greenwardens, forest beings who traverse the root-roads. Ancient oak roots also extend into the Threaded Halls, facilitating a pact of kinship between tree and fungus.   Surface allies include the people of Floxville, who exchange goods, and selected animals such as badgers and salamanders who serve as messengers. Dwarves occasionally cooperate, exchanging maps and warnings concerning geological instability, their respect for stone aligning with Shroomfolk values.  

Foes, Threats & Unwelcome Growths

Threats to the queendom include external exploitation and internal corruption. Crystal-poachers seek to plunder the Ever-Glow at the cost of destabilising the caverns. The Mould-Witches of the Salt Vein are hostile practitioners of fungal corruption, while enormous heat-draining cave leeches pose continual danger. More abstractly, the greatest threat arises from those who act without understanding: cutting fungal strands, kindling fire, or consuming carelessly.  

Trade, Craft & Wonders

Everyday craftsmanship reflects both magical and practical ingenuity. Bioluminescent pigments derived from sprites are woven into textiles. Baked bread may be infused with spores to calm, encourage bravery, or reassure children. Medical caps carry tactile ridges, enabling healers to identify remedies in darkness.   Glasswork is much admired, but mirrors are avoided, for the Ever-Glow itself provides the only reflected light Shroomfolk require.   GM info / spoilers / plot hooks. Mouse-over to read,

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Inhabitants