Longcaller Fungus

“If left untreated an infection from these spores will draw you back to the origin with or without your own will. No matter the distance, no matter how remote, your only purpose will be to return to the fate awaiting you.” 

- Adventures through Forests: Imerathan, by Leopold Der Vitner

Overview

The Longcaller Fungus is a rare form of mushroom found in densely forested regions. They have a unique life cycle which can sometimes take years to go full circle. The truly insidious aspect of this fungus is its method of gaining boosts of nutrition prior to its growth and dormant phases. Any living beings infected with the spores of the Longcaller will experience the compulsion to return to the site of the originating mushroom. The spores may have been within the hosts system for years before this compulsion began and many are thoroughly unaware of the deadly intrusion that has already taken hold.

Appearance

The actual fruit of the Longcaller Fungus has a smooth convex cap which slowly flattens as it reaches its spore blooming phase. The cap is a dark honey-yellow in coloration fading to a darker brown and black around the edges, and the gills underneath can be shades of white to pink. Prior to their first dormant phase the cap will be between 8-12 inches in diameter. The extent to which this expands in subsequent cycles can vary depending on the amount of prey lured in by the previous bloom of spores. The largest recorded Longcaller Fungus caps have been up to 9ft in diameter and over 15ft high.

Biological Cycle

The Longcaller Fungus has an extremely slow growth rate and will take up to a decade from is initial germination to its first spore bloom. During this time it can be easily mistaken for other types of fungi such as Honey Fungus, certainly until it reaches sizes too large for any confusion. After the initial spore bloom the fungus will commence a lifecycle which will repeat over approximately 4-8 years depending on the size of the fungus at the time. The cycle stages consist of; spore blooming phase, dormant phase, regrowth phase, calling phase, and growth phase. After the growth phase the cycle repeats. 

Spore Blooming Phase

During this time the cap of the mushroom will have fully flattened allowing the tiny spores to be released from the gills to float on the wind. The spores are almost invisible to the naked eye, but have a faint bioluminescence which can be seen in low lighting and in denser clouds. These minute spores can be carried on the breeze, or even on the fur or clothes of passing animals and people. From larger, older Longcallers, their spores have been found up to 3 miles from the start of the bloom. 

Dormant Phase

This initial bloom is followed by a Dormant Phase when the fungus will appear to die back, shrivelling to half its size. The dormancy lasts for 1.5-5 years depending on the size and age of the originating mushroom. It is only once the Longcaller ends this period of dormancy that the full effect of the previously sown spores begins to take effect. 

Regrowth Phase

The Regrowth Phase starts with the fruit of the mushroom rejuvenating to its pre-domancy size and any new smaller additions around the initial fruit will begin to grow and form. This is a relatively short phase for the Longcaller and is typically only a few months long. Those previously infected with the spores will begin to notice small changes to their perceptions and some report the beginnings of hallucinations. 

Calling Phase 

At this time the infected hosts will begin to feel the compulsion to return to the source. As they reach the site of the Longcaller itself they are drawn to  gather at the base of the mushroom where they are then covered in tendrils. These tendrils allow the fungus to draw upon the remains of the creatures around it, using them for the nutrition to feed its next phase. This lasts for up to 1 year at a time, the surrounding area of the originating Longcaller filling with the odor of decay. 

Growth Phase

The Growth Phase is typically equal to, if not slightly longer than the Calling Phase depending on the success of the initial spore bloom. At this point the fruit of the mushroom can easily double in size and often exceeds this just prior to its next spore bloom. 

Infection Stages

Infection

Initial infection of the Longcaller spores presents with symptoms similar to those of an inner ear infection. After 3-5 days of dizziness, nausea, headaches and low grade fever, the symptoms clear with no other signs of the infection which is already beginning. 

Germination and Invasion

Over the course of the Dormant Phase of the originating Longcaller, the spore travels to, and germinates within the brain of the host. As the tiny tendrils of the germinated spore begin to infiltrate across the hosts brain, they will have flare ups of the initial infection symptoms. These will always resolve after a few days and aside from small alterations to senses of taste and smell there are no other long term symptoms. As the original Longcaller Fungus enters the Regrowth Phase these symptoms will all begin to intensify and the host begins to experience both visual and auditory hallucinations. 

Manipulation 

It is unclear whether the spores have a set time over which they take effect or not, however it is not until the original Longcaller enters its Calling Phase that the full manipulation begins to take effect. At this time the host will begin to walk back to the sight of the Longcaller. The spore allows enough of the hosts' own cognisance to remain as to not put themselves in active danger, such as walking into open water, and for a time they maintain the urge to respond to hunger, thirst and the need to rest. However, over time this too fades and after long enough the host will no longer stop to rest. During this time the infection will spread, attempting to keep the host alive for as long as possible. Should the host die the fungus will continue to puppet the hosts corpse back to the Longcaller, only stopping when the body has no physical way to continue.