Amanita Colossi

The active Amanita Colossi near the Outpost of Zietal Mar.

Towering over the local fauna, the Amanita Colossi is a gigantic mushroom that ensnares its prey with winding roots, fungal spores and other horrific defences. Usually, most specimens will resemble that of the typical amanita mushroom, that is, one with a red cap and a white stalk. However, some other variations in colour have been noted down, though it is not clear whether they are the same species, or a related off-shoot.

The Amanita Colossi is usually found in old growth forests or swamplands far from civilization, where it is free to grow.

Behaviour

As is the case with many other megaflora, the Amanita Colossi will remain stationary wherever it ends up growing, but will always be on the lookout for food. Though it can get some small amount of nutrients from the ground and nearby sources of water, its true diet is in that of rotting meat. Any animals that die nearby are usually sought out by the vast root complex of the mushroom and absorbed into the Amanita Colossi.

However, the Amanita Colossi cannot simply rely on the off chance that an animal may die near it, so it has adapted to become an incredibly dangerous, predatory fungus. One way it incapacitates its prey is via the use of the various nodes that grow on the underside of the cap, or the side of its stalk. These nodes are highly sensitive to changes in the surrounding area, with any small noise or movement being able to set them off. These nodes will fire off various spores, presumably generated within the body of the Amanita Colossi, at its targets. These pores can range from the merely damaging, to the highly noxious or incredibly flammable. It is presumed that the rotting gasses and offal from the diet of the mushroom helps form these spores.

In particularly large specimens, it has been noted that the roots will often grow towards any perceived source of food. Sometimes, this can take the form of a campsite of travellers, or a well-established Outpost, that has now drawn the attention of a hungry Amanita Colossi.

The Amanita Colossi, through the use of its various spores, has been known to infect bulls and trolls, seemingly turning them into subservient species. These animals will defend the area of the Amanita Colossi with their lives and removal of the spores or mushroom parasites will usually result in the death of the host. It is unknown whether these spores or mushrooms actually control the hosts in some way.

Combat

The Dwarven settlement of Bornak's Bowl was nearly overrun by an Amanita Colossi before being stopped by a group of brave adventureres, but not before several members of the party were consumed by its foul roots.

An Amanita Colossi is not a foe to be taken lightly. If one encounters a specimen whilst travelling alone, it is highly recommended to either simply leave it alone, or to re-group and form an party to eradicate it. Woodsmen, lumberjacks and other axe-wielding warriors may have an easier time quickly chopping through the woody stems and roots of these massive mushrooms.

If an undertaking to destroy an Amanita Colossi does happen, the accepted harvesting strategy agreed upon by many Apothecaries is to attack the spore nodes first, thus disabling the specimen. Due to the lethal nature of these nodes, it is advised to either try to attack from a distance, or get in quickly as a team to take out one at a time.

Once the Amanita Colossi has depleted its energy, it will fall into a state similar to hibernation. It will not seek out food or act aggressively towards any intruders within its area. If left alone, the Amanita Colossi will eventually gain its strength and return to normal. If an Apothecary or herbalist wishes to study the Amanita Colossi for a particularly elongated period of time, they may wish to leave it during this period, so as to have a constant supply of products. However, many would argue to simply uproot the fungus and burn any part of it that remains in the ground.

Materials

Harvesting the Amanita Colossi can yield a number of strange, fungal products, the uses of which have not yet been fully uncovered by Apothecaries. It is studded with tiny "berries" that are filled with a glowing liquid. These berries are known to taste incredibly awful, but the light-producing liquid inside them can be used to some effect.