u/imdfantom

The barbarians that lived along the edge of the Everdark had long spoken of the dangers of the most ancient of forests.

Chief among the dangers were the Elves. These Elves were described as tall, lank creatures with large eyes, pointed ears, and long blond hair, who lived among the trees and tended to mushrooms.

When civilized folk attempted to find these mystical creatures, all they found were masses of enlarged insects and other small animals covered in tendeils of a waxy orange substance. Eventually, it was determined that the substance was in fact a particularly horrid fungus, colloquially known as the elvenshroom.

Victims that inhale its fungal spores are mutated into monstrosities several times their proper size. The victims become progressively more attracted to others of their own species as the fungus grows within them. Eventually, orange tendrils erupt from the host and the fungus assumes control of the body. Careful study revealed that the victim may sometimes retain some level of consciousness at this point. The fungus eventually almost completely consumes the host, though it may retain some appendages occasionally.

A single insect host is not capable of sustaining an Elvenahroom until sexual maturity. While the mechanism is, as of yet, unclear, sexually mature Elvenshroom may sometimes have remnant flesh from several insect species.

Mammalian hosts are possible, and they are able to sustain an Elvenshroom into maturity, without the fungus having to resort to the aforementioned unknown mechanism.

Human infection is also possible and the first expedition, a group 50 strong, were tragically culled to prevent further transmission among humanity.

The functions of the Elvenshroom's characteristic twin protrusions on the heads of its hosts have not yet been elucidated.

The long yellowish tendrils that flow behind a sexually mature Elvenshroom are presumed to be a sort of sexual organ that eventually pruces and releases spores into the environment.

The Everdark has been designated as a biological hazardous zone and entry and egress is strictly monitored by the Union.

Human heroes who returned from treks among the peaks of the Talladunes have long brought back stories of a diminutive, bald, bearded folk that mined deep into the mountains.

Scholars at the University have long debated whether these so-called "dwarves" were some long-lost human tribe that adapted to extreme conditions, or if they were a wholly new sentient species.

Unfortunately, every time an expedition team had successfully secured a specimen to return for closer examination, it had been attacked by truly abominable creatures of reportedly enormous proportions.

Traders from the Blue Wastes have reported better success at making contact with the aforementioned elusive creature. Master Deareus has published extensively on the lives of the people of the Blue Wastes, and a series of interviews with a trading band led by a certain Ibn Al Bard was very illuminating.

Al Bard revealed that the dwarves lived a relatively idle lifestyle; he did not personally see any evidence of labour or industry among the dwarves, but noted that their stores of food and other materials remained well stocked.

Another man, apparently known only as Al Dalam (lit. "the darkness"), expressed frustration at the dwarves' ignorance on the matters of the mattress. It seems as though none of the dwarves that Al Dalam spoke to understood the concept of mating. They were also reported to be confused on questions related to the distinction of the sexes.

During the second set of interviews Al Dalam also recounted a story where he was stopped from going down into the deeper, larger caves by a group of distressed dwarves. They seemed insistent that doing so was not safe. Al Dalam claimed he would sneak down into the lower tunnels during their next visit. Unfortunately, Al Dalam was not present for any of the subsequent sets of interviews.

The interviews with the rest of the trading band did not reveal any new pieces of information.

Imu created an Omen Barrier, as seen here.

Initially I thought he just tanked it, but it seems Omen can be used to create barriers