Mycomancy

Mycomancy is a form of magic, found almost entirely in the Spine, that uses mushrooms as a conduit for the arcane.

Prevalence and practitioners

Mycomancy is an art that is known in the Spine but in few other places on Kishar. Mycomancers or mycomages, as those who learn its ways are called, are few in number and primarily reside in the Myg Rainforest, though some can be found in M-Taran and amongst the peoples of the Shatter as well.

While not considered entirely evil, those who engage in mycomancy are broadly shunned nonetheless, as the less experienced or careful can easily cause incredible damage by accident, and worse by intention. That most mycomages are very secretive of their craft and unwilling to teach others does not help matters - those who attempt to learn their ways through experimentation undoubtedly fall into the same traps, and make the same terrible mistakes and rediscoveries, as have many before.

Types of mycomancy

As a form of magic, mycomancy is broadly divided into three main types.

Spore magic

Spore magic is a type of mycomancy that focused on the use of magically-infused spores and fungi as a means of communication. This can range in magnitude from simple, short range telepathy through a bioarcane connection between spores implanted in two individuals to vast networks of linkages. At the pinnacle of spore magic is a form of meshmind called sporeminds that allow for the sharing of thoughts between far-distant people.

Though rare, and even then almost never done intentionally, sporeminds can reach such a size that they gain sapience and independence from their host organisms, the spores themselves carriers of enough magic to keep together a cohesive entity. Most unleashed sporeminds, as these liberated meshminds are called, quickly find themselves without sufficient biomass to support themselves and fade away, but others, like Sie, find ways to support themselves indefinitely.

Thrall magic

Sometimes confused with necromancy by the unfamiliar, mycomantic thrall magic uses fungi to reanimate the bodies of the deceased. It differs from necromantic practices by the method of reanimation, as the magic is directed not towards the bodies themselves or the souls that once, or once again, inhabited them but rather towards parasitic fungi that grow through necrotic flesh. These can even be directed to puppet the bodies of the living, though this is rarely done.

Thrall magic is typically used to provide short-term, disposable laborers. Even compared to other types of mycomancy thrall magic is shunned, as those who take dead bodies for such purposes are considered by most to be no different than grave robbers. A few cultures of the Spine consider it an honor to allow their bodies to be consumed by fungus after their death, however, as a means of returning their flesh and mind to the world.

Growth magic

Less pursued than the other two magic types of mycomancy, growth magic uses arcane arts to accelerate the already strong propensity of mushrooms for rapid growth. Mycomages skilled in this form most often use it in combat, rapidly shifting battlefields by building cover, platforms, and other defenses out of magically-infused spore pods. It can also be used offensively, to rapidly grow spores implanted in one's foes.