FUNGAL GARDEN
The Fungal Garden takes up the most of the Courtyard. Farmers are out here regularly tending to the crops. Most of the fungus that are tended are used for potions, poisons, defense mechanisms for the House, and food. The grazing grounds for the herds of Deep Rothe can be found here as well. The Deep Rothe often migrate around the Courtyard freely. Eating the bountiful fungi in the garden. Bathing and drinking from a small pond that can be located towards the front entrance of the House. Occasionally the slave farmers will tend and herd the cattle about the property.
~Plant Index:
Faerzress is a magical radiation only found in the Underdark Drow also use faerzress to create magical artifacts. Since the Underdark lacks food or light for plant life and fungi, many plants and fungi that are found underground have found ways to live on a diet of faerzress.
Barrelstalk: A plant that grows in very wet places of the Underdark. The water it collects in its center (before it spores) is very pure but often used by animals.
Bulbfruit: This plant is very wild and can grow just about anywhere making it almost into a type of weed. It has edible fruits that have a taste similar to garlic or onion. Animals often graze from this plant. It can also be used to clean wounds.
Bluecap and Ripplebark are the most common edible mushrooms found in the Underdark. But they often take to about a month to mature and need constant care and nutrients. Farmers use Bat Guano as manure.
A Shrieker is a stationary mushroom often used as the first line of defense for many lower Houses and other Bases who have limited troops. It emits a loud noise when its luring prey or has been disturbed. Its cousin, the Violet Mushroom which looks very similar except it has arms, has a poison it uses to kill its prey and enemies. Both the Shrieker and the Violet Fungi often work together to bring in prey. Though both species have been banned by many cities because they both hold dangers whether living or dead. Some creatures and plants are immune to the Violet Fungi's poison. Like the Shrieker, cave swines, hook horrors, cave crickets, and norkers.
Funguswood or "Zurkhwood" is a very tall plant reaching to the height of 35' and acting like the modern pine tree. This plant is often dried and used to make wooden items such as staves, poles, crossbows, bows, arrows, bolts, darts, lances, spears, and so on.
Gourdplant: This plant has hard skinned fruit on it though it is not used for feeding but rather for materials. The fruit upon it can vary in size. Some the size as golf balls to the size as watermelons or pumpkins. Small animals will often hallow out the fruits and use them as nests. The seeds can be used as arrowheads when dried or baked if properly prepped. The proper way of prepping them would have to let them set in a bowl of water for 5 days to remove its mild toxins. If incorrectly prepped, it can cause some massive side effects similar to food poisoning that can last up to 8 days. The younger; smaller fruits can be carved and hallowed to be used as dipper bowls, rattlers, or bottles. The larger fruits can be hallowed to be used as larger bowls and baskets. The leaves on this plant will stay fresh even after the plant has died. Which are ideal for keeping travel foods fresh or using them as scrolls.
Kelpie: An edible plant that is often found near lots of water. Kelpies often try to hide from drow patrols for they know that drow are almost completely resistant to the charm they give off as a defensive mechanism. A lot of humanoids pay good money to get their hands on the plant just so they could cook it at home.
Lichen: Lichens are actually a symbiote, two life forms working in harmony to survive. They are often hard to come by for they grow and form very slowly and are not reliable as a food source. In order to be consumed, they must first be scraped from the surfaces of rocks where they grow on the surface.
Fire Lichen: While many Underdark plants get their energy from magic or rotting organic matter, the fire lichen obtains its energy from warmth. Given that fact, fire lichen usually grows in areas of heat, and is sometimes confused with the more dangerous fire fungus. Fire lichen can be mashed into a spicy paste, or fermented into a hot liquor.
Wisp Lichen: This white lichen native to the Underdark is dangerous. It thrives in moist areas on the ceiling above. It secretes an adhesive from its dangeling strands that can hold large creatures and paralyze them. It then slowly, painfully digests them. The true danger of the white lichen, however, is the fact that many dangerous Underdark predators and scavengers can be found lurking near wisp lichens, hoping to get a free meal. Houses will often place wisp lichen near their properties to prevent flying or levitating attacks and intruders.
Luurden: A plant that produces a valuable fruit that can be turned into wine, oil, and into an elixir that is said to be used to create potions of magic resistance. However the plant can take up to 4 years to mature.
Mold: Though molds are often used in the Underdark for the majority of home cooked meals, they are still some molds that should not be handled whether you have the knowledge of their nature or not.
Yellow Mold: This mold is known for killing animals by either suffocating them with their spores or making their bodies into spore colonies. Its never used in the city or by any other animal-based creatures. The only animals immuned to this mold are cave swines who often feast on them which helps in its population control.
Russet Mold: Is another dangerous mold that attacks like a parasite which can turn humanoids and possibly even animals into Vegepygmies which are creatures resembling mushroom-like trents.
Brown Mold: Can be both dangerous and desirous. It is a mold that makes things around it very cold for it leeches the heat from the very air. Fire Spells will make it grow. Cold spells will kill it. However those who are experienced with magic are able to contain the mold and use it to store food. That is, if you have the money to afford a sample of the mold to begin with. Most magic users just use cold spells to keep food fresh; safer and economically friendlier.
Moss: Mosses are also used as a food source in the Underdark. Some Moss even glows and gives off a soft phosphorecent light that is used for trail markings and just light in general.
Obliviax (memory moss): Is a moss that is typically feared, eradictated when found, and just best left alone. Its a black moss that has a magical ability to steal memories of intellegient creatures with its spores. Obliviax powers cannot penetrate lead, so the moss can be carried to a new location in a lead box. Spies use this lead box trick to snare secrets from unsuspecting victims.A potion of forgetfulness can be distilled from obliviax, and its spores can be distilled into an elixir to restore the memories of the forgetful or senile.
Darkreeds: These plants can be found in the marshy regions of the Underdark. They hold no nutritional value so are often grazed upon by Deep Rothe. Though some humanoids use the plant in many dishes as a garnish and new texture in the foods.
Waterorbs: Small aquatic fungi that often are used to house small crustaceans and fish. The orbs can be dried which then become very fragile and if cracked open, will release a suffocating cloud of spores.
Shriekers and Violet Mushrooms circle around the base of the stalagmites that make up the House.
Wisp Lichen also covers the ceiling above the House.
Both of these plants are controlled by the House's Mages and by the Matron herself.
