bronze Escort Request

[Dazed_Dreamer]

Gen Stats 

GEN

High Concept: Young forest ranger

Trouble: My time to shine!

Aspects: Hart of The Forest, Feral Ancestry

Stats:

(+4) Notice
(+3) Athletics, Shoot
(+2) Fight, Physique, Stealth
(+1) Crafts, Investigate, Provoke, Will

Stress: P:[][][][] M:[][][][]

Consequences:[2][4][6]

FP : 💛💛💛 (Refresh of 3)

Stunts/Gear

Predator from above: +2 to Attack with Shoot (bow) when Gen has the high ground.

Nimble: Gen gets +2 to Overcome with Athletics when dealing with an obstacle that can be climbed

Trap expert: +2 to Overcome a Trap with Notice

--

Cleaver: Crude but light sword with some ornamental filigrees on the blade, partly covered with moss

Longbow + quiver: Gnarled old wood, a bunch of carefully crafted arrows

Hempen rope: Durable rope of 50 ft.

 

Gen lets out a quiet whistle at the sight. Now this was interesting. His anxiety from the narrow passages eases up a bit with having more air around them. He peers around seeing the rocky shoreline coming up.

"Ingram, you've been here before then? How come you didn't know the way?" Gen was raising an eyebrow with his question.

 

 

 "It was fairly straightforward, before the flooding." Ingram grumbles. "Just right ahead and down the stairs."

 

Edited February 21, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Fiffin]

Scene: Underground Lake

You are poling a skiff across the mists of an underground lake. You are lit by magelight - one wisp from Ingram, another from Luna. Ingram is uncomfortable working with strangers. Gen is keeping a watchful eye on your surroundings.

I have three fate points left in this scene.

 

Northern Waterways Wooden Docks w. Skiff Hermit Campsite

Sloping Shoreline Giant Mushrooms Base of the Tower

Underground Lake Eerily Glowing Waters Ripples and Eddies

Rocky Shoreline Glowing Red Moss Pillared Stalagmites Stairs Leading Up

Southern Passage Stone Jetty Ancient Stonework

 

You approach the rocky shoreline, and discover said stairs leading up the cavern wall - now inaccessible, a torrent of water cascading into the lake.

Many of the stalagmite formations here are covered in a luminescent red moss, the object of your quest. Ingram is preparing his tools when there comes the rustle of leathery wings. Your gaze is drawn upwards - something lurks aboveStrix Swarm

These monsters spawn in deep caverns, lurking among the stalactites. They drop down on unsuspecting prey in swarms, their hideous chitter the only warning. Four leathery wings propel a sack-like body, meant to swell with the vital fluids of its victims. A long rigid proboscis protrudes from the maw, capable of piercing flesh and bone alike.

Concept: Nightmarish Vampire Bats
Trouble: Never Enough, Thirsty for More
Instinct: Always hide in the shadows above., sleeping among the jagged teeth of the cavern ceiling.

 

 "A swarm, outside the Tower? How is that possible?" Ingram whispers, his face paling.

 

 

 

 

 Exploration 

The monsters are asleep - you can choose to leave quietly and explore the other areas. Begin the contest below only if you decide to remain.

---

 Contest: Stealing from the Strix 

Choose someone to help Ingram collect moss without alerting the swarm. Each round your leader tests Stealth to overcome their Notice +3. The others may provide teamwork with Stealth or create advantages. You must be the first to achieve three victories to win this contest.

 

Edited February 7, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Nugat]

Luna Stats 

Luna Stellasumus

High Concept: Proper Lady with Proper Manners and a Side of Thievery

Trouble: My former and current suitors will stop at nothing to bring me home

Free Aspects : Creating imaginary friends from the crib
A name known by all, rich and poor

Stats: +4 : Rapport
+3 : Stealth, Deceive
+2: Notice, Athletics, Investigate
+1: Provoke, Physique, Contacts, Burglary

Stress: P:❤️❤️❤️❤️M:💙💙💙

Consequences:[2][4][6]

Stunts/Gear

Magic : Illusion Create Illusions (Deceive), Hide Objects (Stealth), Light up a scene (Rapport), Frighten Enemies (Provoke)

Cover Identity Replaces the HC & Trouble, Peak Skill is replaced (outside of magic)

Gentlemanly Disappearance When conceding a conflict or leaving a scene, create the aspect "Discombobulated" with one free invoke 

Master Illusionist +2 To Create an Advantage with Deceive when Tricking an opponent with illusions 

Rapier: An ornate but ordinary rapier.

FP : 💛💛💛(Refresh of 3)

 

"These look to be unfriendly creatures. Let's be as quiet and as discreet as possible. I reckon that, as nocturnal predators, their sense of hearing in particular might be the most developed. Gen, please do assist me in making sure these beasts are asleep. Whenever they move, warn us so we can stop moving."

 

And then, Luna would start gathering the moss, as quietly as humanly possible, watching Gen's eyes and hand movements to make sure she is not at risk of waking up the swarm.

 

 

 

[Ryku]

Olenna Griffon Stats

HIGH CONCEPT: The Young and Passionate Duelist of the Eastern Circle

TROUBLE: The cure to petrification is in the tower, somewhere.. 

ASPECT: The Legendary Charged Rapier 

SKILLS

• +4 Deceive
• +3 Fight, Will 
• +2 Shoot, Athletics, Empathy 
• +1 Rapport, Provoke, Resources, Crafts

STRESS  P: OOO M: OOO OO

[2: ] [4:  ] [6:  ] 

GUILD REPUATION: BRONZE

Track:[][][][][][][][]

STUNTS: Remaining Refresh 1/3

Acrobatic Movement: Due to Olenna gains a +2 to Overcome Actions regarding Movement using the Athletics Skill. 

Evasion: Olenna has an amazing ability to remain unharmed when caught within the blast radius of an explosion. +2 to defend with Athletics against area attacks.

Song of Storms: When Olenna is weilding the Charged Rapier Once per engagement she is able to swing her sword towards the sky and create a "Thunder Storm" Aspect on the zone with one free invoke. This storm lasts until the end of the engagement or until it is narratively overcome. 

Lighting Dance: When Olenna is wielding the Charged Rapier she gains a +2 to all melee based defense actions using Fight. 

Magnetic Attraction:  The Charged Rapier is extremely dangerous against Metal Objects and when used against something metal gain a +2 Weapon Value upon successful attacks. 

 

Olenna would cup her mouth with her hands while saying " You can do it Luna!" in a whisper tone. Hoping to give her some words of encouragement as she collected the moss. Olenna was unable to help due to her clunky armor. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 21, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Dazed_Dreamer]

Gen Stats 

GEN

High Concept: Young forest ranger

Trouble: My time to shine!

Aspects: Hart of The Forest, Feral Ancestry

Stats:

(+4) Notice
(+3) Athletics, Shoot
(+2) Fight, Physique, Stealth
(+1) Crafts, Investigate, Provoke, Will

Stress: P:[][][][] M:[][][][]

Consequences:[2][4][6]

FP : 💛💛💛 (Refresh of 3)

Stunts/Gear

Predator from above: +2 to Attack with Shoot (bow) when Gen has the high ground.

Nimble: Gen gets +2 to Overcome with Athletics when dealing with an obstacle that can be climbed

Trap expert: +2 to Overcome a Trap with Notice

--

Cleaver: Crude but light sword with some ornamental filigrees on the blade, partly covered with moss

Longbow + quiver: Gnarled old wood, a bunch of carefully crafted arrows

Hempen rope: Durable rope of 50 ft.

 

Gen nods to Luna affirming her words. This, he could do. With his keen eye and his hunter's senses, he actively watches the swarm's moves for any indicators of more movement stirring.

He knows they'll be in trouble if the swarm was to wake up, but he readies his bow just in case, not quite aiming or drawing it, but having it out. He might be able to snipe a singular strix if it comes to that. That might scare off the rest, or in best case scenario, the rest might not even wake up if one making noise is snuffed out...

As Luna and Ingram return with the glowing red moss, Gen relaxes a bit, and even gives them a small smile, and mouths "Well done" at them. 

Still keeping his voice low, he suggests:

"I think I saw some kind of encampment down there. Should we go by on our way out and ask if they could know why things changed here?"

 

 "Makes sense to me." Ingram whispers, returning to the skiff.

Edited February 11, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Fiffin]

Scene: Underground Lake

You are poling a skiff across the mists of an underground lake. You are lit by magelight - one wisp from Ingram, another from Luna. Ingram is uncomfortable working with strangers. Gen is keeping a watchful eye on your surroundings.

I have three fate points left in this scene.

 

Northern Waterways Wooden Docks w. Skiff Hermit Campsite

Sloping Shoreline Giant Mushrooms Base of the Tower

Underground Lake Eerily Glowing Waters Ripples and Eddies

Rocky Shoreline Glowing Red Moss Pillared Stalagmites Stairs Leading Up

Southern Passage Stone Jetty Ancient Stonework

 

You leave the rocky shoreline behind you with prize in hand, heading north. The channel widens... its sluggish currents could lead you through twisting caverns before finally emptying into the sea. Off in the corner is the encampment you sighted earlier - a closer look reveals ramshackle hovels cobbled together with salvaged wood and pilfered stone. Thick smoke rises from the fire within, and a weathered skiff is moored at the docks.

A ragtag group sits circled around the fire. The children look up in alarm as you near the dock, eyes glowing green, and run inside their shelter. The lone adult greets you, one hand resting on a knife still in its sheath.

 

 "Well then. What can I do for you?" the horned man asks.

 

Edited February 13, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Dazed_Dreamer]

Gen Stats 

GEN

High Concept: Young forest ranger

Trouble: My time to shine!

Aspects: Hart of The Forest, Feral Ancestry

Stats:

(+4) Notice
(+3) Athletics, Shoot
(+2) Fight, Physique, Stealth
(+1) Crafts, Investigate, Provoke, Will

Stress: P:[][][][] M:[][][][]

Consequences:[2][4][6]

FP : 💛💛💛 (Refresh of 3)

Stunts/Gear

Predator from above: +2 to Attack with Shoot (bow) when Gen has the high ground.

Nimble: Gen gets +2 to Overcome with Athletics when dealing with an obstacle that can be climbed

Trap expert: +2 to Overcome a Trap with Notice

--

Cleaver: Crude but light sword with some ornamental filigrees on the blade, partly covered with moss

Longbow + quiver: Gnarled old wood, a bunch of carefully crafted arrows

Hempen rope: Durable rope of 50 ft.

 

Gen nods towards the man as a greeting.

"We...uh. We just came to ask if-why things changed down here. Why? When did strix come?" He somewhat stumbles over his words, seeing the knife.

"We don't mean no harm." He adds quickly. He notes with curiosity, that this man has horns too, different from his own, but nevertheless. Gen's not fully sure why he himself has them. Of course there's the stories but they're more like legends. He's burning to ask about it, but feeling it would be rude and too abrupt.

 

"Change..? It was like this when we came." the man shrugs.

"You needn't worry about the strix - the smoke keeps them away." he adds, waving to the spongy logs in their fire.

"My name is Ursha. What brings you down here?"



"Oh. Well, I heard it didn't use to be like this. We came here just to look for some moss." Gen shrugged a little.

"I'm Gen. From the forest folk up east." Feeling unsure of what to say next, he then opted for a moment of silence.

"Why did you move down here, if I might ask?" He hoped it wasn't too touchy of a subject.

Edited February 21, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Ryku]

Olenna Griffon Stats

HIGH CONCEPT: The Young and Passionate Duelist of the Eastern Circle

TROUBLE: The cure to petrification is in the tower, somewhere.. 

ASPECT: The Legendary Charged Rapier 

SKILLS

• +4 Deceive
• +3 Fight, Will 
• +2 Shoot, Athletics, Empathy 
• +1 Rapport, Provoke, Resources, Crafts

STRESS  P: OOO M: OOO OO

[2: ] [4:  ] [6:  ] 

GUILD REPUATION: BRONZE

Track:[][][][][][][][]

STUNTS: Remaining Refresh 1/3

Acrobatic Movement: Due to Olenna gains a +2 to Overcome Actions regarding Movement using the Athletics Skill. 

Evasion: Olenna has an amazing ability to remain unharmed when caught within the blast radius of an explosion. +2 to defend with Athletics against area attacks.

Song of Storms: When Olenna is weilding the Charged Rapier Once per engagement she is able to swing her sword towards the sky and create a "Thunder Storm" Aspect on the zone with one free invoke. This storm lasts until the end of the engagement or until it is narratively overcome. 

Lighting Dance: When Olenna is wielding the Charged Rapier she gains a +2 to all melee based defense actions using Fight. 

Magnetic Attraction:  The Charged Rapier is extremely dangerous against Metal Objects and when used against something metal gain a +2 Weapon Value upon successful attacks. 

 

Olenna Griffon

Olenna's face would be that of shock as she seen children living in such conditions. She would attempt to get a glimps into the tent as the adult was distracted by the others. Thinking to herself, this is such an odd place for children to be, and why would they run away unless something was wrong.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 15, 2023 by Ryku (see edit history)

[Fiffin]

Scene: Underground Lake

You are speaking with Ursha the hermit. You are lit by magelight - one wisp from Ingram, another from Luna. Ingram is uncomfortable working with strangers. Gen is keeping a watchful eye on your surroundings.

I have three fate points left in this scene.

 

Northern Waterways Wooden Docks w. Skiff Hermit Campsite

Sloping Shoreline Giant Mushrooms Base of the Tower

Underground Lake Eerily Glowing Waters Ripples and Eddies

Rocky Shoreline Glowing Red Moss Pillared Stalagmites Stairs Leading Up

Southern Passage Stone Jetty Ancient Stonework

 

His expression turns grim at the question. "Used to be a guard, but when I found the sergeant and his goons beating some kids..." he stops, scowling. "Alexius is the sewer! Down here things are cleaner, simpler."

Ursha looks you over, considering. "Adventurers, then? Maybe we can make a deal. I've trinkets for trade, and information. Where are you headed, the Tower?" he gestures with a pipe across the lake.

 

 Black Market Vendor 

Ursha will trade favors, information, and goods of dubious origin. He is interested in personal luxuries and supplies for the children in his care. Make a deal with Crafts, Contacts, or Resources against difficulty +2 for useful trades. The difficulty is +1 for something he really wants. He doesn't want your junk.

Bottled Antidote: Drink this to gain +2 against poison and disease. He has enough for four uses.
Green Lake Quartz: Shatters when used to empower any single spell, adding +1 to the roll. He has enough in stock for five uses.
Myconid Servitor: This wand summons a walking mushroom at your command. It has one stress and one +1 skill. Test Lore +3 to recharge after use.

 

Edited February 17, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Nugat]

Luna Stats 

Luna Stellasumus

High Concept: Proper Lady with Proper Manners and a Side of Thievery

Trouble: My former and current suitors will stop at nothing to bring me home

Free Aspects : Creating imaginary friends from the crib
A name known by all, rich and poor

Stats: +4 : Rapport
+3 : Stealth, Deceive
+2: Notice, Athletics, Investigate
+1: Provoke, Physique, Contacts, Burglary

Stress: P:❤️❤️❤️❤️M:💙💙💙

Consequences:[2][4][6]

Stunts/Gear

Magic : Illusion Create Illusions (Deceive), Hide Objects (Stealth), Light up a scene (Rapport), Frighten Enemies (Provoke)

Cover Identity Replaces the HC & Trouble, Peak Skill is replaced (outside of magic)

Gentlemanly Disappearance When conceding a conflict or leaving a scene, create the aspect "Discombobulated" with one free invoke 

Master Illusionist +2 To Create an Advantage with Deceive when Tricking an opponent with illusions 

Rapier: An ornate but ordinary rapier.

FP : 💛💛💛(Refresh of 3)

 

Luna had taken nothing to trade, and wouldn't allow herself to trade anything in the first place. She also felt quite indignated at what he just said, but there was nothing she could do about it without revealing herself.

"We are headed back, actually. We were here on a mission to gather some ingredients. But could I trouble you a little bit? I wonder if there are any easy materials to gather which would make for good alchemy ingredients."

 

 

The hermit shakes his head and remains silent, unwilling to trade something for nothing. However Luna could guess that the quartz came from somewhere nearby, and that he was likely burning giant mushroom in the fire.

 

Edited February 21, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Dazed_Dreamer]

Gen Stats 

GEN

High Concept: Young forest ranger

Trouble: My time to shine!

Aspects: Hart of The Forest, Feral Ancestry

Stats:

(+4) Notice
(+3) Athletics, Shoot
(+2) Fight, Physique, Stealth
(+1) Crafts, Investigate, Provoke, Will

Stress: P:[][][][] M:[][][][]

Consequences:[2][4][6]

FP : 💛💛💛 (Refresh of 3)

Stunts/Gear

Predator from above: +2 to Attack with Shoot (bow) when Gen has the high ground.

Nimble: Gen gets +2 to Overcome with Athletics when dealing with an obstacle that can be climbed

Trap expert: +2 to Overcome a Trap with Notice

--

Cleaver: Crude but light sword with some ornamental filigrees on the blade, partly covered with moss

Longbow + quiver: Gnarled old wood, a bunch of carefully crafted arrows

Hempen rope: Durable rope of 50 ft.

 

Gen nods in understanding to the statement of Alexius. He had not been in the city long, and he immediately saw its foul parts. Life in the forest was much simpler - rough, but simple and clean.

"Ursha... my people were without a home too, once. They fled terrible things. If you want to, I'm sure they would welcome you with open arms in the Shrouded Herd tribe in the East forests, Macawich Woodlands. Far from the tower's dangers. You would receive better protection, trade, community. It's quite a trek there though... are you alone here with these kids?" Gen talks in a calm tone brindled with empathy.

 

Ursha broods over this, surprise flickering in his eyes. He felt a kinship with the lad, and the truth in his words. The idea had merit. "They're my responsibility now, yes." he says slowly. "If your tribe could offer them a better life..."

"Well then, let me share this much. Myconids roam the forest over yonder, and they'll attack anyone who intrudes on their territory. I've fought them before - best to wear a mask against their spores." he says, indicating the mushrooms across the lake.

 

 "It shouldn't be possible. Monsters only come from the dungeon. But the strix..." Ingram mutters, mostly to himself.

"Tell me... what else did you see?" he demands, but the hermit merely raises an eyebrow and shrugs, rubbing fingers and thumb together as a reminder - nothing came for free.



Gen ponders on Usha's reply for a while. 

"Maybe... well, if there are monsters appearing outside the tower, that is a worry. Before, there were only some natural predators, easy to subvert if one knows how. Some smoke like this can drive them away, incense from rosewood trees works above ground. Or using mud on your body to subvert your smell. But I do not know if it works for monsters from the tower. Probably not."

"But yes... perhaps... I could organize a party to take you there, I'm not sure how, usually people want payment - which I currently don't have. And I cannot contact my tribe easily from here. Sorry, I would like to help..." He lowers his head a bit apologetically.

Edited February 21, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Ryku]

Olenna Griffon Stats

HIGH CONCEPT: The Young and Passionate Duelist of the Eastern Circle

TROUBLE: The cure to petrification is in the tower, somewhere.. 

ASPECT: The Legendary Charged Rapier 

SKILLS

• +4 Deceive
• +3 Fight, Will 
• +2 Shoot, Athletics, Empathy 
• +1 Rapport, Provoke, Resources, Crafts

STRESS  P: OOO M: OOO OO

[2: ] [4:  ] [6:  ] 

GUILD REPUATION: BRONZE

Track:[][][][][][][][]

STUNTS: Remaining Refresh 1/3

Acrobatic Movement: Due to Olenna gains a +2 to Overcome Actions regarding Movement using the Athletics Skill. 

Evasion: Olenna has an amazing ability to remain unharmed when caught within the blast radius of an explosion. +2 to defend with Athletics against area attacks.

Song of Storms: When Olenna is weilding the Charged Rapier Once per engagement she is able to swing her sword towards the sky and create a "Thunder Storm" Aspect on the zone with one free invoke. This storm lasts until the end of the engagement or until it is narratively overcome. 

Lighting Dance: When Olenna is wielding the Charged Rapier she gains a +2 to all melee based defense actions using Fight. 

Magnetic Attraction:  The Charged Rapier is extremely dangerous against Metal Objects and when used against something metal gain a +2 Weapon Value upon successful attacks. 

 

Seeing how there was no threat in the area, Olenna would let her guard down and walk over to the mans shop. " Ill take one of these Bottled Antidote". Olenna would run her hand through her coin purse before pulling out what she had.

 

 

 

 

"Of course." Ursha says smoothly, accepting her coin in trade. However the oppressiveness of the underground was beginning to wear on Olenna's nerves, as smoke from the camp made her head spin, and dancing firelight cast strange shadows on all those nearby.

Edited February 21, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Dazed_Dreamer]

Gen Stats 

GEN

High Concept: Young forest ranger

Trouble: My time to shine!

Aspects: Hart of The Forest, Feral Ancestry

Stats:

(+4) Notice
(+3) Athletics, Shoot
(+2) Fight, Physique, Stealth
(+1) Crafts, Investigate, Provoke, Will

Stress: P:[][][][] M:[][][][]

Consequences:[2][4][6]

FP : 💛💛💛 (Refresh of 3)

Stunts/Gear

Predator from above: +2 to Attack with Shoot (bow) when Gen has the high ground.

Nimble: Gen gets +2 to Overcome with Athletics when dealing with an obstacle that can be climbed

Trap expert: +2 to Overcome a Trap with Notice

--

Cleaver: Crude but light sword with some ornamental filigrees on the blade, partly covered with moss

Longbow + quiver: Gnarled old wood, a bunch of carefully crafted arrows

Hempen rope: Durable rope of 50 ft.

 

Gen stirred, and turned to the others in the adventuring party.

"Should we get back up. We completed the mission right? When we get Ingram back to the surface, we can go back to the city. But I'm curious about those myconids mentioned... maybe we could ask the guild if they could send some group to check it out." He was bothered by monsters outside of the tower. Would they also come back if they were defeated?

Edited February 25, 2023 by Dazed_Dreamer (see edit history)

[Nugat]

Luna Stats 

Luna Stellasumus

High Concept: Proper Lady with Proper Manners and a Side of Thievery

Trouble: My former and current suitors will stop at nothing to bring me home

Free Aspects : Creating imaginary friends from the crib
A name known by all, rich and poor

Stats: +4 : Rapport
+3 : Stealth, Deceive
+2: Notice, Athletics, Investigate
+1: Provoke, Physique, Contacts, Burglary

Stress: P:❤️❤️❤️❤️M:💙💙💙

Consequences:[2][4][6]

Stunts/Gear

Magic : Illusion Create Illusions (Deceive), Hide Objects (Stealth), Light up a scene (Rapport), Frighten Enemies (Provoke)

Cover Identity Replaces the HC & Trouble, Peak Skill is replaced (outside of magic)

Gentlemanly Disappearance When conceding a conflict or leaving a scene, create the aspect "Discombobulated" with one free invoke 

Master Illusionist +2 To Create an Advantage with Deceive when Tricking an opponent with illusions 

Rapier: An ornate but ordinary rapier.

FP : 💛💛💛(Refresh of 3)

 

"Yeah, I'm also curious. Fungi tend to make for very good ingredients for alchemy, or so I heard. But it may be dangerous. Too dangerous for Ingram, maybe." Though she sounds a bit patronizing, Luna only has Ingram's best interests in mind.

 

 

 

 "We've come this far - might as well take a closer look." Ingram says, shaking his head.

Edited February 27, 2023 by Fiffin (see edit history)

[Fiffin]

Scene: Underground Lake

You are poling a skiff across the mists of an underground lake. You are lit by magelight - one wisp from Ingram, another from Luna. Ingram is uncomfortable working with strangers. Gen is keeping a watchful eye on your surroundings. Olenna has a bottle of antidoteDrink this to gain +2 against poison and disease.. 

I have three fate points left in this scene.

 

Northern Waterways Wooden Docks w. Skiff Hermit Campsite

Sloping Shoreline Giant Mushrooms Base of the Tower

Underground Lake Eerily Glowing Waters Ripples and Eddies

Rocky Shoreline Glowing Red Moss Pillared Stalagmites Stairs Leading Up

Southern Passage Stone Jetty Ancient Stonework

 

You make your farewells and push off from the docks. The children watch as you leave, one of them waving.

The mist grows thicker as you approach the Tower of Athena, and a musky scent drifts from the gloomy forest of fungus surrounding it. Some mushrooms are narrow-topped and standing like stacks of spears, where others are oversized trees spreading their dark-gilled caps like enormous umbrellas. Long winged insects flit from one cap to another, while some float lazily over to you. There are no signs of the myconids yet.