Unlike ordinary kinds of fungus, which are harmless to other living creatures, the two specimens described here—the shrieker and the violet fungus—can be dangerous to unwary adventurers.
A fungus lacks a true stem, roots, or leaves, and it is incapable of absorbing sunlight for sustenance, as true plants do. It exists as a parasite, breaking down organic matter slowly. While both of the creatures described here occur individually, shriekers and violet fungi often coexist in the same environment.
Combat
Shriekers and violet fungi often work together to attract and kill prey. When the shriekers’ hellish racket attracts a curious creature, the violet fungus tries to kill it. Both creatures enjoy the fruits of a successful hunt.
Contents
Shrieker
This creature looks like a human-sized mushroom.
A shrieker is a stationary fungus that emits a loud noise to attract prey or when disturbed. Shriekers live in dark, subterranean places, often in the company of violet fungi, whose poison they are immune to.
Shriekers come in a variety of shades of purple.
Combat
A shrieker has no means of attack. Instead, it lures prey to its vicinity by emitting a loud noise.
Shrieker
Medium plant
Init n/a; Senses low-light vision; Perception −4
Defense
AC 8, touch 5, flat-footed 8 (−5 Dex, +3 natural)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref — (always fails), Will −4 (mindless)
Offense
Special Attacks shriek
Statistics
Str —, Dex —, Con 13, Int —, Wis 2, Cha 1
Base Atk —; CMB —; CMD — (always fails)
Ecology
Environment underground
Organization solitary or patch (1d3+2)
Special Abilities
Shriek (Ex)
Movement or a light source within 10 feet of a shrieker causes the fungus to emit a piercing sound that lasts for 1d3 rounds. The sound attracts nearby creatures that are disposed to investigate it. Some creatures that live near shriekers come to learn that the fungus’s noise means there is food nearby.
Mindless
A shrieker is mindless, and thus immune to mind-affecting effects.
Violet fungus
This human-sized mushroom tendril-like tentacles and a mass of small, root-like feelers at its base that enable it to move slowly.
Violet fungi resemble shriekers and are often found growing among them.
A violet fungi’s coloration ranges from purple overall to dull gray or violet covered with purple spots.
Combat
A violet fungus flails about with its tentacles at living creatures that come within its reach.
Violet fungus
Medium plant
Init −1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +0
Defense
AC 13, touch 9, flat-footed 13 (−1 Dex, +4 natural)
hp 22 (3d8+9)
Fort +6, Ref −1, Will +0 (mindless)
Offense
Speed 10 ft.
Melee 4 tentacles +4 (1d6+2 plus 2 poison plus rot)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Statistics
Str 14, Dex 8, Con 16, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 9
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 13
Morale fearless (n/a)
Ecology
Environment underground
Organization solitary, patch (1d3+1), or mixed patch (1d3+1 violet fungi and 1d3+2 shriekers)
Special Abilities
Rot (Ex)
A creature struck by a violet fungus’s tentacle must succeed on a DC 14 Fortitude save or the flesh around the point of contact swiftly begins to rot away, exposing raw bone with shocking swiftness. This hideous affliction causes 1 step of Strength damage and 1 step of Constitution damage This is a poison effect. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Mindless
A violet fungus is mindless, and thus immune to mind-affecting effects.