This fungus has a symbiotic relationship with trees, always growing on the bark, typically hidden by branches until it is too late to see it.

The fungus appears to be a bumpy, white protrusion, growing on the bark. It has been described as looking like porridge or a type of pastry. When disturbed, the plant is capable of bursting the bumps on it, exuding a thick, red fluid with the consistency and iron scent of blood.

Although it requires trees to survive, it does not harm them, instead it gains the tree’s natural bark, incorporating it into its own structure, while using pheromones to cause creatures to come up to it and touch it. If such a creature is killed while doing so, the corpse will remain on the ground, and the organic components released during its decomposition will feed the tree.

If a creature proves to be immune to the compulsion and somehow manages to avoid the blood acid, the fungus is fully capable of creating a pair of pseudo-pods in which to attack targets.  These are melee attacks, and anyone struck by the pods automatically suffer the effects of the blood acid (above)

This fungus reproduces much in the same manner as all other types of fungus – it produces spoors. When the fungus is killed, it will burst open, releasing a cloud of spoors into the area. Other than coating everything in a thin red film, this fungus is harmless. The spoors will travel on the air currents as well as on other creatures and will eventually fall free and take up a symbiotic relationship with another tree.

The only way to prevent this from occurring is to destroy the fungus with fire, which will prevent the spoors from spreading upon its death.

Starfinder Creature Index

Chris Van Deelen is the creator and contributor to over half of the Wisdom from the Wastelands series, contributor to the Swords of Kos: Hekaton anthology, and the recently released 'Swords of Kos: The Rite'. He also wrote Creatures of the Tropical Wastelands, and 100 Oddities found in a Car. As prolific as he is, Chris Van Deelen continues to write and produce material which will be in publication soon. Not only is he a prolific content creator, he also has a wide selection of fiction and stories! If you like his work, please follow his personal author page on Facebook and on Twitter to keep up with his latest news and game content.