Mimi

I laughed a little at his statement, "Me first? Are you certain?" I grinned down at him.

He held up his hands, smiling back, "What can I say? I'm a little rusty."

I shook my head, "A little rusty? It hasn't been that long since you fought in the Arena." I started walking towards the entrance, before Richard rushed ahead of me.

He grinned at me, "I changed my mind, I'll go first." I stopped, not quite understanding what he was getting at by being difficult, but nodded. He walked over to the abandoned warehouse, the wood darkened. The stone covered in a black stone substance that didn't seem to be fungus or monster blood. Richard walked to the door, his fire flaring from his arms to the sealed doorway.

I could see that the fungus itself had grown into the cracks, keeping the entire warehouse sealed. The second we broke it, the spores would spread at a dangerous pace. I moved closer, about to say something, when Richard put his fingers along the edges of the door. I watched as he moved fire through the crack, adding just enough force to burn through the fungus within. His eyes went wide, "You're lucky you don't need a lantern."

I moved behind him, watching as he controlled the fire. I could sense it on the other side, flickering and waving as it burnt the spores within. "What do you mean?"

Richard smirked, "Well, dust is very flammable and there's a lot of spores kind of like that. If you had any exposed flames, or even a spark, the place would have probably exploded. I'm just barely able to keep the flame from doing that, actually." He fed more of his fire into the room, his brow starting to sweat as he released a small bit of flame further down the crack. He burnt the fungus along the edges, mainly releasing the fire in his arms to prove his point.

"I've seen a lot of memories, Richard. Why is it, that I do not know this? We both read Oswald's journal, if that was the way the world worked, how am I just finding this out now?" I crossed my arms.

Richard shrugged, "A lot of alchemists know about it, but regular people don't. I think miners know about it as well, maybe even farmers. Though people tend to stick with what's important to them. What kind of memories do you have Mimi?"

I could sense he was mainly trying to filter his fire through the room, creating a sort of circulation that brought more spores through his flames while burning what passed through his fire. He was cleansing the room, while looking at me with a warm smile. I looked away, "Slavers, pedophiles, murderers, and rapists mainly. I know quite a bit about torture, and how much a person's body can take. Then there are few the slave memories, and most recently Mother Oak."

Richard's eye twitched, "You didn't..."

I looked back at him, shaking my head. "I don't have to kill others to gain their memories Richard. In fact, if they die, then I cannot take such. The wood elf was very helpful with a few ideas you've shown me."

Richard relaxed, "Well if you say you didn't hurt her, then I'll trust you." He stretched his legs a little, "It might be a while, but I should have the room cleared in maybe ten minutes. How bad is it in there anyway, you mentioned breathers?"

I began pulling silk from my mouth, working the strands together to form a kind of healer mask. One that should hopefully keep stray spores from his mouth and nose. "Yes, where there is one, there must be more. I saw lumbering creatures before I teleported away. It was hard to see with all the spores, but I felt a connection."

Richard watched me work, "Damn you're beautiful." He caught me off guard, making me look away, before he continued. "What kind of connection exactly? There isn't a lot I know about prismoids, but Oswald's journal went on about how they vary wildly based on the things they infect. That every colony had different variants, and it was useless to identify anything beyond general classes."

I bit the silk, finishing the face mask and offering it to him. He smiled, taking it before putting it on. "You thought they would be in the monster manual? The Guard has very little information on the subject; simply stating that the person finding any fungus that moves should report it to their superiors immediately. They don't care which version it is."

The fungus on the door burnt to a crisp while Richard put his hand on the handle. He rolled his eyes, "So, we're fight something we don't know much about. Mimi, by all rights we should just report this damn thing and leave it alone."

I frowned a little, "You want to help me grow stronger, do you not?"

Richard shook his head, "I do, I really do." He pressed on the handle, opening the door, while his fire spread along the walls of the room. The spores in the air cleansed, while another door stood in our way, leading into the main part of the warehouse, and considerably more spores. I noticed the top layer of the fungus was charred as we entered, embers slowly burning into the layers beneath. "I'm going to burn through as much as I can on the other side."

I closed the door behind us, watching as he worked his magic to reseal the door going outside. It was clear he was going to clear the spores as well as he could before continuing. The slow burn of the fungus on the walls a means to refill his fire in case he needs to join me in the open space ahead. The monsters inside were starting to move and lumber around. They felt something was wrong, that their spores were being destroyed.

|Kill|

I raised a brow at the command, a connection established with the thing leading these monsters. A single command, sent like a pulse, and gone just as quickly. A smile tugged on my lips, as I began thinking of the potential that was there if I could talk to the creatures here. I placed a hand on Richard's shoulder, "They're coming. I need to open the door before they break through the walls. Can you make a wall of fire and keep the spores from coming out?"

Richard nodded, a wave of fire moving around the door frame as he started to sweat. "I can't hold it for long, are you running through the fire, or teleporting in?" His voice was low and strained. "Don't die in there Mimi. Teleport away if you need to, and I'll get out myself."

I put my hand on the handle, licking my lips at the fight in front of me. "Who do you think you're talking to, Richard?" He laughed a little, while I pushed the door open. Fire slid into the space, while I teleported through the small crack. I closed the door behind me to let Richard regain some of his focus. The room was still filled with spores floating about, but Richard was certainly making an impact.

I looked about the warehouse, seeing those dark figures lumbering to the railing. Some of them sleek, gaining more fluid movement as they arrived. Others large and bulky, groaning loudly as spores came from their breath. All of them covered in different types of fungus, all of them no longer the people or creatures they once were. Their heads replaced with fungus stalks that wrapped together like tendrils. The tips glowing in different colors, as they used magic to perceive their surroundings. I grinned at them, as a few fell from the railing above. Others coming out of the rooms on this level.

There were ten on the ground, with more filtering from the rooms around us. None of them making a move to attack me, instead shambling towards the door Richard was behind. I grabbed the fastest one by the neck, tearing into its chest with my claws. The thing lashing out for a second, before even its arms were torn off. I tossed the corpse at one of the lumbering creatures, roughly the same size as myself, with a lot more bulk. It turned towards me, putting huge arms in front of itself like a shield.

I lunged at it, grabbing onto the arms where I could, trying to tear away the naturally formed shield. To my surprise it gave a little, before a massive amount of spores burst out of it. The room filled with even more of them, the burning sensation returning. I stepped back, closing my eyes, as I struggled to breathe again. The lumbering zombie lunged at me, but was far too slow. I could hear it coming, before a kick split its torso in half. The wet sensation running from my knee down.

|"Intruder! Kill!|

I felt the pulse again, all the shambling prismoids turning their attention towards me. The room filling with more spores, as the bulky creature laid on the ground unmoving, a slight hissing sound escaping from it. I moved forward, barely able to hear the others in the room. The spores burning at my ears. Even my magic sense was becoming subdued. Something caustic hit me in the chest, as I felt my next victim. I ripped the elongated arms from them, severing their head, as more of the musk filled my nose and lungs. These creatures couldn't hurt me physically, but these spores were a problem.

Symbiosis washed over me, as I stung myself to heal. The burning intensified, as I felt something growing. My eyes felt like they were melting, my lungs dissolving and reforming. New unfamiliar senses coming into my mind, as I felt a connection with creatures around me. Something was wrong, but I couldn't teleport away. I couldn't leave Richard here to face these creatures. I felt cornered, as the prismoids surrounded me. I could feel their simple intentions as they were ordered to tear my body into pieces. My wings too strong for them to tear into, my chitin too hard to breach.

|"DIE!!!|

The suggestion was much louder this time, the foreign voice rocking through me, only sending out a simple command. I felt my connection to the Hive waning, before they reached out to me. My body was compromised, the order sent out for Giants and others to come closer to the warehouse. My connection to them needed to be stronger. The prismoids... my kin started to surround me. Their bodies falling on top of myself. They couldn't breach the defenses of a defective body, so they would drown it in their wonderful spores. I just needed to find the source of those commands, I needed to send my own information to them.

I felt so many spores burning, as my combat form was donned. The elastic chitin molding as I felt new extensions and adjusted around them. My kin were not multiple minds, but all following orders coming from the leader. It began accepting everything I could offer it, as a connection was established beyond a mere pulse. All our kin focused on reforming a defective body in our leader's eyes. The intruder would be dealt with in time. Just like the false king, trying to steal from me.

Richard Adams

It had been a few minutes since Mimi went in, the sounds of combat stopped. I couldn't see anything past the door; but she was either waiting for me, or she teleported away and will be coming back soon. I just needed to focus on getting rid of those spores, there felt like more and more were coming. It was taxing to keep the flames from spreading out to all of them. Trying to control the airflow caused by them burning. A sort of circulation that added more fuel to the fire.

I took a deep breath, glad for the mask Mimi gave, while it was ultimately useless. I smiled, just happy she thought about giving me as much protection as she could. Slowly but surely I would burn every last spore. A knock came from the door, probably Mimi coming back in for another round. I made certain there wasn't any spores in the room with a small burst in all directions. A new layer of char adding to the wall, while I felt more focus coming back to me. The whole process easier. I moved the seal as the door opened.

I heard a warm and teasing voice behind me, though it sounded a bit worried this time. "Hey, we need to get out." I turned around to find Argus standing there in her orange robes, her blue and orange eyes staring back at me. I raised a brow, while she fidgeted a little. A loud thump coming from the wall with the spores. "The Queen ran into a bit of trouble. We're surrounding this place with giants and burning the air around the build to make sure nothing escapes."

I looked at where I heard the thump, the wall starting to crack. Argus grabbing my shoulder, "What kind of trouble?" A sense of dread started to wash over me, as another thump slammed into the wall. More starting to come on different parts, as I stood there, uncertain as to what was going on. I let the fire crawl on the floor back to me, while moving flames to the new wooden cracks.

Argus summoned a ball of fire in her hand, letting it join the fire on my arm as I converted it into my own. "Something bad, and she asked me to make sure you were somewhere safe while she works on it. You know I can't carry you, this body isn't strong physically."

I looked at Argus, seeing the pleading look in her eyes. The slight bit of uncertainty as she looked at me and to the wall with each thump. I balled my fist, watching the door as something started banging on it. The hinges coming loose from the rotted wood. The door falling towards us, as a prismoid stepped inside. My voice was low, "Is Mimi still in there?"

Argus took a step back, while I blasted fire at the creature. I could feel my fire burning through its skin, the thing threatening to explode from the inside out, but I was controlling it. A wall of fire forming as I severed my arm from the shoulder. I grabbed the limb, throwing it at the creature. A small explosion as my flames engulfed it, turning it to ash. More were coming through the now open door, most of them forgetting to attack the walls. I looked back at Argus, "Well?"

She swallowed hard, "We're supposed to protect you. The Queen's body isn't important, and she will get a new one. Our Queen is still with us, eating away at the thing trying to control her body..."

I let out a deep breath, another prismoid walking through the wall of fire, its body burning on the outside while I focused on keeping it from exploding. My teeth grinding from the frustration, and focus. "I'm going to wait right here Argus. You do what you have to, and I'll buy you time to do it. I'm going to keep these things here, because we can't allow any of the spores to get out. Do you understand?"

"You aren't my Queen, and I already have giants coming in. I was told to get you out of here." She crossed her arms, doing her best to look intimidating.

I shook my head, still putting as much focus as I could on the prismoids creeping out. Their bodies combusting from the fire, adding to it while I burned the spores as quickly as I could. I knew I was being stubborn, and unreasonable. Argus tried to wrap her arms around me, knowing she couldn't just grab an arm. Still that body was Mimi's, and she needed it. I wasn't going to let her make more if I could help it. I couldn't let her lose herself like this.

Argus dragged me a couple centimeters, before I leaned forward. Her body really wasn't strong, "Argus, I'm staying here. If you don't stop I will let the place explode."

She let go of me, jumping back. It was endearing to see how both her and Gray couldn't handle bluffs. Always treating such statements as a potential fact. Never calling me out on it. She glared at me, probably telling Mimi about it. She finally looked down, before kicking my shin. "Asshole." She ran out of the room, while I focused on the fire in front of me. Mimi was going to be upset at not being able to eat all of this, but she messed up. If anything, she would learn not to run into something with as much confidence.

There was no way Mimi would lose here, and she wouldn't let her body die. She might be nervous, but I know she'll come through. If something changed, Argus will tell me. I will be here when she needs me to help her. I set my mask on fire, ready to dive in if nothing changed in the next ten minutes. I could see Argus standing at the edge of the door, a big frown on her face. She'll tell me if anything changes. More and more of the prismoids filtered out, even the huge ones unable to fit through the doorway were burning up one at a time. They weren't bright, but that was for the best.

Oswald's Journal: Myconids and Prismoids

The Myconids are a race of fungus folk that inhabit every kingdom save for the North. They are either above ground working in small tribes within the dense shade of ancient trees, or living among the tunnels of the Underneath. Their aggression to other species varies based on the climate, and their resources. Myconids have very defined functions within their own tribes compared to the prismoids. Their biology does vary widely, adapting with great speed to whatever they need.

It is important to understand that the myconids do not need the bodies of beasts or people to reproduce. They create a sort of compost that is filled with their spores, that will grow their species based on the composition and the dimensions of the compost. As such a thing decays, the spores within will sprout. If nurtured properly, it will become the heart of whatever myconid the structure allowed. Such things are unknown to the other races for obvious reason. Though the race itself is likely more in line with the beast tribes birthed by elves.

Prismoids are not myconids, nor are they myconids that have turned into monsters. Instead Prismoids are a separate race entirely, made of fungus that has festered on black blood to the point it can feed off it. In low concentrations Prismoids are essential to the stability of Xentos or the many ecosystems within. They break down monster blood into components that plants and other creatures can feed on.

The typical Prismoid colony has a lifespan of around two to three weeks depending on the size of the monster being broken down. These colonies are to be marked and the Guard informed about such. Samples are to be taken and preserved for a controlled decomposition of slain monsters in case the bodies themselves linger. Due to the different strains of Prismoids out there, this is considered the ideal variant. It is marked as a level one threat, and merely observed.

An atypical Prismoid colony is any that does not follow the above. Much like how there are countless strains of mushrooms out in the wild, there are many different types of Prismoid, but the general rule is to observe unless there is movement. Marked colonies that are left alone, and gone the next day are to be immediately reported. In most cases of an atypical colony, they will head West until the body can no longer move. The black blood and monster population of Dark Fell calling to them on an instinctual level. If a colony moves, and is discovered moving West, it is marked as a level one threat.

If the same colony moves in any other direction it is marked as a level two threat. A herald will be dispatched to follow its movements, as they are observed. Oracles, scryers, or even soothsayers may be hired if the heralds are thinned, but these colonies tend to be very capable training exercises. These colonies are typically not hostile, and will only explode into a cloud of spores if sufficiently damaged. It is advised that hostile colonies are to destroyed through burning, or freezing. In most cases the path of these colonies will form a straight line to a myconid tribe, and it is theorized that they are called by such a tribe somehow.

A level three threat occurs whenever different colonies converge. This often results in the spores mixing, and evolving into a new type of prismoid. It may take days for such to develop, but in such an event the herald is to destroy both while gathering samples to be studied in a safer environment. If the herald failed to keep track of the colony, or was unable to destroy such, then it is expected to seek the Underneath. If a colony makes it into one of the many tunnels or ravines that lead to such, then it is to be reported to a more experienced herald.

A level four threat occurs whenever the prismoid fungus starts to infect living monsters, or other creatures. This typically means that a sort of true prismoid has formed. A monster fungus that seeks to devour and fuel its growth. The king typically knows about this sort well in advance, with heralds dispatched to destroy the strains that would have formed such. The ones that are unknown, are usually formed in the Underneath and dealt with accordingly when such can be helped as they breach the surface. A level four threat is on par with a youngest banshee arriving within the city walls. It will be dealt with quickly and efficiently, and a few citizens are to be informed about how to identify signs pointing to such a threat.

Once a true prismoid is formed, it will be capable of controlling spores. They are typically large creatures similar in size to a fiend. It is not many different spores acting like a hive mind, but instead a singular mind controlling and processing information from all of the spores it controls. True prismoids will be able to enact a sort of domination similar to older vampires upon their younger kin, and weak willed individuals. The issue of course is that the prismoid itself is doing such through its spores. They will rot the brain from the inside, forcing the fungus to rapidly grow and develop inside any host it can.

It is pointless to identify specific types of carriers within the prismoid's range of control. Bodies will be thrown together, and flesh altered in accordance to the Prismoid's will. There is no real known limit to what such a monster can create, only limited by its own experiences and ideas should enough time pass. True prismoids have been reported to have carriers that are capable of magic, forming blades made of fungus sharp enough to cut through steel, and even suicidal carriers that explode.

The true prismoid can rise in threat level depending on its experience, and the carriers it can produce. For the sake of simplicity prismoids and carriers are interchangeable, so that the population can report them more efficiently. Such a creature could potentially reach a level five or six for danger. They are easy enough to slay with a talent, or even by someone with good enough magic.