"Araumycos," a voice says in yovr mind. You turn
and see a mycon1d sovereign standmg beside you
where there was no one before, recognizing Basidia of
Neverhght Grove. "The largest and greatest bemg of our
world," the myconid says sadly. "All that you see before
you is Araumycos; all th1s and much more. All is in
danger from the corruption that will claim the whole of
the world if you do not help us."Although myconids can normally use their rapport
spores only over short distances. Basidia explains
that Zuggtmoy has been spreading her own spores
throughout the Underdark, channeling faerzress.
By tapping into this growing presence. the myconid
sovereign can rnpport over great distances to ask the
characters for their help.
Zuggtmoy, the demon queen who has corrupted
the myconids, h:ts made her intentions clear. She is
leading her new followers to the vast cavern complex
occupied by Araumycos, the largest life-form in the
Underdark and perhaps in a lithe world. There, the
two will be bonded in a demonic ceremony, giving
Zuggrmoy dominion over a fungal kingdom larger and
greater than any surface-world realm. To that end, she
and her followers have been performing ri£Uals and
releasing spores to lull the great Araumycos into a kind
of charmed sleep. The full implications are unclear
to Basidia and the myconids. but as Araumycos is the
oldest and most powerful being known to them. they
greatly fear what Zuggtmoy's corruption of it will bring.
Fortunately, there is hope. Basidia believes it can
assist in creating a rapport between the adventurers and
Araumycos's vast. sleeping mind. The characters can
help to awaken it and aid its struggle against the demon
queen's inAuencc. Or, if there's no other choice, they
can destroy Araumycos before Zuggtmoy can claim the
great creature as her own.
Tf Stool or Rumpadump have met the characters
and are still alive, they join the rapport between
Basidia and the characters, offering rheir support and
encouragement as they implore the adventurers to
intervene. If the characters saw the hideous Garden of
Welcome in Nrverlight Grove- or. worse yet, glimpsed
the horrors ofYggmorgus the myconids remind them
that the whole world might become like that if Zuggtmoy
unites Araumycos's power with her own.
Basidia proposes that the characters travel quickly
to Araumycos. where the myconid sovereign will
temporarily immunize them against the effects of the
demon-tainted spores released by myconids under
Zuggtmoy's influence. Basidia will then initiate a
rapport with Araumycos while Zuggtmoy and her
followers are preoccupied with the wedding ceremony.
Basidia and its followers can meet the adventurers
within Araumycos's vast cavern complex. The sovereign
is too closely watched to slip away and meet them
before that, and it recommends that the characters
avoid contact with other myconids on their travels.
Basidia can use the extended rapport link to fix on the
characters' location, and promises to find them when
they are near the center of Araumycos. The vision
then ends.MYCONID MARCH
Shortly after the party receives Basidia's vision and
warning. myconids and fungal creatures throughout
the Underdark fall under the inAuence of Zuggtmoy's
spreading spores. making a slow and steady march
toward Araumycos. their "queen's betrothed.''
Thousands are on the move. and the procession has a
bizarrely festive air, the fungi capering, dancing. and
skipping as they celebrate the impending nuptials.
That behavior alone is alarming enough. However,
under the demon quecn's influence, the myconids
and other fungi release clouds of spores as they
move through the tunnels of the Underdark. Strange
perfumes and scents fill the air. The marching myconids
sow chaos as they move through the Underdark. passing
around the Darklakc. Other intelligent Underdark
creatures give the procession a wide berth.
Characters making their way toward Araumycos can
avoid much of the risk by following Basidia's advice and
staying away from the myconid march. lf not. they run
the risk of falling under Zuggtmoy's sway (see ''Random
Encounters'' in this chaptc>r).UNINVITED GUESTS
The fungi of the Underdark aren't the only ones on the
move.juiblex the Faceless Lord has caught wind of
its rival Zuggtmoy's intentions and mobilized an army
of oozes now making its way toward Araumycos. The
demon lord wants to slow Zuggtmoy's progress toward
her goal. More importantly, though,Juiblex seeks the
opportunity to appear at the ceremony, either to thwart
its rival's intentions. take advantage of Araumycos's
vulnerability, or both. Though Araumycos represents
the perfect mate to Zuggtmoy,juiblex sees it only as a
living feast of tremendous proportions.
With both forces on the move. outbreaks of violence
between oozes and fungi become more common.
although the followers of Zuggtmoy outnumber the
Faceless Lord's creatures.ARAUMYCOS: GENERAL FEATURES
The domain of Araumycos is a bizarre fungal realm in the
heart of the Underdark.
Light. Araumycos's tunnels and caverns are dimly lit by
phosphorescent fungi.
Terrain. Fungal life fills the caverns and passageways
in the region, with visitors literally walking upon and
within Araumycos upon entering its domain. The Aoor is
carpeted with thick mold and fungus, creating patches of
difficult terrain throughout. In some tunnels and caves,
fungi growths obstruct pass;~ge. Characters either have
to climb or hack the1r way through the fungal growth. In
other places, the fungus covering the floor is soft enough
that characters can smk mto 1t with no warning. Use the
quicksand rules in chapter 5, "Adventure Environments,ff
of the Dungeon Master's Guide for such areas. Creatures
that fail to escape become food for Araumycos.