i got some ideas for some of the critters and plant life that could be running around, can go into detail/build upon if you guys like em. ill start from my races space and branch out.
Bio-luminescent Fungi--
Gore fall caps: A large fungi that has much use in the telanth controlled caves, the stalk grows high and along the walls before its crowns into a pot shape, the spores puss inside the pot till they over flow and "bleed" out looking like a sanguine water fall of chunky flesh leaking down to the floor. They give off a scent that would lure creatures to it only to find getting to close or getting any of the spore sludge on you has you recoil in pain as its acid-like effects melt into your body, the spores bloom and root and start to digest their victims. once they die the stalks grows out and latch to a wall starting over. While the spore slime is toxic and parasitic the stalks are very tasty and rich with protein. Glow is based on what they sprout from, can be fed bodies. Reds, oranges, yellows, whites.
Stone Bells: Fungi that takes root into the walls and ceiling consuming both cave spider silks, silk worms and other local life but often do well with just stone rich with minerals. They root out and become hard like wood as time goes on, if grown with care can help enforce tunnels. the fungi is often very old pooling excess minerals and proteins in small sacs that hang out of the root mixing a chemical it can pop to ward off anything that would try to eat or harm it, it glows brightly [still rather dim] The chemical cant kill but leaves a horrid rash and makes you smell god awful. Glow is often greens and purples, blue can be found but is rare.
Fickle Fingers: An odd fungi that feeds off dust in the air via a long hair stalk that pokes out of its chunky base, the hairs have small hooks in them as to latch on to anything brushing along them that then pops out the stalk freeing a cloud of spores leaving the fat base stuck on whatever its going out of. Look like bony fingers reaching out of the wall. Glow changes to a deep red to a white pending on how old it is.
Unpleasant creatures--
Ghost Spider: A blind pure white spider about the size of a small human, four-five feet leg to leg. Uses a powerful sense of smell and silken trip wires/hairs to stalk prey. the spider has the power to jump and will often leap to bite before shuffling away waiting for the victim to die. No nest, hunts. Stays away from the Telanth who one: smell bad to the spider and two: diet of fungus and other cave creatures have made them semi immune to the poison and three: relation between spider and telanth, they command the intellect to remember the smells of others allowing them to be trained and kept as pets. must have eggs harvested before the hatch to be trained. Is very fast but only in short burst
Stone stalker :A massive and very hated spider, makes a nest near the openings of caves and tunnels, its silk is highly prized due to its many uses and natural light diffusing effects. Has no venom but rather a small glowing feather like hair at the ends of its forelegs that it waves around to lure prey to it. Is about 12-16 feet in length , very flat allowing it to make any ol crack or slip a hiding place. horrid fangs that can crush through steel armor and spill digestive fluids into the body as well as a harder than normal exoskeleton. Cant jump but can skuttle side to side very fast. Subject to smells and light, bright lights can daze it, strong scents can dissuade it. has two very large black eyes that peek around the edge of tunnels. Makes a nest and spite its size is rather passive if not a tad curious, does not spin webs outside the use of a home, as such makes use of its eyes. tries to attack from above.
False Song: a lizard that mimics the sounds it hears, it glows brightly when courting. makes sounds that can sound like talking or screams, the earth moving or even a few notes from a song. males are judged by their song and glow as females violently fight each other to play as "queen" picking the most lit and noisy male, once taken they leave and the fighting picks up, females glow some too but are dimmer and tend to be larger. Female False Songs during mating season are highly aggressive while males can give you a nasty whip with their tails should you get to close. is about 2-3 feet long with bigger ones getting 4-5 feet Very fast.
Gleam Eel: a very large, very tasty eel found in the deep and cold waters within the caves. has a nasty bite and thorns in its fin, blisters out a colorful array of lights when they feel threaten or when courting. about 6-12 feet in length and about 5-8 inches thick.
Glitter centipede: apart from its cute name, this large insect can kill you via toxic vomit. it will barf out a mixture of elements its eaten inside the cave that then hardens once expelled encasing its victim in a glassy cage or stuck to a wall/floor. it will start to eat its victim alive spitting out more should they fight back. Very slow process. The vomit is valuable as it can be polished or chipped to make a razor edged blade or arrow tip. hunt in packs. Start out about 1-2 feet and can endlessly grow getting bigger and bigger. Exoskeleton can make a powerful Hallucinogenic drug, meat is unpleasantly squishy but very rich in many vitamins. helps skin look healthy making it popular with woman however its sold under the guise of "Glitter meat" and vague explaining where it comes from when trading with other races.
Plant life--
Whisper vine: A sickly, fleshly vine with a meaty texture and sheen when light shines on it. the plant filters air with a slow lung like pulse inside its vines giving it a gentle "ahhh hooo" sound, very subtle. blooms a slightly sad looking flower with no color but shimmers just so faintly one could miss it, seeds inside give out a tender sweet scent to get other creatures to eat it. is bitter. vines react to being touched.
Weeping Water Willows : A tree that grows near the bodies of water inside the cave, creeping roots clamp down stone as they weave down into the water, is filtered and stored in its leafs that droop down from the jagged branches that wire up and away. the small sacks of water glow and are so rich with vitamins and minerals to just pluck it off the branch and drink it would cause even the robust guts of the telanth to cut and wrench in pain, blindness, exploding backside, discolored skin. When the tree bears fruit the water sacks chime and drain into the fruit that is often stolen away by the creatures in the cave. Very health, very tasty. gives a great boost of energy and side to help fertility and stir the desire. Old men from around the world rejoice.
Maze hat moss : a comfy soft moss that grows atop of rocks smoothing them out with a complex design, growing only on top of them giving the illusion of hats. They grow wide and thick, a healthy grove could hide your feet up to your ankles. when eaten/smoked or when added to incense it relaxes and makes one want to sleep. Should note that the moss is trying to eat you, the sleeping relax effect is in fact a chemical made in reaction to being touched or cut making victims stay still as the moss would slowly take over but is to weak for larger beings. doesn't occur over night so sleeping in it is ok, heheh.
ill think up some overworld stuff later, what do you guys think of these?
