NebulaWorm
Just a grumpy, hungry, and smol Shrumlin
Pica
Art by @brygorg
Characteristics -
They are not very large by comparison, they are quite small, about the size of a large rodent. They vary in height as well given on their environment and surroundings. Most Shrumlins have a “hat” that is largely distinguished as a mushroom, very rarely will it distinguish a flower. This provides them with immense coverage in their surroundings as other animals just see them as foliage. Their bodies will be covered in fur expect for the face, arms, and legs which are left bare and mostly humanoid. Their face shape can vary along with color and their teeth. Either they are omnivores or carnivores, blunt or sharp teeth with about a mouth full of them. Shrumlins are lined with defense that determines on which mushroom they originated from and most have claws to defend themselves with.
Ecology/Behavior -
Shrumlins are supposedly very aggressive and sneaky. They are very greedy as well, as they like to steal objects and trinkets from anyone that they come across. They are diurnal which means they are most active during the morning and night. During the day they usually sunbathe to gather strength. Socially, Shrumlins can live with about two other Shrumlins, they have to be the same size or else a Shrumlin might try and devour the smaller one, before competition sets in, a small little pack but anything bigger than that it becomes a hostile very quick and usually leaves one Shrumlin ripped to pieces and used as lunch for the other winners. They are very social with each other, very protective of their small group. They communicate with a serious of grumbled language, clicking, screeching, and banging on objects. They do not stay in one place, they are nomads and prefer to keep moving.
Diet and Hunting -
They are omnivores or carnivores given which set of teeth they develop in their younger stages. They eat small insects, dirt, plants, small animals, birds, basically anything that they prefer or like. In rare cases they will just eat anything they come across, doesn’t matter if it’s a piece of metal or feces. They have tactics when they hunt, mostly hiding out and ambushing their prey but it varies for each Shrumlin. They are very good at hiding and sneak attacking their prey. If there is no prey near them they will move on to another spot.
Reproduction -
A bonding may occur between Shrumlins but they don’t have any distinct genitalia. Their mushroom hats will unleash a set of spores and once combining them together. After the spores have interacted to sustain the species then they get territorial or they might eat the young that is not from their shroom. They leave the newly fertilized spores to grow on their own and it only takes about two weeks for a sprout to grow and develop soon into a Shrumlin. A bonding doesn’t take place often because of hostility and other groups but once it does, baby sproutlets will vary on their environment and usually stick to an area for a few days before moving on.
Distribution/Habitat -
Shrumlins can be placed anywhere they are deemed fit to survive. Each Shrumlin has their own ability but most prefer a damp forestry area but can survive in a dry heated climate under the right surroundings. They can also survive in water as well. They interact with others very well, given that they have to be the same size in order to get along. Usually in small packs of two or three and nest together often. Very unlikely will a small Shrumlin pair up with a larger Shrumlin. Rare cases it’s their offspring that have somehow found them but most likely they would be killed.
Traits/Appearances -
Rare- Things that can happen but are very rare are two “hats” from one Shrumlin
- Multicolored eyes (Mostly they have one tone eye sockets)
- Hairless (It happens)
- Becoming either larger than normal or shorter
- Having a strange blend of two mush hats crossed together
- Luminescent
- Flowers instead of mushroom
Common- They are based on their Mushroom hat appearance and their environment that they are surrounded in.
- Fur can vary in color but it’s more on the duller side to blend in
- Ears can either be up, sideways, or down
- Teeth are either sharp or blunt
- Skin tone is an off color of the fur
- Limbs resemble humanoid figure
- Vary hat sizes
Abilities/Attributes -
- Every Shrumlin as their own abilities yes, but they are weakened by immense power of mana
- They are very flexible and can twist and fold themselves up in small places
- They have the intelligence of a ten year old
- Even though they are small, they can lift 2x the size of their own body mass
- When scared they puff up and start to screech (Instinct)
- Shrumlins have sharpened claws to dig and climb/grip objects