Swamp Folk

Swamp folk are a rare and unique species: they are fungal humanoids. Seemingly further removed from humans than any other humanoid, swamp folk are nonetheless intelligent, civilised, and capable creatures.

Habitat

As their name suggests, swamp folk live in swamps. They often favour swampy caverns, for the homelike quality the more closed space affords them. However, they have only been spotted on the surface. A large clan of them is reported to exist on Morrow's Isle, with smaller bands scattered around the Isle, most notably underneath Zaskiva city, within the city sewer system.

Physical Traits

Swamp folk have muscular bodies with a thick, green skin; the other distinguishing feature being their arms. At the end of each arm, instead of a hand, they have long strands of stringy, vine-like and versatile appendages. When scavenging for food, swamp folk drag their appendages behind while traversing the marshes, snaring small animals and plants as potential edibles. The strand-like appendages can also be used to grip and manipulate tools and other objects with fair dexterity. It is also notable that the strands secrete a weak acid. Hence the swamp folks' appendages can turn from food-snares or tool-arms to vicious, stinging whips for combat or chasing prey.

Society and Behavior

Although they can be fierce predators, swamp folk often set up crude farms, using compost to cultivate toadstools in their caves. They also use compost as beds. Indeed, they are territorial creatures, but they are not aggressive. They have never been known to attack humans, unless their homes have been violated.

Swamp folk are also capable of speech. Their voices are high and extremely shrill. No attempts have been made to translate between their language and any language spoken by humans. They are also religious. Little is known about their beliefs, but they have been observed to create altars. Some individuals have been observed to wield shamanistic magic, such as summoning aid. The swamp folk use their acidic secretions to etch the stone - in other words, they have mastered at least a rudimentary level of writing.