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Jakuta Khan
Senior Scribe
496 Posts |
 Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 11:13:33
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Hi,
Just wondered, mostof the underdark races seem to strongly rely on fungi gardens to sustain bigger communities ( dwarves. drow etc etc.)
So, now I was wondering if there was at any point some information on how many people can be fed or how many kilos of fungi canbe harvested from one acre of fungi garden annually?
and is there evidence of any form of support? fungi growing on waste, on dung just on minerals etc etc.
The only hints I got were in the info about the grodd goblins, and their crow-breeding etc etc.
looking forward to replies here
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Ayrik
Great Reader
Canada
8091 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 15:47:33
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Here's a link to a nutritional analysis for the most common type of edible mushrooms. They seem to be packed full of all sorts of essential vitamins and trace minerals, some proteins and carbs, a high percentage of water. Other types will vary a little, and may also contain some toxins or alkaloids if you choose carelessly; some of these may have recreational, spiritual, or medical applications.
Dwarves are noted for making a fermented alcohol "mead" stuff from fungi - I suspect a secret fungus variety (with hallucinagenic and amphetamine properties) is added to the potent Grog copiously enjoyed by dwarven battleragers ... only the dwarves really know. "Fungus" is really an entire kingdom in itself, some kinds are harder than wood, others are squishy marshmellows, it might grow in tiny bulbs or vast sheets or anything between, the overwhelming majority of fungi are microscopic ... but chances are if it's common and has sufficient mass then somebody will have figured out a way to harvest and prepare it for edible or non-edible consumption. Fungus fibre could be woven into clothing and ropes, fungus shingles could become carvings, fungus paste could be applied to wounds; anything is possible in the Realms. Indeed, shriekers and myconids and other fungal monsters are described.
Mushroom-farming is an exact science, and yields can be very high indeed: they don't require sunlight, they don't require much land area (in fact, increasing their density increases their growth rate), they are harvested every few days or weeks (instead of a few times annually), and subterranean/indoor varieties are in season all year.
[Edit]
Where is this reference to crow-breeding you mention? An awesome idea, though I can't really see it working out well in the Underdark. |
[/Ayrik] |
Edited by - Ayrik on 17 Mar 2012 16:15:06 |
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Eilserus
Master of Realmslore
USA
1446 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 17:52:56
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I can't remember the sources sadly, but I recall mention of drow growing fungi and mushrooms and they grow at an accelerated rate due to the strange radiations in the Underdark. Keep in mind that fungi can be grown on any surface, ground floor, walls and even ceilings, so you can get alot more acreage in there for growing. With fast growth, a farmer probably needs less space to feed a set population. Here's a good example, Donigarten in Menzoberranzan is fairly small and that little bread basket provides for the majority of the city. Ed's been pretty busy lately, but maybe THO would have some notes regarding fungi growth.
Another thought popped in there, drow use the mulched bodies of slaves and possibly commoners for fungus bed growth. This may depend, I've heard commoners being reanimated as zombie shock troops too, so I would suppose it would differ somewhat from community to community. Dung carts are another way they fertilize their growing fields.
If you can, check out the Pathfinder module Endless Night, they have some good stuff in those regarding drow sporecrafting and a bit about how they feed themselves. Nothing concrete in rules, but could give you some good ideas. I like the idea of dark elven weirdo druids being in charge of sporecrafting and food growth, but I also seem to remember they are rare and probably seen as "not of Lolth" per one of Ed's responses a long time ago. Pathfinder isn't Realms stuff, but they do put out alot of good quality work and I tend to borrow shamelessly. ;) Fleshwarping is another favorite from them. |
Edited by - Eilserus on 17 Mar 2012 18:03:14 |
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Jakuta Khan
Senior Scribe
496 Posts |
Posted - 17 Mar 2012 : 23:16:50
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@ayrik, I agree with you regarding the variety of fungi, and that is why i was looking for some guideline of how much fungi-gardens you need to supply an underdark community in raw space.
the crow-breeding is some where in "the swords of the iron legion" i think, it know it is in some referrence adventure about the city of grodd.
the goblins there breed crows and cripple their wings, to avoid them from flying away, and feeding is pretty simple sicne crows cosnume pretty much anything you offer.
will look it up though and give you a ref.
@eliserus: thx also.
fungi offers huge advances compared to crops, since they also can use the third dimension fo rfungi gardens..... |
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Kentinal
Great Reader
4705 Posts |
Posted - 18 Mar 2012 : 02:41:34
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| Alas, there is little to no lore about how quick they grow. What we know is they grow fast enough to provide food for those still living, along with other food sources (rothé for example). |
"Small beings can have small wisdom," the dragon said. "And small wise beings are better than small fools. Listen: Wisdom is caring for afterwards."
"Caring for afterwards ...? Ker repeated this without understanding.
"After action, afterwards," the dragon said. "Choose the afterwards first, then the action. Fools choose action first."
"Judgement" copyright 2003 by Elizabeth Moon |
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Any Canon on Productivity of Fungi Gardens?
