Cerebric FungusSource Alien Archive 2 pg. 27
Cerebric fungi are carnivorous plants, but they are also intelligent interstellar explorers with colonies in many star systems, including the Pact Worlds, where they have carved out homes in corners of Castrovel and the Liavaran moon Nchak. Within the colonies of their isolated home system in the Vast, cerebric fungi debate philosophy and mysticism to perfect their shared understanding of the universe and to outshine the intellectual insights of the other colonies.
In an effort to prove esoteric points on behalf of their home colonies—or to spite other colonies—cerebric fungi enjoy studying creatures less intelligent than themselves. The fungi have been pleased to find suitable subjects on other planets.
Cerebric fungi greet strangers they meet with telepathic questions that might seem inane or even senseless. The fungi have difficulty comprehending the needs and concerns of non-fungoid creatures and easily distress others with experiments meant not to harm but rather to test pet theories.
With millennia of starflight and space exploration informing their culture, cerebric fungi can offer information that other civilizations would otherwise have little chance of learning. However, it often takes much time, patience, and psychic fortitude for other creatures to interpret a cerebric fungus’s insights, as elements other creatures might consider necessary context, the fungus considers obvious or irrelevant. The typical cerebric fungus is approximately 4 feet in diameter and weighs 150 pounds. Fungal Computers Cerebric fungi reproduce by budding. They can also grow specialized buds, removing them before they reach maturity, to produce living computers. By adjusting the timing and chemical mixture of this process, cerebric fungi can create computer modules and countermeasures that can be incorporated into any computer. Cerebric fungi sell their creations to fund further explorations. A fungal computer’s base cost is 10% higher than a normal computer and has the following traits.
Chemosynthesis: A fungal computer can synthesize its own energy from most atmospheres. This functions as a free self-charging upgrade.
Reticulated Spine: A fungal computer has a complex network and a fibrous core that can’t be reduced in size. No miniaturization upgrade can be applied to a fungal computer.
Telepathic Interface: A fungal computer has only a telepathic user interface (see the upgrade below). A hacking kit can access a fungal computer, but otherwise a typical computer with a complex control module must be purchased separately and installed to provide a digital interface for a fungal computer.Aliens in the "Cerebric Fungus" FamilySource Alien Archive 2 pg. 26Cerebric Fungus CR 3 XP 800
N Medium plant
Init +3; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +8
Aura unsettling appearance (60 ft., DC 14)DefenseHP 26
EAC 13; KAC 14
Fort +4; Ref +2; Will +6
Defensive Abilities fast healing 2, otherworldly mind (DC 14); Immunities plant immunities; Resistances cold 5
Weaknesses vulnerable to sonicOffenseSpeed 30 ft.
Melee bite +7 (1d4+4 P) or tendril +7 (1d4+4 S plus grab; critical stunned)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft. (15 ft. with tendrils)
Offensive Abilities star shriek (DC 14)
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 3rd)
3/day—fear (1st level, DC 16), lesser confusion (DC 16)
At will—daze (DC 15), detect thoughts (DC 16)StatisticsSTR +1; DEX +0; CON +2; INT +1; WIS +4; CHA +1
Skills Bluff +13, Diplomacy +13, Stealth +8
Languages telepathy 100 ft.EcologyEnvironment any
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3–12)Special AbilitiesOtherworldly Mind (Ex) Any non-plant creature attempting to read a cerebric fungus’s mind with a divination spell or similar effect must succeed at the listed Will save or be overwhelmed by its alien thoughts. A creature that fails takes 1d6 damage and is confused for 1d3 rounds, and the divination effect immediately ends.
Star Shriek (Ex) Once per day as a full action, a cerebric fungus can unleash a shrill scream in tones that are difficult for minds to process. Each non-plant creature within 30 feet must succeed at the listed Will save or be nauseated for 1 round. This is a sonic, mind-affecting effect.
Unsettling Appearance (Su) A cerebric fungus constantly scans the minds of those around it, projecting around itself a confusing collage of images gleaned from their thoughts. Each creature within 60 feet that can see the fungus must succeed at the listed Will save or be off-target while within the aura’s radius. A creature that succeeds at a save against a cerebric fungus’s unsettling appearance is immune to this effect for 24 hours. This is a mind-affecting effect.
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