Mushrooms grow from a root like material they create called mycelium. Mycelia create a naturally formed neural network, meaning a net like structure where all the parts connect to the other parts. Mycelia in fungus functions to communicate with itself using electrical pulses just like our minds do, but it can do even more including transporting water to other parts of the large network. These networks grow unseen underground and can be huge - so huge in fact that it is considered to be the largest living organism on Earth. One Mycelia is 3.5 square miles (or 9 kilometers) in size found in the Malheur National Forest where it has likely been growing for over 10,000 years.

While most plants of the Isles function exactly as their North American cousins do, mushrooms are an exception. Mushrooms found here are occasionally like their North American cousins...existing as part of the vital lifecycle of decomposition...however many do far more than just that. The Isles impacts the growth of mushrooms specifically causing a series of magical seeming side effects that those on the Isles use as a part of their daily lives and engineering. The mycelium on the Isles has a much stronger connection than what we find here on Earth, which allows mushrooms through the isles to transport far more than just electrical impulses or water. Rather it can connect and exchange nearly any substance. This page lists just a few of the ways that connection may be used in the Isles, but there are many more to be discovered.

Hot and Cold Exchange

The Morel Swamp to the south is a hot muggy place while the northern Crescent Mountain range is cold and topped with expansive glaciers that feed the Luna Valley River. These extreme weather changes within the relatively small landmass of the Isles is in part caused by mushrooms that exchange heat. Mushrooms output cold in the mountain peaks taken from the swamp, while the swamp counterparts output heat that is in the mountains. This transfer network is used by the Isles in more sophisticated ways due to the recent research by the Mystveil Academy.

Considered a wonder of the Isles - the Crescent Mountain Grand Park of Cove City is found on a small hill with hundreds of these small cold output mushrooms that allows the parks to create and maintain fresh snow year round. An innovative version of these two mushrooms has been placed into a portable netting to create the latest tech in Cove City - a hot air balloon. The cold mushrooms are also used for basic things such as refrigeration of a cellar, and hot mushrooms are often planted in the homes of those who live in the colder areas of the valley to keep cozy year round.

Air Exchange

Some mushrooms function almost like breathing - air goes in from one mushroom and then is outputted from another. This fun feature is used for a great many important technologies such as creating vacuum like chambers for food and medicine preservation and to create "bounce pads" caused by forcing bursts of air under a strong platform.

Sound Exchange

Well how did you think they listened to all that cool music? Mushrooms have been used to create the equivalent of a phone network as well as a form of radio. Many of the best radio stations broadcast from the ultimate party life of the Shadow Moss Caves.

Size Exchange

Some mushrooms can exchange size. Cove City utilizes this often, growing these mushrooms as rapidly as possible with fertilizers and more to create rising elevator like platforms - while one goes up the other goes down!