While the creatures of the Mycorzha Isles are rich in diversity and unique influences based on regional aspects or the traditional way of life for that culture, all on the Isles share some familiar parts in their spiritual beliefs. These beliefs are influenced by the way the Isles operate, as the land of Mycorzha is, itself, alive.

This aspect is not fully understood by the people of the Isles, but the consequences of this have created many legends. This, in time, created a unified spiritual belief that some may follow more seriously than others and is also what created the 4 major seasonal holidays. There are two key aspects this plays into that are recurring themes you will find across the Isles:

The Mysts

The Isles are surrounded by a dome like structure of thick mists, much like a rain forest, which allows the isle to be so fertile and grow food so easily. In order to visit the Isles for trade you must safely navigate these, which often cannot be done without help. As a result many shipwrecks have occurred trying to get to the Isles, providing its people with a natural safety barrier that has allowed them to continue to exist in their way of life without harm for many millennia.

There are downsides to this, such as limited sun can prevent the growth of certain fruits and herbs enjoyed locally. Much of this is resolved in the modern day through trading with those who live elsewhere than the Isles, but prior to this it became quite common to pray to the Mysts for good weather for the crops. Depending on yearly weather cycles the Mysts often open up top to allow for more sun during the summer months, but remain in place as a circle surrounding the Isles on the seas.

These aspects created a spiritual connection with the Mysts for everyone on the Isles, with some seeing the Mysts as part of the nature around them and the isles which breathes life itself, some seeing the Mysts as a great protector from those who would commit nefarious deeds, and some still seeing the Mysts as a harsh and indifferent deity that subjects you to its moods and whims without a thought.

In truth some part of all of these beliefs are true, the Mysts are not just what they appear, but an understanding of this is known only to a select few who have managed to survive the harsh north of the Isles where the secrets of the Isles pasts lie buried and hidden within the blight upon the land.

The Isles

The stories of the Isles often discuss how the land is a living and breathing thing. Society revers it with great respect, and to harm the Isles is considered the gravest possible sin. Unlike the Mysts, which are typically seen as a protective blanket and motherly figure, the Isles is treated with an underlying sense of foreboding. The stories are often are told as warnings, describing the land itself almost like a beast which will grow hungry if you do not feed and care for it.

Because of this shared fearful respect of the Isles from birth every creature is taught how to cultivate and care for it, which over time has built their home into a fertile food forest where one can enjoy abundant food from anywhere without difficult farming procedures and labor intensive harvesting seasons. Nearly all bury some of their harvests when they eat from the food forests as a sacrifice to the Isles, either from true spiritual belief, or fearful superstition of what may happen if they don't.

All life must eventually end, and itself return to earth to be consumed by the very mushrooms that run much of Mycorzha. From lights, to fuel, to complex inventions mushrooms are involved in all ways of life on the Isles due to their resilient and somewhat magical aspects they take when grown here. For most this process of decomposition is seen as your journey to the afterlife, and mushrooms on your grave are seen as a sign that the land has deemed you worthy to care for in return for your years of dedication to the care of the Isles.

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In the Isles of Greater Mycorzha, education is woven into the very fabric of daily life, shaped by the values of shared wisdom, experience, and community support. Formal schooling, as we might understand it, is rare, and most islanders never attend a traditional school. Instead, the creatures of the Isles learn through the guidance of their community, embracing a deeply interconnected way of life that fosters organic learning and personal growth.

For the creatures of Mycorzha, education is not limited to classrooms or structured lessons. Knowledge is passed down through generations, shared freely by elders, artisans, and skilled members of the community. There is no rush to learn according to a specific timetable—children and adults alike engage with the world around them in their own time, guided by a passion for discovery and understanding.

From an early age, children are lovingly watched over by the elderly or other members of the community. The elderly, who may no longer be able to engage in the physically demanding tasks of foraging or travel, find great purpose in nurturing the younger generation. They pass down stories, practical skills, and cultural traditions in a way that feels natural and seamless. Through this, children gain a deep connection to their heritage, while also learning through hands-on experience.

Communities on the Isles are tight-knit and diverse, and the way education unfolds can vary from one area to another. Some villages may have dedicated elders who watch over and teach small groups of children, while in others, every adult in the community plays a role in a child’s upbringing. It is not uncommon for a child to learn everything from mushroom foraging to sailing or herbal medicine simply by observing and participating in daily life alongside their mentors.

In Cove City, for example, Nalin is a dedicated park ranger - spending their days teaching children and adults alike about the biomes of Mycorzha through the 7 city parks. Groups are often brought here to learn in a variety of different ways from early lessons in foraging to how to cultivate the local ecosystem to keep the Isles abundant with food and biological resources.

In Luna Valley, Glinda - a retired academic - chooses to home school her two little ones most days, but Soot and Cinder have been known to tag along on adventures with Amani, Indie, Persephone, and Talia where they get to learn even more wonderful things like how to paint, trade, and learn through exploration. All the adults in Luna valley know to look out for Soot and Cinder as they explore, and are often glad to pause and teach the little ones about whatever they may be doing if asked. So far their neighbors have taught them cheese making, how to make a salve to heal cuts, and at least one neighbor taught them how to make fart noises by rubbing two leaves together from a certain plant that annoys Glinda to no end.

Amani grew up within one of the many nomadic communities on the Isles and she spent her younger years with other little ones being told stories by the elderly in her community while they were safely watched in one of the large cloth huts they called home. When she reached her teenage years her passion for the arts was well known in her community, so she was then taught fine arts directly by her beloved mentor and leader in her community, Ostran. These are just a few examples of the many ways the creatures of Mycorzha share knowledge and learning as a way of life.

Given the abundance of natural resources and the supportive nature of the community, there is no pressure to attend universities or formal institutions. Islanders are free to pursue their interests without the need for credentials or competition. For those who do feel a deep desire to dive into specific studies, like those accepted at the prestigious Mystveil Academy, the journey is born from a passion for learning that transcends the need for external validation.

This approach to education, while informal, is rich in depth. Islanders believe that learning is an ongoing, lifelong process, shaped by one’s environment, interests, and interactions. While there is no formal curriculum, children are encouraged to ask questions, pursue their curiosity, and follow their passions, whether that leads them to the arts, trades, or sciences.

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Nearly everyone celebrates the 4 major holidays (Nimmireth, Arda, Faelivrin, and Lumeanar) marking each turn of the season, though often with extra local fan faire.

Nimmireth (Spring)

Nimmireth is often marked by the seeing the first morels sprout from the island. As such they are a commonly used decor for the holiday. As this marks new life most commonly Nimmireth celebrates youth. Many sweets are made to hand to kids, and often this day is a very playful one with adults feeling like a kid again themselves. The blessing of children, as well as the celebration of aging into adulthood, are key aspects of this holiday.

Coming of age ceremonies can vary greatly from culture to culture, but all of them host a key aspect that in order to be considered for adulthood at this ceremony those around you granting passage must be able to speak of ways in which you help your community and the land without being asked. In turn the youth will reply with gratitude and humility at the recognition, and present for themselves how they intend to care for the land as a now adult member of the community. This is done in all kinds of unique ways that reflect their own families, cultures, and personal interests. The community  will then either accept the new adult with a "We welcome you" and adorn them with a crown of mushrooms, or reject the claim and the child will try again the following year (this pretty much doesn't happen, but many chide their teen children with the threat to get them to behave).  

Those with mushroom crowns are often given gifts by their families and even just strangers in the community celebrating the day with fond memories of their own coming of age. Smaller children often color on paper mushroom crowns, with the toddlers arguing with adults that this means they are all grown now and deserve extra special treats just like their older sibling. Those with babies will decorate their bassinets extra special for this holiday, considering them spring blessings from the land itself, using flowers and mushrooms indicative of the mushroom crown they will "one day grow into".

Holiday Colors and Plants

Pastel tones

Morels

light green fresh twigs

columbines

foxglove

new jersey tea

spring beauty

Arda (Summer)

For those who live nomadically on the island Arda marks the start of the great trade meets. Dancing, music, and feasts with huge crowds of people begin, often lasting for days at a time. Because of how many participate in these trades Arda became associated with trading itself. Many on the islands cherish tea and herbal blends, and so in many ways Arda is one giant tea festival. Tea leaves are carved into decor throughout, and many give custom tea blends as personal presents to friends and family featuring berries, flowers, and all kinds of things they may have found that season as they traveled. This also invites people to share stories with one another of how their year went, and bond as a community.

Because the trade meet always ended with cleaning up camp together even those celebrating in the city end their Arda holiday by gathering up any "trash" (all natural of course) made from the holiday, building an offering circle, and burning it in a bonfire. These burn scars often spore many delicious mushrooms the following year and it is seen as the blessing of the land.

Holiday Colors and Plants

Bright colors

Faelivrin (Fall)

The opposite to Nimmireth, Faelivrin celebrates the elderly and the past ancestors of the community. This is the time when the mushrooms are most abundant, essential to everyone's way of life. The growth of the mushrooms is attributed in part to the wisdom and guidance of those who came before you. Because fall also marks the rainy season it comes with a return of the natural fog and cloud cover that covers the island. The protective Mysts allow the mushrooms to once again sprout from the earth in abundance. This is attributed to peoples ancestors who have safely passed the journey through the Isles (the guardian of the afterlife), protected by the Mysts to become mushrooms themselves.

Most celebrate fall with large offerings of plentiful food and mushrooms adorned with photos of lost loved ones. It is traditional to gather for stories from the elderly in the community, and often people celebrate the day before the stories at nightfall by helping the elderly in the community with any chores that would now be difficult at their age such as packing their cloth home for traveling or processing their foraged harvest. This serves the dual purpose of helping elderly community members who may be too stubborn to accept help be able to embrace the assistance without shame or feeling as though they can no longer contribute.

Decor is much like any autumn festival and is filled with fall leaves and bright squash.

Holiday Colors and Plants

Oranges, reds, yellows

Lumeanar (Winter)

Lumeanar is named in part because the holiday surrounds aspects of the White Plateau to the North. The Land that is said to be as bright as the moon itself and stuck in a permanent winter where nothing can grow. Every year when the land falls into the longest night it is said that the spirit of the frostfire forest visits covering the land in darkness. This was rather terrifying sounding for young ones, so quickly as part of the tradition creatures began to integrate bioluminescent mushrooms for colorful lights, saying that no matter how barren the land gets you can always find life on the island if you look for the lights which are harvested in the north.

To "combat" the spirit of the frostfire forest it is believed you must recreate the Arda spirit and bring around the longest day. Many choose to travel for the holidays to see close loved ones, exchange teas and gifts, and burn fires to stay warm and serve as mini Arda bonfires. Gifts are usually wrapped, to represent the covering of the night which is said to blind you to any gifts that come from the land (and since everything comes from the land, it all gets wrapped!). Lots of people decorate nearby trees, their dwellings, or their flower pots with strings of bright red winter berries to reflect the abundance of berries during Arda.

Despite its dark sounding origins due to the colorful lights and warm memories together for many it is their favorite holiday, and it is particularly fun to adorn things in bright Arda colors during the grey of Lumeaner, so many create great colorful decorations, and maybe take it a little too far with the gifts on occasion.

Holiday Colors and Plants

red, green, blue

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Many of the plants utilized by those of Mycorzha are found among the food forests they cultivate across the land creating bountiful ecosystems that support each plant. The plants that grow in Mycorzha are nearly all North American natives that you can find in your own backyard! These plants are no different in the Isles of Mycorzha, growing in similar environments and supporting biodiversity that once existed thorough all of the continent prior to European contact. European contact came with the destruction of the forests cultivated by Native Americans through settlement, introduction of invasive species, and often intentional destruction brought on by anger.

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!

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Due to the rainforest-like nature of Mycorzha you cannot see too far into the horizon on its ocean shores. Eventually it fades into a fog
like shroud, which is locally referred to as “The Mysts”. Travelers to Mycorzha, often seasonal traders who specialize in locally prized crops or exotic spices, are referred to as having come from “Beyond the Mysts” or "Beyonders" by the locals regardless of their place of origin.

While some from Mycorzha also travel the oceans for trade or the occasional vacation, travel (like everything here) can take a long time. All travel across the oceans is done through wind power (no electric motors), and so it relies heavily on the present weather. This is because when passing through the Mysts and into Beyond (or from Beyond into the Mysts) if motors are running the ship will always mysteriously sink, resulting in a rim around the Isles of shipwrecks as far as the eye can see. Some of these shipwrecks are also war ships even without running motors - which broke down immediately upon arrival.

The Mysts are not fully understood, but they function somewhat like a portal for those who can sail past them. This connects Mycorzha to all kinds of realms. Traders are kind and well thought of, many revisiting year after year to the delight of their local friends. On rare occasions individuals from Mycorzha have been know to permanently relocate beyond the mysts as well, usually only when falling in love with a trades creature, and will come back to say hello as often as they can afford to.

Those Beyond the Mysts can have vastly different cultures, some of which the people of Mycorzha find concerning. Recently some traders have come by, feeling very clever, trying to sell mechanical devices which made things faster but spewed a white cloud of toxic smoke. The elderly say they have heard of the white smoke before, and were taught that it formed a ruins to the north. As such it is to be strictly avoided. The creatures of Mycorzha do not trade with those who bring the toxic mechanical tools.

While everyone in Mycorzha speaks the same language the travelers usually do not speak it, so nearly all trade happens using
pictography. Trade towns that work with those beyond the mysts are incredibly artistic as a result, bright and colorful and filled with artistic depictions of nearly everything you could imagine.

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