Brown mold was a variety of fungus that grew in response to warmth. So extremely did it absorb heat that it produced an area of cold around it.[2][1]
Description[]
Brown mold often grew in subterranean or dungeon environments in large patches of about 10 feet (3 meters)[1] in diameter. A patch of this size absorbed enough heat to cool the temperature of the air within a 30‑foot (9.1‑meter) radius. Within 5 feet (1.5 meters) of the patch of mold, it was cold enough to cause non-lethal injury to some creatures.[2]
Brown mold grew extremely quickly when exposed to great sources of heat such as a nearby flame, doubling in size in only a matter of seconds. In contrast, the mold could be annihilated almost immediately by the effects of a spell dealing cold damage[2][1] They were also known to be vulnerable to high concentrations of sunlight or ultra-violet light.[3]
Usage[]
Besides its natural existence as a dungeon hazard, some found practical uses for brown mold, such as using it to cool food pantries, as was done in the Cathedral of Emerald Scales in Hlondeth.[4] In the House of the Moon in Waterdeep, in the west pantry, a small brown mold colony was carefully maintained in a sealed barrel in a small 8‑foot-deep (2.4‑meter) pit, kept safely under a locked grate to keep people more than 5 feet (1.5 meters) way, and in the refrigerated pantry, a large brown mold colony was contained within a stone tub. Sign on the doors forbade anyone taking fire or any other heat source inside.[5]
Brown mold was also created by the spell mold touch, which was a unique spell available to followers of nature deities Eldath, Mielikki, and Silvanus.[6]
Rumors[]
The mind flayers were rumored to have developed varieties of brown mold that continued to cool the vicinity around them without harming other life. These varieties were said to grow on illithid homeworlds.[7]
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins, James Wyatt (2014). Dungeon Master's Guide 5th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 105. ISBN 978-0786965622.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Monte Cook, Jonathan Tweet, Skip Williams (July 2003). Dungeon Master's Guide v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 76. ISBN 0-7869-2889-1.
- ↑ Gary Gygax (December 1977). Monster Manual, 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), p. 71. ISBN 0-935696-00-8.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 141. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (September 1997). Powers & Pantheons. Edited by Julia Martin. (TSR, Inc.), p. 160. ISBN 978-0786906574.
- ↑ Richard Baker, James Wyatt (March 2004). Player's Guide to Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 81. ISBN 0-7869-3134-5.
- ↑ Stephen Inniss (October 1989). “The Dragon's Bestiary: All life crawls where mind flayers rule”. In Roger E. Moore ed. Dragon #150 (TSR, Inc.), p. 12.