Lichens were a type of composite organism, often confused for being solely a plant or fungi, when in fact they were a composite of both. They could be found in various places across the Realms.[1][2]
Description[]
Lichen came in a wide variety of forms and colorations.[3] There were many poisonous varieties, some that were capable of defending themselves,[4] some that were bioluminescent,[5][6] and some that were phosphorescent.[7][8] Bioluminescence was somewhat of a rare trait for lichen.[6]
Habitats[]
On the surface of Toril, one could find lichen in a variety of locations. These included the Cormanthor forest's starwood area,[2] the Evermoors north of the Dessarin Valley,[9][10] the High Moor's rocky outcrops,[10] the Plains of Purple Dust,[11] and the peaks of the Sunset Mountains.[12]
They were most abundant underneath the surface of Toril, in the area known as the Underdark,[13] where they and other vegetation received nourishment from the ambient faerzress.[14] Areas particularly diverse in lichen included the cavern of Ched Nasad,[15] Fluvenilstra,[3] Gduar's Garden,[16] and Neverlight Grove.[17]
Phosphorescent[7][8] and bioluminescent lichen were common in the Underdark, though the latter were were more common in the Upperdark than the Middledark.[18] Both could be found in parts of the Wormwrithings.[19] A silvery-blue variety could be found all across the ceiling of Iltkazar's cavern.[20][21][22] The fortress Maelstrom had many rooms decorated in bioluminescent lichen.[23] And Neverlight Grove had blue, violet, and yellow bioluminescent lichen growing across its caverns and larger mushrooms.[24]
Beyond Toril, primitive lichen could be found on the planet Armistice.[25] Outside of the Prime Material plane, a species of red and black lichen could be found in the Abyss, the realm of the goddess of misfortune Beshaba. The lichen was growing on the wind-blasted rocks of the Blood Tor.[26]
Species[]
- Blue lichen
- A rare species of lichen that only grew in the Stonebone Mines.[27]
- Fire lichen
- a pale, orange-white lichen that obtained its energy from warmth.[14][28]
- High Moor lichen
- usually just called "lichen," was variety of lichen that was extremely common in the High Moor and below the surface in the Undermoor. It was especially common on rocks in the High Moor and in the region's bogs. It had a pale, greenish-gray coloration and spread across surfaces with spidery tendrils.[1]
- Medquat
- a crimson species of lichen was found in hollow logs within the starwood. They tasted like lemons and were highly prized in Cormyr. Scorpions were attracted to them.[2]
- Mikka
- a black lichen endemic to the Great Glacier.[29]
- Wisp lichen
- a dangerous, white colored lichen native to the Underdark. It secreted an adhesive that could hold creatures and paralyze them. It would then slowly digest their prey, resulting in their painful and tortuous demise. The true danger of wisp lichen, however, was the fact that many dangerous Underdark predators and scavengers could be found lurking near them, hoping to get a free meal.[13]
Creatures[]
- Lichen liches typically had their bodies overgrown with fungi and lichen.[30]
Usage[]
- Lichen was among the vegetation that denizens of the Underdark used in place of the agricultural crops of the surface, sometimes even using them to brew alcohol.[4] For instance, the cities of Blingdenstone and Iltkazar tended farms of lichen.[31]
- Lichen was among the forms of Underdark vegetation that cave bears[32] and deep rothé subsisted upon.[33]
Appendix[]
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Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Video Games
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
External Links[]
Lichen article at Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Tim Beach (October 1995). “The High Moor”. In Julia Martin ed. Elminster's Ecologies Appendix II (TSR, Inc), pp. 16–17. ISBN 0786901713.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 James Butler, Elizabeth T. Danforth, Jean Rabe (September 1994). “Cormanthor”. In Karen S. Boomgarden ed. Elminster's Ecologies (TSR, Inc), pp. 11–12. ISBN 1-5607-6917-3.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 149. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 9. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 106. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 211. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (1993). Volo's Guide to the North. (TSR, Inc), p. 11. ISBN 1-5607-6678-6.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 224. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood (2020-06-01). Comparing Toril's Deserts (Tweet). theedverse. Twitter. Archived from the original on 2020-06-02. Retrieved on 2021-10-20.
- ↑ Karen Wynn Fonstad (August 1990). The Forgotten Realms Atlas. (TSR, Inc), p. 144. ISBN 978-0880388573.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 110. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 108. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 49. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 189. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 86. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 108. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 167, 172. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), p. 100. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 156. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.
- ↑ Ed Greenwood, Sean K. Reynolds, Skip Williams, Rob Heinsoo (June 2001). Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting 3rd edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 212. ISBN 0-7869-1836-5.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, et al. (September 2016). Storm King's Thunder. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 205, 211, 213. ISBN 978-0-7869-6600-4.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 87. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
- ↑ Nigel Findley (July 1991). Practical Planetology. (TSR, Inc.), p. 11. ISBN 156-076134-2.
- ↑ Kate Novak, Jeff Grubb (December 1997). Tymora's Luck. (TSR, Inc.), p. 106. ISBN 0-7869-0726-6.
- ↑ BJ Hensley (2018). Into the Dark (DDAL08-07) (PDF). D&D Adventurers League: Waterdeep (Wizards of the Coast), p. 4.
- ↑ Christopher Perkins, Adam Lee, Richard Whitters (September 1, 2015). Out of the Abyss. Edited by Jeremy Crawford. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 22. ISBN 978-0-7869-6581-6.
- ↑ Rick Swan (1992). The Great Glacier. (TSR, Inc), p. 57. ISBN 1-56076-324-8.
- ↑ Toni Winslow-Brill, Bill Benham, Christopher Perkins (March 2021). “Xanthoria”. In Kim Mohan ed. Candlekeep Mysteries (Wizards of the Coast), p. 223. ISBN 978-0-7869-6722-3.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd (November 1999). Drizzt Do'Urden's Guide to the Underdark. Edited by Jeff Quick. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 39, 100. ISBN 0-7869-1509-9.
- ↑ Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 334. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- ↑ Bruce R. Cordell, Gwendolyn F.M. Kestrel, Jeff Quick (October 2003). Underdark. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 109. ISBN 0-7869-3053-5.