Mushrooms are a common species of fungi found all throughout the Backrooms.
Contents
Description
Artist’s depiction of several different Mushroom types found in the Backrooms
Mushrooms and fungi can be found in almost every known level in the Backrooms, the amount and species of mushrooms in which can be found vary from level to level.
Although some mushrooms are perfectly edible many species of mushrooms are hazardous to consume as they can be poisonous or cause adverse and often anomalous effects depending on the species of mushroom in question, these more dangerous mushrooms can be weaponized and used to a wanderer’s advantage such as in the creation of Shroom Dust and Spore Bombs.
Much like in The Frontrooms, mushrooms and fungi that grow in the Backrooms are commonly found in damp places with high levels of moisture such as thick forests and jungles or even in walls and ceilings of buildings with high moisture.
Backrooms Mushrooms can be separated into two separate categories, Edible and Volatile.
Usage
Cooking
White Mushroom Stir Fry
Edible Mushrooms can be eaten raw and are a valuable food source being high in protein, vitamins, minerals and nutrients but they can also be used for cooking and a large variety of meals can be made using edible mushrooms such as Mushroom Stir Fry, Cream of Mushroom Soup and Mushroom Pie. These meals also bestow unique beneficial effects to the consumer that vary depending on the dish in question, such as Mushroom Pie giving the consumer a considerable boost to their strength and durability.
Weaponry
M.E.G. Grade Spore Bombs
Volatile Mushrooms are mushrooms unfit for human consumption. Many Voltaile mushroom species exhibit unique attributes that are often dangerous to other entities especially if consumed or exposed to in a highly concentrated state. These unique mushrooms can be used to craft useful and often powerful weaponry, these include the following.
- Shroom Dust - Voltaile mushrooms can be ground up into a fine powder known as Shroom Dust which can be thrown or blown into the faces of hostile entities and induce the effects associated with the mushroom it was created with. Bags or satchels used to store Shroom Dust are often referred to as Spore Bags.
- Spore Bombs - One of the most useful and powerful of fungi-related weaponry a wanderer can craft. By mixing Shroom Dust with Almond Water, a highly volatile slurry commonly known as Shroom Juice can be made and used in Spore Bombs. Spore Bombs are made by combining any kind of container (bottle, can etc.) of Shroom Juice with a pipe bomb. Spore Bombs can be used as an effective tool in killing and crippling hostile Entities.
- Spore Thrower - Spore Throwers are ranged weapons created by combining a water gun with a container of either Shroom Dust or Shroom Juice, using either or as ammo to fire at targets several feet away, causing damage and inducing the effects associated with the mushroom used.
- Spore-Enhanced Weaponry - Any melee weapons that wanderers may have on them such as blades or blunt weaponry can be enhanced by combining them with Shroom Juice, enhancing their combat potential by a considerable amount by imbuing them with the attributes of the Shroom Juice used.
The M.E.G. occasionally use mushroom-based weaponry such as Spore Bombs and Spore Throwers but they are stronger and much more technologically advanced then the makeshift counterpart wanderers can craft.
Types of Edible Mushrooms
White Mushrooms
A mass of White Mushrooms growing from a tree
White Mushrooms are the most common species of Mushrooms found in the Backrooms, edible or otherwise. White Mushrooms have a taste similar to shiitake mushrooms and are observed to slightly improve the user’s mood when consumed.
Gold Mushrooms
Gold Mushrooms
Also known as Gold Shrooms. Gold Mushrooms are exceptionally rare and very valuable as a result. When consumed, Gold Mushrooms give the consumer a considerable boost in energy and strength and are very nutritious to boot. Gold Shrooms can be used in cooking and doing so will yield a “golden” variety of a dish. Gold Mushrooms are described as tasting very savory and buttery.
Sugar Shrooms
Sugar Shrooms
The second most rare variety of edible mushroom. Sugar Shrooms get their name for their exceptionally sweet taste and are described as tasting like Cotton Candy with a slight aftertaste of mushrooms. Sugar Shrooms are known to give a considerable boost of energy to consumers and improve their mood dramatically and can be used to create desserts such as the very popular Shroomie Pops popsicles.
Types of Volatile Mushrooms
Boom Shrooms
Boom Shrooms
Boom Shrooms are highly volatile mushrooms that explode like bombs when pressure is exerted onto the caps such as when being stepped on. Boom Shrooms can be rendered harmless by slowly detaching the cap from the stem from there both can be made into Shroom Dust or Shroom Juice. Boom Shrooms can even be used as bombs as if by throwing them but dust or juice made from them are much more potent.
Pyro Shrooms
Pyro Shrooms
Pyro Shrooms emit strong levels of heat and are hot to the touch as a result due to a fluid found in it’s stem similar to napalm. When made into dust or juice, the resulting substance becomes scorching hot and will ignite any organic matter it comes in contact with into flames that can’t be extinguished with water.
Cryo Shrooms
Cryo Shrooms
Cryo Shrooms are extremely cold to the touch and can cause frostbite from prolonged exposure due to a fluid found in it’s stem similar to liquid nitrogen. Cryo Shrooms can be made into dust or juice that instantly dry freezes anything it comes into contact with.
Hypno Shrooms
Hypno Shrooms
Hypno Shrooms and their spores have intense psychoactive effects as they cause those affected to experience hallucinations, intense euphoria and a state of increased suggestibility, making those affected easy to command. The dust or juice made from Hypno Shrooms can be used as an effective psychological weapon against hostile entities and wanderers.
Death Shrooms
Death Shrooms
Death Shrooms are one of the most fatal of all volatile mushrooms. Death Shrooms are extremely toxic and secrete an inky, black ooze that is very caustic, prolonged contact with Death Shrooms or it’s poison will cause fast-spreading necrosis of the flesh, making it a highly effective weapon when made into dust or juice.
Shock Shrooms
Shock Shrooms at night
Shock Shrooms are the only mushrooms in the Backrooms capable of a process similar to photosynthesis, as they absorb sunlight and transform it into potent electrical energy that gives them their bioluminescent glow. Shroom Dust and Shroom Juice made from Shock Shrooms are so electrically charged that they are capable of fatally electrocuting entities and powering electronic devices.
Splatter Shrooms
Splatter Shroom
Splatter Shrooms secret an incredibly sticky adhesive that is difficult to get off and can be used to make Shroom Juice that makes for an effective tool for hindering entity movement and making them stick to surfaces long enough to escape.
Sick Shrooms
Sick Shrooms
Extrmely caustic and acidic mushrooms that dissolves flesh similar to sulfuric acid when making physical contact, the spores burn through nasal passes and can even cause severe damage to the lungs. It’s acidic qualities intensity when made into dust or juice.
Snooze Shrooms
Snooze Shroom
Also known as Wooly Shrooms. Snooze Shrooms and their spores are capable of causing beings to become groggy and fall into a deep sleep that can last for days at a time. The effects are intensified when made into dust or juice.
Fungi Farms
Fungi Farms Logo
Similar to what Royal Jelly Farms does with Moth Jelly, Fungi Farms is a company and subsidiary of the M.E.G. who’s main goal is to distribute mushrooms and mushroom products all throughout the Backrooms for the benefit of Wanderers, this includes growing and planting mushrooms in levels and distributing items made from mushrooms such as canned mushroom soup and even pre-made Shroom Dust and Shroom Juice.
Fully crafted Spore Bombs and on much rarer occasions, Spore Throwers can be found on certain levels throughout the Backrooms but Fungi Farms states that they don’t make the weaponry that uses Shroom Dust or Shroom Juice so these are most likely drops from other Wanderers.