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Black Phylis


Diminutive Plant
Hit Dice:1d4 (2 hp)
Initiative:+0
Speed:0 ft.
AC:9 (+4 size, -5 Dex), touch 9, flat-footed 9
Base Attack/Grapple:  +0/-
Attack:spore cloud +0 melee (poison only)
Full Attack:spore cloud +0 melee (poison only)
Space/Reach:1 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks:Spore cloud
Special Qualities:Plant
Saves:Fort 2, Ref -, Will -3
Abilities:Str -, Dex -, Con 10, Int -, Wis 4, Cha 1
Environment:Warm Forest
Organization:Cluster (100+)
Challenge Rating:  ¼
Treasure:50% half standard
Alignment:Always Neutral
Advancement:1 HD (Tiny);
2-3 HD (Small)
Level Adjustment:-

Appearance
Black Phylis, named as it is sometimes sold in the black markets as an aphrodisiac, is a dark blue fern shaped fungus which normally grows in rings in the deep forest. It is faintly luminescent and easily identifiable by its faint ginger-like smell.

Combat
Black Phylis is docile. If attacked or provoked it releases a shimmering cloud of tiny spores. Large colonies of this plant sometimes release their spores on hot days near the end of the summer months, lightly affecting hundreds of square miles with their spores. This effect is sometimes called the Dream Winds. The potency of the spores are halved (Will DC 7) when encountered as a Dream Wind.
    Spore Cloud (Ex): Once every two hours the Black Phylis can release a spore cloud, affecting all creatures within a five foot radius. Creatures which inhale the spores (Will negates, DC 15) are affected differently, based on their Wisdom. Creatures whose Wisdom is 9 or less are afflicted with a berserk rage that lasts for 2d12 hours. Raging creatures gain a temporary +4 bonus to their Constitution and Strength, suffer a -2 circumstance penalty to their Armor Class, and act as though under the effects of a confusion spell. Creatures whose Wisdom scores are 10 or greater are paralyzed with nightmarish hallucinations for 1d6x10 minutes. A successful Will save results in a -4 to all attacks, saves, and ability checks for d6x10 minutes, regardless of Wisdom. This is a mind-affecting hallucinogen, so Undead, Plants, Constructs, Oozes, and Vermin, and creatures with no Intelligence score are unaffected.
    Plant: Immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, and polymorphing. Not subject to critical hits or mind-influencing effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects).

Ecology
Because animals and civilizations tend to avoid growing near areas where Black Phylis is common, it is usually found in unvisited and unpopulated areas where it grows in large quantities. Black Phylis also burns very easily, exploding if exposed to very high heat, releasing all of its spores.
    Black Phylis often grows in circles, the larger fungi to the outside of the ring. No creature will eat a Black Phylis willingly; effects of doing this are nausea, faintness, coma, depression, hallucinogenic effects, or even death should enough be consumed.

History
In the past, great problems have been caused at the watch towers which border the Valley of Death, due to the high quantities of this plant growing in the region. During seasons when the spores of the Black Phylis are most prevalent it is often a trying and difficult task to keep the patrols of those towers in functioning order and on schedule, making it a more dangerous time of the year to travel in that area.