57 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
57 lines
5.7 KiB
Markdown
![[myou-banner-image.jpg|banner]]
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> [!infobox|right]
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> ## Myou (Common) / “Strange Ones” (Tul)
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> 
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> **Also Known As**: Dryads, Funguskin, Kiss of Spores
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> **Classification**: Humanoid (Fungal)
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> **Origin**: Natural, possibly Pre-Shattering Mutation
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> **Lifespan**: 80–130 years
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> **Language(s)**: Mycetic Sign-Lilt (gestural/spore-based), fluent in most Tul tongues
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> **Typical Alignment**: Reclusive, empathic, instinct-driven
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> **Homeland(s)**: Ashenvale Woods, scattered groves
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> **Population Level**: Rare
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## Overview
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The Myou are a graceful and enigmatic species of fungus-based humanoids often mistaken for plants or spirit-folk. Ethereal in beauty and elusive in nature, they dwell primarily in the shrouded Ashenvale Woods near the Inner Sea. Once feared as man-eaters and seductive forest spirits, they now live in smaller, peaceful enclaves - though their ancient instincts and alien allure remain. Their asexual reproduction and spore-based communication create relationships with other species that are as intimate as they are strange.
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## Physiology
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![[8d997b58-c4cd-4972-ba23-8586e1b54f8e.png|hmed left]]
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The Myou are lithe and elegant, with soft, almost too-smooth skin in hues of green-gray, pale lavender, or soft ochre. Many bear faint bioluminescent patterns or bark-like textures on their limbs. Their features are delicate and striking, often mistaken for feminine even when genderless.
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They stand between 5.5 and 6.5 feet tall, with subtle pheromone glands and internal mycelial structures that run beneath the skin. Myou have large, expressive eyes - typically in shades of violet, amber, or pale blue - and finely webbed fingers.
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Though they are asexual, they can reproduce by implanting spores into compatible hosts through skin contact, particularly when a bond has been formed through their trance-like state. These spores grow mycelium in the host over time, and in rare cases (especially with Tul), this leads to male pregnancy - an event surrounded by myth and fear.
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Unlike most species, the Myou can subtly reshape their appearance over days or weeks to blend with a forest setting or to appeal more strongly to their chosen companions or targets.
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They are immune to most natural poisons and feed on decaying or organic matter, which they dissolve slowly - though in ancient times, this included prey lured into their embrace.
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## Mentality & Culture
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The Myou are sentient and highly empathic, operating through intuition and sensory experience rather than logic or philosophy. They value harmony with nature, connection through touch, and collective memory preserved in fungal groves.
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They live in scattered thickets or hidden glades, where they tend fungal blooms and bioluminescent gardens. Community decisions are often made through trance-gatherings - shared dreamlike states induced by spores where individuals merge temporarily into a group mind.
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While appearing calm and gentle, the Myou defend their homes with ferocity. Myths of "dryads tearing men apart" originate from their defense of Ashenvale and their intoxicating toxins.
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Their relationships with other species are complex. Myou often bond with Tul or others who spend time in the forest, forming emotional and physical ties that go far deeper than those of most species. This intimacy can be beautiful - or deeply unsettling.
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## Spiritual Affinity
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The Myou have no organized religion but hold deep reverence for the rhythms of decay and rebirth. They do not see the Veil as gods do, but feel its distortions and currents as a sensory undertone in their fungal networks.
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They are sensitive to emotional and spiritual "vibrations" and some can detect Veil disturbances through altered dreams or spore patterns. Their trance-bonding has an almost spiritual quality, forming lasting mycelial threads between beings.
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They do not wield magic but have developed a potent set of defenses: hallucination-inducing spores, mind-affecting pheromones, and paralytic or soporific venoms. Their weapons are often wooden, bone-tipped, or laced with these natural toxins.
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## Role in the World
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They are viewed with suspicion by most Tul cultures. The Myou remain hidden in their deepwoods, largely disconnected from politics or cities. They are rare and often misunderstood - simultaneously feared, desired, and pitied.
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Assassins and shadow guilds sometimes seek them out, using their appearance and abilities for infiltration or seduction-based killings. This dark reputation haunts them despite their peaceful nature. In some places, like the [[Temerian Empire]], the Myou are not recognized as people at all, but are kept as exotic pets or slaves in best cases.
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Long ago, they were known to actively prey on Tul wanderers - using trance-states to lure them into fatal intimacy. This behavior has faded but persists in folklore and the fearful warnings of rural elders.
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While not aggressive by nature, the Myou defend their territory fiercely. Their alliances are rare but enduring, usually formed with those who respect the cycles of life and decay. In times of drought or corruption, some Myou groves enter a dangerous phase of overgrowth and hunger - becoming truly predatory in a way that inspires the darkest tales. The myths of “forest brides” and “the green-eyed lure” are rooted in real historical incidents, where curious Tul vanished into Myou territory and were never seen again.
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They are fiercely protective of Ashenvale, and woe to those who burn or carve into their sacred groves. Travelers sometimes vanish, leaving only dreams behind.
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Despite their history, a few Myou have found places in Tul settlements as apothecaries, dancers, or rare companions. Those who bond with one rarely forget the experience - and never fully recover from the spores left behind.
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