A long time ago, seven Punks banded together to face the many dangers of the Wastes, and journeyed far to find a new home for themselves. After many trials, troubles, and tribulations, they met with a kooky old codger, the Hermit, who shared with them a vision of their home - a place where Gaia would be close, providing growth and mystery in equal measures.
Rewarded for embracing hope, the seven carried on until at last, they found themselves in the midst of a great wide wilderness on a hilltop field of wild grasses. Carpeting the ground and encircling them were common and unique mushrooms, growing in obvious abundance. As they explored further, they found some mushrooms were taller even than the tallest amongst their company - standing taller than some of the trees growing with them- a veritable mushroom forest. Gaia was close here, they knew.
Curiously, though the region seemed unpopulated, they found an abandoned camp site in the middle of the field, an aged canvas tent flapping lazily against the gentle breeze. The camp seemed to have been abandoned for some time; the fate of its occupant unknown. Investigating the site, they found several pieces of equipment that suggested whomever had been here, they had been well-prepared: A dented fencing helmet rested atop a neatly folded full-body tactical suit within the confines of the tent. An old rusty crowbar sat aside a propped open weapon case, containing a weapon as impressive as it was abhorrent: a tactical Mini Gun that could spew hot lead at impossible volumes. Lastly, they found an old and defunct Global Positioning System device that resisted all attempts to absorb and adapt it.
The Seven agreed. This was the place the Hermit had spoken of. Here, encircled by the embrace of a dense mycelial network and sheltered from the rest of the world, they would settle. This would become Mycircleum. They enshrined the objects as relics of the past, and began the work of shaping their Glade.
It has been several generations since then - the first children born in the settlement have grown and had children of their own, adapting to the spore-laden atmosphere. The Seven became the Elders, and watch over their people, sharing their wisdom, advice, and vivacity, despite being well over 100 years old.
The people have grown to understand and respect the mycelia, incorporating the lessons they offer into every aspect of their daily lives. Together, the Elders, the Weavers, and more work to forge a strong community based on mutual respect and cooperation. Residents value intense interconnection, with communal living and little expectation of privacy. This mirroring of the network and the circle of life confuses some outsiders, and even some locals are driven away by it. More often than not however, the strong belief in communal living draws folks close together. The people of Mycircleum keep few secrets, and live with a general unity of purpose.
Like any place where people live, Mycircleum has its challenges. While the settlement chose to spend years isolated from the wider world, the Elders have recognized that nothing ever stays the same and change is a constant. Opening trade with other settlements has allowed for easier access to materials not available locally, but has also exposed the village to the chance of discovery. Longstanding fears of being discovered by Corpo forces have been exacerbated by a marked increase in surveillance drone sightings. That these occurrences coincided with an influx of refugee punks from another Glade, Delve, when it destroyed by a mysterious fire has not helped to calm those anxieties.
Mycircleum finds itself in an era of sudden and rapid change. Its traditions are being challenged, as is how they live with the planet and one another. One thing is for certain, however: the people of Mycircleum are strong, intelligent, and bonded by a mutual love of their home. Together, you and the other Punks can ensure its bright future!
These folks want only what is best for Mycircleum and its people, and will do all they can to ensure that all residents see as many misty mornings in their parcel of paradise as possible.
These seven aged Punks were (and are) a close-knit group that faced the worst the Wastes had to offer. By learning to rely on and believe in one another, they surmounted every challenge through grit, teamwork, and not a small amount of Essence. Their perseverance lead them to Mycircleum and their shared dream of creating a safe haven for the mistreated, the abandoned, and the hungry.
Now, over a hundred years later, the Elders, preserved by their intense connection with Gaia and a millennium’s worth of combined experience between them, watch over and protect their flock from the threats of the outside world.
The Elder’s words support the weight of civilization. As such, they are careful to take no decision lightly. Once young reckless and young Punks themselves long ago, they remember what it was like to not feel heard. To combat this stigma, the Elders make it a point to be available to anyone, at any time, and even insist that a representative of the young is present during official business. They can all commonly be found in comfortable chairs under the shade of the Old Birch in the Open Garden, sharing a pipe, or walking along well-worn paths and sharing stories and opinions. Naturally, there is still some friction between the young and the old, but as Elder Breeze is fond of saying, “Every stem pushes soil aside as it grows.”
While the Elders are generally accepted as the primary decision making body, The Weavers also carry considerable influence. Their shared adaptation often sees them in an unending tour of mending and creating ropes, nets and cloth, woven from the abundant mycelium. Their toil provides a incalculable improvement to the daily lives of the residents.
A Weaver’s life is one of listening to and understanding the mycelium. The eldest members are given similar deference and respect as the Elders by most residents. Those with decades of experience under their hats have even become adept at finding and picking the Mycelium they desire for specific projects, having learned “the song” each type of fibre “sings.”
As deep listeners, it is often said that if one is troubled, they need only sit patiently next to the loom of a Weaver and speak. They may not always speak an answer, but one always leaves feeling as though they found what they sought.
Every resident of Mycircleum is familiar with The Tapestry, as close to an object of worship as any one thing could be. This ever-growing mural, crafted only from the rarest strands of mycelium, depicts the settlement’s germinating connection with Gaia and their history of hardships and triumphs over the years. The Weavers take great pride in selecting only the most talented among their ranks (as decided by a general vote) to record the newest event. The Weavers claim to make no decisions for Mycircleum in an official capacity, but every resident knows that while the Elders have the final say, it is the Weavers who create history.
While Gaia provides many resources for the community, the most abundant by far is Mycircleum’s namesake - its mushrooms. They grow large and in vast, dense quantities. Mushrooms and mycelium are both the primary food source and main raw building material for the people of the settlement - they are fashioned into ropes, cloth and more, and many of the tallest and sturdiest of the fruiting bodies are often hollowed out to provide shelter for the population.
A persistent and shrub-like vine called Secret Friend grows amongst the other wilds plants of Mycircleum. So-named for the late discovery of the plant’s large and robust tuber-like roots, Secret Friend’s nutrient-rich nutty flavour has become a staple of Mycircleum cuisine, with each family having several recipes that include the dish. The vine is so persistent in Mycircleum that much of it had gone to waste until the Spore Envoys convinced the Elders to allow them to take samples and seed packets with them on their journeys to other settlements to help establish food oases in otherwise barren areas.
Due to the location and nature of the terrain around Mycircleum, the residents find themselves lacking access to metals and the base minerals for smelting. Iron is hard to come by, and there has not been word of deposits discovered in the region for some time. Due to the secluded nature of the Glade, much of the Old World scrap metal in the area was scavenged long ago.
While this is certainly an element that makes aspects of daily life in Mycircleum more of a challenge, there are still a great deal of natural resources available to the settlement.
Approximately a day’s travel Northeast, there is an expanse of dense woodland known as the Shimmering Woods that is home to enormous spiders that weave webs of shimmering silk and unbelievable strength. To obtain access to the webbing would allow the Weavers to improve their designs and craft fabrics and fibres that would last indefinitely. Some of the younger folk, more likely to be taken by flights of fancy, enjoy telling tales of the Spider Guardian that protects the woodlands, presenting the story as evidence to support why the settlement has not yet found the webs.
Over the years, Mycircluem has developed a unique and optimistic culture the reveres Gaia and celebrates her gifts. This is a small example of the customs they have developed.
The Mushroom Harvest
During the first seven days of the mushroom harvest, when the mycelium begin producing their fruiting bodies (what we would think of as the actual mushroom), Mycircleum feels like a different place. During this time, folks will spend the majority of their time in smaller groups or even alone. The harvesting of the fruiting bodies is seen by most to be a time for quiet interior contemplation. It is one of the rare occasions when the only sounds in the otherwise boisterous settlement is that of rustling grass, and wind chimes built of bleached credit cards and coloured glass.
The Lantern Parade
Following the first week of silence during the mycelium harvest, Mycircleum not only returns to speaking, but to a full festival! Beginning with the Lantern Parade, streamers are hung with care outside of nearly every home and hovel. Residents craft lanterns in incredible shapes and designs and gather in a procession around the outskirts of the settlement to bring light to all. Each year, people compete to produce the most joy-inspiring design to thrill onlookers. As the procession comes to a close, folks can vote for their favourite lantern. The winning designer is given the honour of leading the procession next year.
The Forest Feast
After the Lantern Parade, folks can expect great potluck-style feasts, games and music lasting the better part of a week. At the final night of the event, one resident is chosen by the Elders to become the next “Blessed of the Shrooms,” and sent off into the forest, never to be seen again. Most residents of Mycircleum believe the Blessed of the Shrooms is transported to a fungal garden of pleasure, living the rest of their days in luxury and bliss.
While they would never say it above a whisper, there those who suspect that the Blessed is consumed by… something in the mushroom forest, perhaps even by the forest itself! Last year, a small number of villagers asked Guard to follow the Blessed on their Northward path in secret. Guard followed the Blessed silently for a day and a half through the wilds, until the Blessed came upon a person dressed in flowing robes who welcomed them with open arms. The Blessed collapsed into their arms, crying. When they had composed themselves, the robed figure lead them further North, and beyond the ability of Guard to follow. The question of what happens to the Blessed of the Shrooms remains a mystery for the time being.