In many campaign setting

Campaign setting

A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

s for the Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...

role-playing game

Role-playing game

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...

, Psilofyr is the myconid

Myconid

Myconids are a race of intelligent roughly humanoid fungi found in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.-Publication history:The myconid first appeared in the first edition in the adventure module A4 In the Dungeons of the Slave Lords , and then the original Monster Manual II .The myconid ...

 deity of community, healing, and philosophy. His symbol is a mycelium basket holding a crystal vial.

Publication history

Psilofyr was first detailed in the book Monster Mythology

Monster Mythology

Monster Mythology is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game. Released by TSR in 1992 and written by Carl Sargent, with interior illustrations by Terry Dykstra, John and Laura Lakey, and Keith Parkinson, Monster Mythology was released as a companion volume for...

(1992), including details about his priesthood.

Description

Psilofyr is depicted as a myconid of gigantic proportions, his vast mycelium complex drifting behind him as he levitates just above the ground. His color changes to match the environment or his moods. He is meditational and pacifistic, a god of mental communication, and a powerfully spiritual being. He is akin to the world-trees of other mythologies, such as Emmantiensien

Emmantiensien

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Emmantiensien is the god of treants, trees, and deep and hidden magic...

 and Rillifane Rallathil

Rillifane Rallathil

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Rillifane Rallathil is the elven god of Nature, and patron deity of wood elves. His symbol is an oak tree...

, his mycelia reaching through the planes as do the roots of the tree-gods.

Relationships

Psilofyr is an ally of the gnomish

Gnome (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, gnomes are one of the core races available for play as player characters. Some speculate that they are closely related to dwarves; however, gnomes are more tolerant of other races and of magic, and are skilled with illusions...

 deities Callarduran Smoothhands

Callarduran Smoothhands

Callarduran Smoothhands is the gnome god of the earth in the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game.He is the patron deity of the svirfneblin , and is not very popular among other gnome subraces. Unlike other gods of the Underdark, he is not an outcast...

 and Segojan Earthcaller

Segojan Earthcaller

In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Segojan Earthcaller is the gnome deity of earth and nature. Unlike Baervan Wildwanderer, who is a god of the plants and forests of the surface world, Segojan's area of concern is the deep earth and the life within it...

, as well as the drow goddess Kiaransalee

Kiaransalee

Kiaransalee is the fictional drow deity of slavery, undead, and vengeance. She was created for the AD&D Second Edition, first appearing in Monster Mythology, and as such is a general deity not specific to any one game world.-Publication history:Kiaransalee was first detailed in the book Monster...

. He is a foe of Laduguer

Laduguer

In many campaign settings for the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, Laduguer is the evil deity of the duergar, the Underdark-dwelling cousins of dwarves. He is a strict and unforgiving god. His holy symbol is a shield with a broken crossbow bolt motif.-Creative origins:Laduguer was...

, Lolth

Lolth

Lolth is a fictional goddess in the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Lolth , the Demon Queen of Spiders, is the chief goddess of drow elves...

, Urdlen

Urdlen

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Urdlen is the gnome deity of greed and blood.In many campaign settings, the gnome pantheon of gods consists of the leader Garl Glittergold, as well as Baervan Wildwanderer, Baravar Cloakshadow, Flandal Steelskin, Gaerdal Ironhand, Nebelun, Segojan...

, and Vhaeraun

Vhaeraun

Vhaeraun , also known as the Masked Lord and the Masked God of Night, is the drow god of thievery, drow males, and evil activity on the surface world in many Dungeons & Dragons campaign settings.-Publication history:...

.

His relationship with Zuggtmoy

Zuggtmoy

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Zuggtmoy is the Demon Queen of Fungi. Her symbol is a jawless human skull with fungi blooming from within, though some of her false cults use other symbols...

 is unknown, but can't be good.

Realm

Psilofyr's realm in Mechanus, called Mycelia, is an immense, perfectly round cavern hollowed into the underside of a gear on the far side of the plane. It smells of fungus and sweet decay. Dim purple light emanates from the fungus that carpets the floor. Stalactites and stalagmites are arranged with obviously ordered intent. In the realm's center is the Palace of Psilofyr, a gargantuan mushroom that rises from a bottomless lake. Psilofyr banishes those with violent intent from his realm.

Mycelia can only be found by those not seeking it; those who comprehend this paradox are ready for the realm of Psilofyr.

Dogma

Psilofyr is pacifistic and meditative, a god who eschews confrontation and encourages peace with one's environment. He advises his followers to avoid contact with humanoid races, because those made of meat are violent, hasty, and have no appreciation of what is best in life.

Worshippers

Psilofyr is worshipped mainly by myconids. Psilofyr protects, supports, and teaches his chosen race, the myconids. He is believed to guide senior myconids in choosing their next king.

Clergy

Psilofyr has no formal clergy, but he may grant divine magic to myconid kings in exceptional cases. These priest-kings have the same duties as other kings, though they are given clerical powers by their god to aid their people in times of need.

Proxies

Psilofyr is served by a short-statured myconid cleric called Cybin Decayer, who keeps to the shadows and rarely speaks above a whisper.

Additional reading

• Boyd, Eric L. Demihuman Deities. Renton, WA: TSR, 1998.
• McComb, Colin
  Colin McComb
  Colin McComb is an American writer and game designer born in Evanston, Illinois. He is married to musician Robin Moulder. They currently live in Grosse Pointe Park, Michigan, with their two children...
  
  , and Wolfgang Baur
  Wolfgang Baur
  Wolfgang Baur is an American game designer, best known for his work with Dragon magazine. He designs role-playing games and also is known for his work at Wizards of the Coast.-Biography:...
  
  . Planes of Law. Lake Geneva, WI: TSR, 1995.