Tales of the Legion | Arrival in the Bridgeworld | Bag of Mushrooms

On Mushrooms

We discovered the wild and colourful mushrooms of Bridgeworld shortly after landing on the eastern shores. A scouting party returned with lumber supplies and a donkey captured in the woodland that borders our encampment.

Among their number was a soldier who seemed to have lost all sense of himself on the short journey back. He was delusional, rambling, and prone to uncontrollable fits of laughter. There is no telling what toll our journey has had on the legions, so we sent him to the healer. We feared a severe diagnosis — until a leather pouch of glowing mushrooms was found among his possessions. We assume he collected them in the woods and dared to try one. According to the healer, rare fungi can have potent effects on mind and body. He confirmed the soldier was in no immediate danger, and so it proved. The man was back to his usual self a few hours later. He had no recollection of the experience, but none of the other ailments that tend to result from an evening of mead-based merriment.

Ever since, more of our number have begun to drift into the woodland in search of these mushrooms. Their laughter carries through the night air. It is good to hear laughter again.

Aside from the obvious pleasure derived from these mysterious fungi, there is evidence they carry healing qualities. Particularly for those soldiers most affected by our defeat, our betrayal, and all of the bloodshed that followed. With small doses, their nightmares are dampened. They seem contented. A part of them has returned.

The healer is conducting a study into the long term effects of the rare woodland mushrooms. But for now, these legions are tired of war. Let them laugh.

This is an extract from Tales of the Legion | Arrival in the Bridgeworld