VUSHROON - N/A TIMELINE (THE VOID)

(Timeline Tuesday #17)

Vushroons are horrific predators who stalk The Void with stealth and cunning. They are extremely aggressive, with an insatiable desire to crate as much pain and destruction as possible. Much like other Voidal hunters, vushroons rarely stalk their prey for food. They require little energy to sustain themselves, surviving up to half a year (this timeline) from a single meal. Because of this, vushroons leave their kills, and are a surprisingly important part of the Voidal ecosystem. This pattern creates scraps for Void worms, Void crabs and other scavengers of the abyss.

Vushroons stand approximately eight feet tall, although their elongated shoulder blades extend even farther. They are black in coloration, with various spots of brilliant red along their head and across various appendages. They have razor-sharp claws and a matching set of daggerlike teeth, which are particularly adept at shredding flesh. Vushroons also sport a cascade of six whipping tentacles across their back, which they use for lashing or grappling prey.

One of the most unique things about this particular Voidal hunter is the fact they are, technically speaking, not animal in nature. Vushroons are a sentient fungus, grown in the depths of The Void and rapidly evolving to survive thanks to the unusual flow of time within their home environment. While it is common for creatures to swiftly evolve predatory features within this cosmic abyss, rarely are the results as terrifying as those of the Vushroon. It is believed these monsters first originated after natural fungal spores made their way into the cosmic depths, rapidly taking on the qualities of this harrowing environment.

Vushroons can emit a small range of grunts and shrieks that serves as basic communication, but more complex hunting strategies are psychically shared between the creatures.