So far one has been semi-completed:
On Tibian Mushrooms - by Old Hester
Since the dawn of Tibia there have been Mushroom�s. Legend tells us they were originally found on the soles of Tibiasula�s feet. When she was murdered by Zathroth and came to form the land and we now live upon, the fungi spread throughout.
The earliest dwarves, escaping deep beneath the ground, discovered that Mushroom�s grow well in dark, dank places. The fungi provide a health meal (good for the digging muscles) and can be mixed with almost any food. While there were plus�s to this newly discovered source of nutrition, there was also a downside (perhaps not from a human�s point of view but most defiantly a dwarf�s): the after taste of mushroom�s left beer and other alcohols tasting like that dirt found under a toenail.
The dwarves are now famous for their brewing of Mushroom Whiskey; mushroom-flavoured Tobacco and damn near anything else that can be made from mushrooms. Their brews are exported to nearly every city in the world - from the pyramids of Ankrahmun to the icy wastes of Svargrond, and are the secondary industry of the nation (after mining of course).
The Giggle Mushroom or Giggilus Bisporus are a creamy white mushroom found usually at the foot of fir trees. They grow in clumps of up to three, rarely found growing by themselves. Although edible, it is extremely ill-advised.
Those who do eat the Giggle Mushroom will feel a slight tickling sensation in their bowels at first. Eventually the subject will collapse into a fit of uncontrollable laughter and� (unfortunately) die.
Dwarf�s refer to this as �Giggled to Death� and as humorous as it may sound, it is quite unpleasant to witness.
Various times during history dwarven assassins and (much to dwarven contempt) human assassins alike have used Giggle Mushroom to poison victims when mixed as a fine powder with a meal.
The most common of the Tibian Mushroom is the Dead Man�s Saddles mushroom. The Saddles are a brown, leathery colour with a taste much the same (which is why very few creature�s enjoy them), and found in nearly every forest or clump of trees on the Tibian Continent
My research has led me to believe that elves favour the mushroom as a delicacy. Their arcanist�s and healers often use it in many of their potions because of it�s potency for healing wounds.
Unbeknownst to most, King Tibianus III has his personal shoes made from ironed and flattened Dead Man�s Saddles, which are grown in a special garden in Thais City (yes the king is that picky).
Gigantic dead mans Saddles - Ab�dendrial
The biggest and rarest mushroom in all of Tibia is the Giant Glimmer Cap Mushroom. According to geomancer Kawill Marbleeye, Son of Earth, from the Molten Rock Clan; �It took forty year�s of selective fungi breeding and fine dwarven attention to perfect the Glimmer Cap; a mushroom which has won county fairs across the globe.�
If you are not one for county fairs then the Glimmer Cap mushroom�s rock hard shell can be used for numerous things. It�s been recorded for it�s use as armour; ammunition for catapults; and, yes, even the Emperor�s personal paper weight.
There are two species of edible mushroom within the Tibian land�s: the common White Mushroom and the rare Brown Mushroom. The Brown Mushroom is considered a delicacy by most and favoured by magic-users and those off on adventure for it�s healthy source of vitamin M and minute size.
While the White Mushroom is favoured for it�s adaptability to different soil types. Since the 765 Dwarven Mining Regulations were brought in (stating all entrant�s to the Kazordoon mine must carry a sustainable food source), White Mushrooms can be found on nearly every dwarven miner and scattered throughout the mines.
Although dwarves; assassin�s; royalty and elf arcanist�s use and enjoy the numerous values of mushrooms in their daily lives I believe it high time to ask the people who have studied and observed the botany of fungi what they think of mushrooms.
First on the list was that hell-hole - Thais (mind you I would have avoided it if I had a choice but the worlds best farmer lives there) - to pay a visit to restaurant-owner and full time farmer Donal McRonald.
McRonald is known world wide for his culinary and has cooked for King Tibianus III and many other celebrity faces. When I asked him about mushroom�s the reaction I got was quite unexpected.
�Pah?! Mushrooms? I wouldn�t grow mushroom�s if I was paid a 1000 gold pieces� Only my pig�s would eat mushrooms��
He went further to say: �People don�t want mushroom�s. People want exquisite and exotic food�s from Port Hope to Ankrahmun!�
Well lets just say annoying a dwarf is not the best of things. I left to give mister McRonald time to recuperate and went on to see the city�s (and most probably, worlds) only - botanist: Louis.
�I consider myself an expert on the Bisporus. Indigenous to the mountain of Kazordoon - where nearly 90% of all mushroom species stem from. Bisporus� come in several forms; polypore�s, meaning they grow on a rotting log or tree stump, without stalks; and the common mushroom, with stalks, caps and gills.�
I bid goodbye to Louis and moved along. And where else to go to discover more of the traditions of nature than Ab�dendriel. final person I decided to visit was Ceiron, a man who�s expertise lies in natures legend and lore. He seemed most enthusiastic when I asked him about the mythological side to mushrooms.
�Toadstool�s are said to be the home of many fairy creatures,� said Ceiron, peering carefully at a sample of a Giggle Mushroom I brought along with me. �They make their home�s amongst the little gills and grant luck to the person who catches them. Although if you eat a mushroom with a fairy�s home you cursed for life!�
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Thanks to Louis the Botanist; Ceiron; mister McRonald and the citizens of Kazordoon and Thais.