Thilts

[Wonders of Eros]

Thilts are a group of stationary organisms which constitute an entire biological kingdom of their own. They come in various sizes and shapes, but most species are several meters tall and stand upright. They often have an appearance similar to that of young Coprinus comatus mushrooms, but it varies by species. They sprout from the ground by way of a short, stocky, central stem that then connects to a large, elongated, fleshy head. The latter is hollow and partially filled with water, often supporting a small, internal ecosystem of insects and other invertebrates. Thilts are dry on the surface but have a fleshy consistency on the inside. They maintain internal temperatures that make them highly vulnerable to fungal infections. Thilts also grow spores – called Cyllixes – on the surface of the elongated head, and they use these to propagate by allowing strong winds to carry them to new locations.

 

Thilts dominated nearly every terrestrial environment on the planet during the Primordial and Forgotten Eras, but due to a fungal infection that spread at the end of the latter, they mostly disappeared from humid, warm-weather environments. As of the current era, Thilts can be found in almost every arctic, red rock, and hot desert environment and dominate plants in such biomes whenever both are present. There are also a handful of species which have managed to survive in humid tropical regions and swamps, but these usually only exist in scattered pockets and are generally rare.

 

 

Edited June 29, 2024 by Wonders of Eros