Fungal Cavern
A recent settling of sand near the southern edge of the desert has revealed a hidden passageway into an underground cavern.
The Fungal Cavern is the site of an underground aquifer, a damp place full of mushrooms and poisonous plants. The walls are rich with Minerals and sparkling Gemstones that reflect and scatter what little light enters the cave.
Description and Requirements
The Fungal Cavern is a location in the Sandtail Desert region requiring a minimum rank of Duke or Duchess to enter. It also requires the purchase of the Fungal Cavern Map Piece from the Muridae Market Cartographer.
The Heads-up Display for the area shows an image of one of five areas of the cave, according to the hunter's current bait, with a title over the image; at the bottom is a hint about the use of that bait. Note that in the Glittering Grotto and Flowstone Falls, there is a rare chance of attracting mice from other subgroups; the table only lists the primary subgroup associated with the area. An additional hint is displayed if the user arms the wrong Power Type, either "Only Hydro and Forgotten power types are effective here!" or "Only Forgotten power type works at this depth!"
| Area | Cheese | Main Mouse Subgroup | Power Type |
Common Loot | Rare Loot | Hint |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cavern Mouth | Standard Cheese SUPER|brie+ |
Fungal Fodder | Hydro Forgotten |
Cavern Fungus | Nightshade | Normal bait is used to gather ingredients for Glowing Gruyere Cheese |
| Hollow Halls | Glowing Gruyere | Gruyere Grazers | Forgotten Hydro |
Mineral | Gemstone Diamond |
Glowing Gruyere is used to gather ingredients for Mineral Cheese |
| Glittering Grotto | Mineral | Mineral Munchers | Forgotten | Gemstone | Diamond | Mineral Cheese is used to gather ingredients for Gemstone Cheese |
| Flowstone Falls | Gemstone | Gemstone Gorgers | Forgotten | Diamond | Crystal Crucible | Gemstone Cheese is used to gather ingredients for Diamond Cheese |
| Subterra Silence | Diamond | Diamond Devourers | Forgotten | Crystal Crucible | Behemoth Catches | Diamond Cheese is used to gather the valuable Crystal Crucibles |
On the left of the Heads-up Display are the four area-specific cheeses (Glowing Gruyere, Mineral, Gemstone, and Diamond), shown with icons, current inventory counts, and "Arm" buttons. Hovering over a cheese count gives 1 or 2 Crafting recipes necessary to craft that cheese. On the right are the six area-specific loots used in crafting (Cavern Fungus, Nightshade, Mineral, Gemstone, Diamond, Crystal Crucible), with icons and a light that turns green when the item is common loot. Hovering over an item gives a hint about its use, as well as "Not Available", "Extremely Rare", or "Available".
Shops
Fungal Cavern Areas
Cavern Mouth
- This area is triggered by hunting with Standard Cheese or SUPER|brie+.
- The Fungal Fodder mice are found here and drop loot for crafting Glowing Gruyere Cheese.
Hollow Halls
- This area is triggered by hunting with Glowing Gruyere Cheese.
- The Gruyere Grazers mice are found here and drop loot for crafting Mineral Cheese.
- Several Gruyere Grazers mice will occasionally drop loot for crafting Gemstone Cheese and Diamond Cheese.
Glittering Grotto
- This area is triggered by hunting with Mineral Cheese.
- The Mineral Munchers mice are found here and drop loot for crafting Gemstone Cheese.
- Mineral Cheese will occasionally attract the Crystal Queen, Crystal Lurker, and Crystal Observer mice from the Gemstone Gorgers group.
Flowstone Falls
- This area is triggered by hunting with Gemstone Cheese.
- The Gemstone Gorgers mice are found here and drop loot for crafting Diamond Cheese.
- Gemstone Cheese will occasionally attract the Diamondhide and Huntereater mice from the Diamond Devourers group.
Subterra Silence
- This area is triggered by hunting with Diamond Cheese.
- The Diamond Devourers mice are found here and drop Crystal Crucibles used in crafting and for purchasing items in the various Fungal Cavern Shoppes.
Fungal Cavern Mice
The mice of the Fungal Cavern are separated into 5 subgroups, which are attracted according to the current Area activated by bait choice.
Hunting Strategy
Hunting Tips by Larry
Watch your step!
The earth has given way to a softly lit cavern that burrows deep beneath the surface, found to be rich in minerals, gemstones, and other precious materials. It would be a great place to mine, if it weren't inhabited by some unique breeds of mice that aren't too keen on letting their precious stones go!
Closest to the surface, the Fungal Fodder mice have grown reliant upon the spongy soft fungus and moulds that grow from the moisture trapped below, similar to those that occur naturally in standard baits. Using regular cheese, and your best Hydro trap, should be enough to get started in collecting some Cavern Fungus and Nightshade plants so you can create a more palatable substitute.
Using Glowing Gruyere, you should be able to attract the attention of the deeper mice and earn some Minerals for your troubles. Using these Minerals will allow you craft a more crunchy cheese.
Being so far from the surface, the mice hiding deeper in these caverns have evolved to be dependant on the Minerals and Gemstones for food, and are weaker against Forgotten traps instead of Hydro. Using normal conventional cheeses won't be enough to even garner a glance from some of the deeper mice. You are going to need to get creative and combine those newly acquired precious stones into some extravagantly expensive Gemstone and Diamond cheeses.
Be careful at this point. I can't even imagine a mouse that eats Gemstones and Diamonds for a regular meal...
History and Trivia
The Fungal Cavern was introduced on 12 May 2015.
Larry's Cavern Reports
Larry the Friendly Knight explored the Fungal Cavern and reported back to the King before the area was opened to Hunters.
Larry's Cavern Report #1
The entrance of the cavern is the site of an underground aquifer. The arid desert air soaks up the water, causing the walls to sweat with humidity. Within this damp environment, fungus and other plant life seem to flourish, although they're quickly snatched up by the somewhat amphibious mice here. I've collected some plant samples and am continuing to venture further into the cavern. Small, dark passages lie ahead...
Larry's Cavern Report #2
Moving further into the cavern, the lack of light has prevented the growth of much plant life. However, these narrow passages are rich with minerals! Some traces of water are present, however, the cooler, drier air has made the mice much less dependent on water.
Larry's Cavern Report #3
I've moved past the narrow, mineral-rich passageways and the cavern has opened up once again. Despite the dim lighting, I've spotted sparkling gemstones! The great riches here would make for quite the welcoming environment, if it were not for the fact that the mice here have become increasingly aggressive!
Larry's Cavern Report #4
It's clear that these long forgotten and ancient mice are not welcoming my presence! After pressing further into the cavern I've found even greater treasures! Diamonds sparkle in the walls, illuminated by light let in by tiny cracks in the ceiling. Some crumbling walls have revealed a passage way with an eerie glow ahead.
Larry's Cavern Report #5
This will be my final report. The usual dull sounds that echo throughout the cavern have now come to a dead silence. I can't shake the feeling I'm being watched by something... I must return to Gnawnia to share my findings with the King before the ancient mice here are my undoing.
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