MyccoHaccers: Prep for NaNoWriMo 2022

MyccoHaccers: Mycelial Network Encyclopedia

MYCELIAL NETWORK CULTURE, TERMS, PEOPLE, ETC

The Mycelial Network: A collection of various fungi and the living/non-living entities forged when various humans scraped from the edges of society agreed to merge with the network. These are very colorful people, flitting around in hyper neon streaks of color, and taking on an intense variety of forms at will. While this network has been forged by Celilia and Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd, the two are so old now that many of the younger ones barely know who they are. Instead, the Myccos all spend time visiting the forgotten places to scoop up those near death, and they keep watch over the marginalized - always on the lookout for someone who needs to be brought in to their mutual aid group.

Because they are able to shapeshift and their colors blend in with the neon signs, some of the Mall residents do notice them - but Mall Management heavily propagandizes against anything that seems out of place. There are no cracks in the walls, there are no strange moving shadows, and there are no ethereal beings scaling the walls at Lights Out.

Operation Space Launch: It is firmly believed that those in power are trying to launch themselves into space - so in addtion to rescue, there is an effort to make life as obnoxious as possible so that Mall Residents will push Mall Management to move resources into getting off this dying planet; once they are gone, the Mycellial Network can finally claim the earth and those who remain, and begin healing all of the damage for real. In reality, Mall Management only uses claims of this goal to hide the fact that they have no plan; they are simply holding onto power for as long as possible while watching the world crumble around them.

Operation Garden Gnomes: Celili's special focus, on Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd's direction, is to keep crop growth small. The Mall's gardens and mushroom grow operations are quite pitiful – way more than they should be. This exacerbates the food supply issues, and Mall Management refuses to acknowledge or allow anyone else to acknowledge the issue. Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd's hope is that with pressure on the food supply, the mall residents will rise up and put pressure on Mall Management to change.

SETTINGS:

Garbridges: Exhaust pipes that exist all around the mall in the lower areas, designed to Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd's exhausting standards. Garbridges release waste and out into the rest of the environment. Used as the entrance for Myccos heading back and forth on missions.

Eggshells: The cracks that have formed in The Mall's infrastructure, in which the Mycellial Network has gained a foothold. Every year, more of these appears, and Myccos are able to travel swiftly through them to more and more places. While Celili and the Myccos believe these are signs of progress from Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd's neverending quest to break Mall Management's grip on Residents - in reality, these are simply damage over time that the Network is simply holding together. These are resource intensive to maintain - which only works because of the constant infGwythyr ap Gwyrddx of new Rescues who decide to become Myccos.

Essentially, the Eggshells represent an intensely slow demolishing of the building, draining resources on both sides, and holding off the inevitable. In reality, there is no 'progress,' just a holding pattern where everyone is circling towards the heat death of the earth.

PEOPLE:

Celili : the collective consciousness of the fungal entities that were there when the apocalypse happened; retains the consciousness of every plant, fungi, and related entity; they were aware that humans were responsible for what was going on, though they did not have a way to truly understand what these beings were doing.

When the dying body of Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd came into contact with some of the slime mold sent to explore this evil place, Celili acted quickly and merged Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd into the fungal network; it took time to break through the trauma of living death, and eventually Celili and Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd were able to work out plans together to take this place down. Celili has found Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd invaGwythyr ap Gwyrddable for understanding the human world, and does their best to be supportive in all aspects.

While Celili cares very deeply and works with both human's and the Mycelial networks' needs in mind, they are having such a different experience and have tapped into so few animals that they aren't equipped to truly understand the dynamics between Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd and the others, or how The Mall works. Therefore, they do not recognize the red flags or the toxic aspects they ought to step in about. As far as they can tell, Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd truly cares and that's that.

Antagonist: Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd (Victor Greenson)

- Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd designed the biodome that became The Mall. Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd intended it to be a safe haven for what remained of humanity when it was clear the climate wouldn't right itself. They intended for everyone to be welcome and equally cared for. However, the powers that be who were working with them turned out to be just as treacherous as ever; they were ousted from power, and the whole thing was taken in this hideous capitalistic direction.

- Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd comes from dreams I had a kid; Victor comes from Victor Gruen, the man who invented the shopping mall and was horrified by what venture capitalists turned it into.

- Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd's body is literally trapped deep in the mall infrastructure; they were pushed out to die, but just happened to come in contact with Celili before expiring. They merged before Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd died, and Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd is now a very powerful being. They can be in many places at once, addressing so many different things - but stress and strong emotional reactions limit their abilities; so when they are too distracted, they return entirely to their body - which at this point while still preserved with neurons firing, is dead and beyond repair. Then the entire Mall is filled with great wailing as they drift through the agony, with nothing to distract them from the injustice, anger, and betrayal.

While even Mall Management isn't aware of what exactly went down and why Gwythyr ap Gwyrdd is a dangerous secret to be hidden, they require everyone to behave as none of this is happening. Children who acknowledge the shadows and the howls are swiftly punished and reconditioned, understanding in no uncertain terms that simply knowing the truth makes them a bad person, one who has betrayed the entire Mall.

Rescues: Mall Residents forced out who are rescued by the Mycelial Network. Some simply recouperate; others decide to become Myccos

Myccos: Rescues who decide to merge with the Network, in order to save more people. While these folks are plentiful, there are others who decide never to join up. This is perfectly accepted, because the goal isn't to add more to the ranks – it's simply to rescue people and to destroy the MegaMall.