Maiko's Note
They say Sulanum opens more than the mind — it parts the veil. One breath, one bite, and the forest is no longer silent. The trees begin to hum. Eyes closed, the spirit walks. Many speak of meeting Sulmalan in the haze, the goddess wrapped in mist and stars. She does not command; she listens. And sometimes… she answers.
The Madun Liberty Cap
Shindjal: Sulanum
Faction:
Endulani
"The glowing path to Sulmalàn.”
1. Overview
Sulanum is a bioluminescent fungal species native to Madun, descended from Liberty Cap mushrooms brought aboard the Theseus for mold control in crop soils. Over centuries, it evolved under human hands - and later under alien stars - into a potent psychoactive organism at the heart of Endulani spirituality.
2. Origins
Onboard the Theseus, Sulanum was cultivated covertly. While officially spread through soil to suppress harmful molds in crop systems, it was also clandestinely bred for enhanced psychedelic potency. Over centuries of spaceflight, recreational use among farmers and technicians became ritualized, passed in whispers through generations.
When humanity descended upon Madun, the fungi adapted again - no longer confined to hydroponic trays. In Madun's Endudjan forests, Sulanum established a symbiotic relationship with native plants and trees. Avoiding flora hostile to its roots and outcompeting some fauna, it found its perfect home beneath the towering canopy.
3. Appearance
Sulanum now thrives in moist, shadowy groves, often near streams or ancient roots. It appears as slender, wiry stems topped with tiny glowing caps - each one emitting a soft, green-blue luminescence, reminiscent of starlight filtered through deep mist. Unlike the star-scattered floor of the Vejalanin, Sulanum pulses gently, beckoning seekers in silence.
4. Cultural Use
Among the Endulani, Sulanum is revered. They cultivate it in hidden groves, and it is central to spiritual rites. When brewed into tea or consumed ceremonially, the evolved Sulanum opens the mind to vivid fractal visions, journeys of memory and prophecy - and, on rare occasions, direct communion with the goddess Sulmalàn.
To the Endulani, Sulanum is not simply a drug. It is a bridge:
“We do not eat it to dream - we eat it to listen.” - Shint’twalàn proverb
Some Pashevalani mystics also partake, but other cultures treat Sulanum with fear, derision, or disinterest. To the Empire, it is outlawed superstition - and they call the mushroom groves ‘poison gardens.’
5. Sulanum Rituals
The Endulani believe that collective use strengthens the spiritual connection. Their rituals occur deep in the Endudjan forest, at night, surrounded by glowing Starspine and shimmering Kelujeva.
Participants begin by dancing to rhythmic music until their legs grow weak.
They then sit cross-legged in a circle, eyes closed, each entering a solitary spiritual journey.
Though the visions are personal, the communal energy is believed to call Sulmalàn more reliably.
These gatherings are considered both sacred and dangerous. Only trained lorekeepers may guide novices.
6. Prohibition and Use Outside the Forest
Within the Imperi kòu Handjelani, Sulanum is strictly forbidden. The Empire views it as a threat to order, citing its power to erode discipline, ignite rebellious thought, and inspire uncontrolled emotion.
Despite this:
The Kosuklani smuggle and use Sulanum discreetly, valuing it for its visionary power.
The Pashevalani (Western pirates) openly indulge, often mixing it into sulborol, their strong ale, for chaotic and ecstatic pub nights.
To the Empire, these uses are decadent and dangerous. To others, they are freedom in fungal form.
7. Scientific Note
While Sulanum is often treated as a mystical agent, Shint’twalani scholars have observed that its mycelium interweaves with the Salunum root-mind - a vast underground network binding trees, plants, and the Shulunbao. Some propose that Sulejel, the mysterious forest spirits, may emerge from this same network, suggesting that Sulanum is not just a drug, but a psychic key - awakening echoes of ancestral souls buried within the forest.
Maiko's Note
They say Sulanum opens more than the mind — it parts the veil. One breath, one bite, and the forest is no longer silent. The trees begin to hum. Eyes closed, the spirit walks. Many speak of meeting Sulmalan in the haze, the goddess wrapped in mist and stars. She does not command; she listens. And sometimes… she answers.
