Marasmius

Marasmius is a sentient mushroom whose heart is in the Fungal Terminus that extends throughout Ardenweald through the roots of each dream tree, serving as the transport network for the Night Fae Covenant. He is able to both connect to some of the pieces of Ardenweald that have broken off and the Underweald deep beneath Ardenweald. He is the origin of all mushrooms of Ardenweald, and perhaps all the Shadowlands. At some point, he used to reside in the Heart of the Forest, but had chosen to leave until the adventurer begins helping restore Ardenweald and asks for his help.

Though he technically exists across all of Ardenweald, underneath Ardenweald, and the pieces of Ardenweald that broke off, he appears normally in The Ring or the Fungal Terminus in the Stalks. He says he remembers the last time the Drust invaded Ardenweald, unlike everyone else.

While Marasmius left Tirna Achiad long ago, the Chief Mushroomancer Cortinarius left the Heart of the Forest only at the start of the anima drought.

Friendship and travel network
Much like NPCs from past expansions (and Ve'nari), Marasmius has his own reputation faction. All standings are gained via his daily quests, and more daily quests are unlocked at higher levels of the transportation network.

Initial unlock
After upgrading the sanctum to unlock the transport network, Zaki starts a quest chain to locate Marasmius and coax him back to the cause:

Locations
Accessed via the mushroom ring in the Heart of the Forest or at any of the locations in the field, Marasmius provides quick transport to the following locations:

Tier 1: Nurtured Roots
Marasmius asks for soil from various locations in Ardenweald, or he asks the Maw Walker to go on a bombing run with him to take out enemies in an area. Each daily quest is worth 350 reputation.
 * A Blackthorn Blend
 * A Royal Treat
 * A Taste of Tirna Noch
 * Glittering Gritty Goodness
 * Hyphae Patrol: Eventide Grove
 * Hyphae Patrol: Gossamer Cliffs
 * Hyphae Patrol: Heartwood Grove
 * Hyphae Patrol: The Stalks

Tier 2: Fun with Fungi
At Tier 2, Marasmius asks the adventurer to travel with him to the Deep Unknown, where a different task awaits each day. Generally enemies need to be killed, but occasionally he wants the Maw Walker to take a break. Each iteration is worth 500 reputation.


 * Into the Unknown

Tier 3: Blossoming Network
At Tier 3, a portal to Oribos opens in the Heart of the Forest, and Marasmius asks players to travel with him to one of the remote islands at the far reaches of Ardenweald. The daily quest is worth 650 reputation.


 * Go Beyond!

Portalbellos
After discovering the locations on Marasmius's daily quests, Zaki will sell portalbellos, encouraging the mushroom network to send the player to their requested location.

Rewards
Cortinarius, right next to Marasmius, is the quartermaster for the Marasmius friendship:

Other quests

 * Ember Court: Tubbins's Tea Party

Quotes
Gossip changes with travel network progression and certain questlines.


 * Fungal Terminus
 * Traveling in my filaments is painless and quick. If you haven't lost your mind, I can give you a ride.


 * 


 * Plus, it tickles a little bit.


 * You young ones, always making such a loud racket. I can hardly grow in peace!


 * Come on now, I don't have all day. Lots of growing to do!


 * There was a time when hard work was valued in these parts. Of course, then she came along and got all fancy with her trees and groves. Nobody remembers old Marasmius. "Oh sure, use the network," they always say. And do I hear a word of gratitude? No!


 * 


 * Ring
 * Welcome to The Ring, young one.


 * You know, not just anybody is allowed down here. Only my most trusted of mushroomancers can enter my home, the central point of the fae rings.


 * That means you! You're one of my mushroomancers now! Keep up the good work and great things are in your future, I just know it.


 * I've been down here for ages. I remember the early days, it was just me and the Queen herself. We kept awful busy back then. She's a real hard worker too...


 * Not like some of these louts these days. Always wanting to use the rings. Nobody ever asks the rings how they feel! Why, I ought to tell the Queen to get her subjects in order!


 * It's nice down here, isn't it? Peace and quiet. Just hard working mushroomancers like yourself and Cort over there. And me, of course. All workin' hard keeping Ardenweald up and running.


 * It's nice of you to pay me a visit. Not too many think of me these days, and you're always up for a good conversation. Just wanted to let you know I appreciate that.


 * Don't think that means I'm getting all soft on you though! Plenty of work to be doing!

You... I don't recognize you. How did you get all the way out here? Younglings these days...
 * If you somehow manage to get to one of the pieces of Ardenweald that have broken off into the In-Between surrounding the zone using a Goblin Glider Kit or equivalent

I'm not sure how you did it, but you got yourself into quite a mess, eh? I'll take you back to Ardenweald proper, this time. Just because I'm old and nobody takes care of me anymore doesn't mean I won't help someone in a bind.

Trivia

 * Even though he's named after the ' genus of fungi, known in Europe for forming s, he more closely resembles a ' with his white stalk and purple cap, which have varying toxicity and do not form fairy rings frequently but are also known to do so.
 * Neither Marasmius himself nor his quartermaster, Cortinarius are actually part of the "Marasmius" faction - they both are tied to the Wild Hunt.
 * As the progenitor of all mushrooms in Ardenweald (and possibly the Shadowlands), he likely bears some relation to the Fungrets. Coincidentally, both likely inspirations for the "colors" of fungrets seen in the Shadowlands (red for Maldraxxus, blue and blue-green for Ardenweald, see the Fungret page for more details), as well as the namesake of Marasmius and Cortinarius, all belong to the fungal order .