#If all he remembers is a Mushromoo going ''here u go man take a bite'' then he might not know to blame them at all

[ratcandy]

so I love your sozo hcs and art a lot. I also love theorizing a bunch over lore and stuff in the game and... idk? I had to share this idea with someone about the cordyceps.

So, in one of the secret messages it does say the skull that Spore Grotto is built in and around was the skull of a supposed ancient god. Probably one of the "first gods" even, and it has a mushroom similar to the one that was on Sozo growing out of it, but the face is old looking... So what if the cordyceps is some divine fungus the Mushroomos worship and the one on Sozo is an offspring or rebirth of the ancient one that requires a host to mature? Fungi will often eat and kill other species so perhaps that adds into why Sozo eats the Mushroomos? For a food source to gain power and the cordyceps is a more powerful species of fungi?

Plus maybe Dr Sozonius has a bit of a grudge with them for forcing it on him. Idk? Just some theories I've had when analyzing everything.

Oh worm thank you!! I'm glad you like my art n rambles <3

The idea that the fungus is itself a deity is one that's been tossed around here a bit yeah!!! And seeing as it managed to take down a God (assuming it is the reason for that Ancient God's death and it didn't just show up after, which I can't imagine why it would for something evidently parasitic) it would make total sense if it is/was!

AaaanD the idea that the Mushroomos specifically worship that Big Shroom is interesting! And using Sozo as a sort of host for their God's rebirth would be in-line with typical cult stuff, so hey!! I could totally see it!

My only uncertainty lies in the fact that the Mushroomos seem almost confused by what's going on with Sozo? At least, they don't make any mention of what's going on, and just claim that he's growing more unpredictable and cruel, and that they fear for their safety around him. And they run away horrified when he tries to eat them, which is a total reasonable response on its own, but not if they would expect it to happen for their God to reach maturity, right? You'd think that'd be like. I dunno, an honor? Noble sacrifice type thing? If their death aids in their God's rebirth?

They even question why he whispers to himself, which you'd figure they'd know if they put that God in him sdghSDKJGH

It's possible they're playing dumb to keep Sozo/outsiders unaware of their intentions, though. That or perhaps the Mushroomos did indeed intend for Sozo to be the new vessel for their God but they just had no fucking idea what that would entail sdghKSJDGH.

Like, here they were expecting their God's offspring/reincarnation to treat them with kindness or whatever for being the ones that brought it back, only for SURPRISE!!!!! It wants to EAT. and it wants to eat THEM

Who knows!! I don't think the Mushroomos' intentions are ever totally made clear, so anything is possible. Though we do know they didn't give much of a shit about the Bishops ("Leshy was slaughtered! Never liked him, anyway" and "Shamura has died. It was probably for the best") so hey for all we know they hate these new Gods and want their old one back. Doing it in the middle of a new God's territory (Anura) might not have been the best idea tho