Murkgut - The Shambling Mound

Murkgut, a colossal shambling mound older than some kingdoms, drags itself silently through mud and root. It swallows without pause, leaving only churned water and tangled weeds behind. No one knows if it is plant, predator, or something else entirely—only that it consumes without end.

Role in Its Society:

Shambling mounds have no true society, but Murkgut rules its territory by sheer survival instinct. Lesser swamp predators avoid its hunting grounds entirely, and the occasional will-o’-wisp follows it like scavengers trailing a lion. Druids whisper that Murkgut has grown wise from centuries of absorbing enchanted prey, and that its slow thoughts might be older than the marsh itself.

Appearance Description:

Murkgut’s body is a tangle of sodden vines, roots, and half-decayed logs, all slick with algae and draped in moss. Pale fungus blooms in its folds, and a wide, jagged “mouth” lined with root-like tendrils splits the mass. Its glowing yellow eyes—if they are eyes at all—shift location within its body as it moves. Bits of armor, bone, and broken weapons protrude from its form, slowly sinking into the green-black tangle.

Backstory:

Long ago, an elven warband tried to burn Murkgut from the marsh, believing it to be the source of a spreading blight. They failed. Their enchanted weapons, armor, and even corpses became part of its biomass, strengthening it. Over centuries, it has consumed beasts, boats, and bold adventurers alike, growing larger and more cunning. Now, local legends speak of it as a guardian spirit—though its “blessing” is simply the mercy of being ignored.