Talisman Builder / Roaming Bemboji / 3D rendering / canonicalia / 2025

The mycelial network of the Bemboji species of mushroom will often relay high concentrations of nutrients towards individual specimens to motivate complex growth and emergent sentience. In its fully developed form such a Bemboji individual detaches itself from the network and temporarily operates as an independent mobile lifeform.

It will first “borrow” a pair of boots or any other footwear it can find. It needs to keep its mycelium (its “root”) separated from the soil to avoid being reassimilated into the network prematurely.

During its independent lifespan (lasting up to 120 hours) it will roam around learning about the world. Later, upon reassimilation it will share these experiences with the network. When it runs out of nutrients it will slowly start to shrivel up and lose mobility. It knows its journey is coming to an end. The Bemboji is compelled then to return the borrowed boots as closely as possible to where it found them, before burrowing itself back into the soil, awaiting its retrieval by the network.

Sometimes the Bemboji’s independent form expires before it reaches the dropoff location for the boots. It will completely dry up and shrink into a small ball, leaving its mission incomplete.

If you ever notice your gardening boots being missing, or lying a few meters away from the spot where you thought you’d left them, there’s a good chance a Bemboji may have ran off with them. Should you discover a small dry purplish grey clump in one of the boots, please return it to the earth.