This project is currently underway
(WIP – Work In Progress)
This oracle is a compendium of knowledge, carefully compiled to help you learn more about the characteristics, benefits, and potential dangers you may encounter when foraging for mushrooms.
This quest is not merely culinary or scientific: it is meant to be an inner journey, a way of discovering oneself through the unique qualities of those mischievous little creatures known as Champimignons.
It was as fall 2020 approached that the idea for Champimignons first took shape with the Mushroom Smaugust by Coliandre, Svan, Sifhel, and Chane. Their list serves as the starting point for this project, which was expanded the following year with additional specimens.
Initial sketches are conceived as two-page spreads, reminiscent of old school biology charts, depicting the world of fungi.
The goal: to format and color them for September.
But as the creative process unfolded, a distinct personality began to emerge for these little beings, along with characteristics tied to their unique traits. The idea of an oracle began to take shape, but its content and purpose remained somewhat vague. In the end, only eight creatures were created during this period.
Although put on hold, this oracle project has taken on a new ambition over the years: to offer a beautiful and touching game, but above all, content that has been carefully conceived and crafted based on meticulous research—spanning mycology, symbolism, and at times mythology and even ethnology—to approach each specimen with as much authenticity as possible.
The number of cards has not yet been determined, and the project is still underway. Ideally, we would like to find enough relevant concepts to pair with the mushrooms and strike a balance among the various categories of mushrooms:
- The Edibles
- The toxic substances
- The hallucinogens
Each card will include the mushroom's common name, its scientific name, and the concept associated with the card.
The game will come with an instruction booklet that includes the following information for each card:
- The “Power” of the champimignon… understanding the concept behind it, all presented in the form of a magical story.
- The message, or how to interpret this card during a reading.
- An inspiring quote.
The cards will be square with rounded corners.
The finishing touches and layout have not yet been finalized.
To be continued …