Sparkle pods are fungi found in the Upper Plains of the Western Frontier.

From the root base grows a sturdy stem which is crowned with a fruiting, puffball head. The stem elevates this spore-filled sac above the ground, out of reach of crawling insects and parasites.

The sparkle pod is named for the unusual spores they produce, which appear almost metallically reflective and colorful. This is due to the layered microscopic structure of the spores which refracts light to create iridescence.

When approached, the sparkle pod bursts their puffball head, showering the area in “dazzling” spores that create a unique sparkling haze. This “eruption” serves a dual function, it spread their seeds and propagates the species and scares away larger animals which might trample the root base.