Tolypocladium longisegmentum

Solitary club-shaped mushrooms (several yards apart) with rounded, dome-shaped pilei that are dark brown to black with pore-like structures on the surface. Texture is somewhat gelatinous and moist. Older specimen's pileus is entirely black with a dry surface. Stipe is as follows: apex is pale to dirty yellow/gray. This color tapers to vibrant yellow towards base. Entire specimen is around 7.5 cm tall. All 3 specimens I found were between 6-8 cm. Tolypocladium is a genus found in the Ophiocordycipitaceae family, a family of parastitic fungi. The Tolypocladium genus was once labeled "Elaphocordyceps" but was synonymized with Tolypocladium in 2014. Tolypocladium longisegmentum parasitizes Elaphomyces truffles in particular. Often confused with Tolypocladium capitatum, the two species can be differentiated via spore size and cap glossiness.

Habitat:
Growing (not in clusters) in multiple areas in deep leaf litter on the side of a ridge in a dense mixed hardwood/coniferous forest in Northwest Georgia (Gordon County), US. 12-17-17

Notes:
After I got this ID, I had so much regret that I didn't dig down further to find the Elaphomyces truffle host!