1-1,5 cm all around, black short legs, short, but really segmented antennae

Thanks for your remarks dearhumi and Leuba. I'm still researching. I went back to the site after discovering the fungus to obtain more information to help find an ID. What I found was that the tree was dead and the fungus seemed somewhat aged. I cut into it with a knife but that didn't reveal much other than it seemed old. According to Wikipedia Graphis scripta is susceptible to parasitic fungus, it mentions 2 of them. This doesn't look like them. It may be that this is a black wart fungus that would be there regardless if the script lichen was there or not (it seems to be covering anything with regards to the dead tree). I'll keep looking into it.

Fascinating! All the ones I have seen are dull brown, and not orange like yours!

An undescribed species from Elaphomyces muricatus group. The outside was a rusty brown, but it is hard to see because it was covered in dirt. The fungus to the right of it in the second photo is Tolypocladium bulbosum, which is a parasite of Elaphomyces. This species of Elaphomyces grows underground and has an ectomycorrhizal association with Quercus and Pinus spp.

Black, rigid, segmented body. Approx. 1" in length. A small bit sticking out either side of the tail end which makes it look like this is the front rather than the back of the beetle. Pale yellow longish legs.

Tortoise beetle?