Abelain Narv'uk
The Bloodseeker
Name: The Drowning Vine, Sturnik
Homeworld: Ghul
Development Thread: None
Average Measurements:
Height-0.30 meters
Width-1 meter
Length of vines: 4.5 meters
Cultivation Requirements:
Type one Atmosphere. Submerged in water. Carnivorous diet.
Strengths:
- Paralytic Thorns: Thorns are used to subdue threats with a paralytic substance. This substance affects humanoids and nonhumanoids alike.
- Surprising strength: The vines are adept at holding down creatures that are captured.
- Hidden: The plant is located underwater at all times, and is therefore difficult to view.
Weaknesses:
- Requires extreme amounts of water.
- Thorns are not armor piercing.
- Unclean water may damage plant.
- Vines cannot take very much damage.
Distinctions:
- Commonly submerged underwater.
- Vines hold paralytic thorns.
- Vines will lash at anything which makes physical contact with them.
- Carnivore
Average Growth Cycle: Two months
Average Life:
Plant survives for around two years in optimal conditions. It can technically be kept alive outside of water if it is given large amounts of it daily. The paralytic substance can only be kept stable for around one week outside of the plant, after which it becomes essentially useless. The substance causes full body paralysis within a minute, though the quantity of dosage will show how long the paralysis will last.
Nutritional Value:
The main maw of the plant, and the roots- 300 calories per inch.
Vines-100 calories per inch.
History:
Sturnik, or the Drowning Vine as it is colloquially known is a carnivorous plant found on the world of Ghul. It is one of the various living things on the planet that is known to kill Arue'tii and other large animals. The plant has been known of since the Arue'tii began to civilize and spread rumors of strange holes into oblivion which would open up when one stepped upon them and drag them into the dirt.These stories were only partially true, though the Sturnik plant is attributed with the losses of many a traveling and exploratory party. It was not until the last thousand years or so that the nature of the plant was truly understood, and even less since they began to be purposely used by forces of Vandel's empire.
The plant holds many fibers upon it's vines alongside the thorns. Once three or four of these fibers are activated, the vine will lash out against the offending target, using the thorns to inject it with a paralytic substance which makes it impossible to move. While these thorns do not always pierce subjects, such as in the case of an Arue'tii hide, the vines are also surprisingly powerful and once one has lashed out, others will also move to assist the vine in holding down a target.
Once the target is paralyzed or restrained, they are dragged underwater and promptly drowned to death. They are then slowly brought to the maw which remains at the center of the plant, and are digested for multiple weeks. The plant is thus sustained until it's next meal, and will not attack any fresh targets. These were purposely planted during the reign of Vandel in an attempt at a natural form of landmine, being placed in defense of key areas in large droves so that enemy forces would be captured and weakened by the starving flora.
Intent: To provide a species to fill out the world of Ghul and potentially emphasize one of the dangers that traveling to the planet might entail. It will also allow for a local toxin to be produced.
