Strolen\s Citadel content. 
Lifeforms
Flora
Forest/ Jungle

4.25

4 Votes

27xp

ID:3763
Hits:3725
Comments: 8
Ideas: 6
Rating:4.25
Condition: Normal

Submitted:
March 23, 2007, 12:45 pm
Updated:
March 3, 2008, 6:22 pm





Voted Hall of Honour:
Cheka Man ( 1x )
Wulfhere ( 1x )


Plants of the Garden-Fortress
By: valadaar

An assortment of magical, dangerous plants, derived from natural plants and steeped in odd magics.

Rapacious Snapdragon
Death Nettle
Miremoss
Spitting Euphorbia
Singeweed
Scorpian Grass



User Submitted Ideas (6)

valadaar | 0xp
Death Nettle

A giant variety of common nettle, it has arrow-head shaped leaves, greyish varagated foliage and is covered in razor sharp, poisonous spines. The poison causes severe pain as well as violent muscle spasams which could cause a victim to fall, possibily into more nettle. Since large doses will disrupt breathing, falling into the patch is not a good outcome.

The toxin (which is a neurotoxin) biodegrades rapidly and will not keep well if harvested from the plant.
Wulfhere | 0xp
Such a plant would be a magnet for those scavengers that have resistance to its toxin: Perhaps giant insects or other dangerous plants.
valadaar | 0xp
Rapacious Snapdragon

A brightly colored flower with tall spires similar to foxglove. The Rapacious version is both very much larger then normal snapdragons, and far more active. The spires are very tall - 12-14' in height, and the spires are studded by very large flowers, each about 1 foot across. The flowers appear in many brilliant colors, but hide a secret. They are equipped with fang-like thorns that will be used to bite anyone coming close to the plant. A victim will be subject to 2-4 bite attacks at a time but an individual plant can only attack one target at a time.

The plant is non-toxic, but the razor-sharp thorns can cause serious damage.
valadaar | 0xp
Miremoss

Miremoss appears as a fine green carpet and is otherwise not very different from other common mosses. What makes it dangerous is that it is very very tough, and exudes a very strong adhesive if damaged. This adhesive has a short setting period - usually 1-2 minutes after contact with the moss. When it sets, it does so suddenly and will hold fast most materials with a bond strength of magical intensity. Since the moss can occur in large patches, a victim could be stuck on the moss. Removing footware is a good solution if the victim is no longer on the moss or can fly, but if they are still on the moss, they will still have a serious problem.

The moss is quite tough and requires signficant hacking to cut through. Generally it will take longer to cut a significant patch then it will take for the adhesive to cure, possibly sticking weapons to the ground.

The adhesive is soluble in alcohol. It could be harvested, but since it begins curing on exposure to air that would be a difficult process.
Wulfhere | 0xp
Another reason for carrying lots of alcohol...

"I'm not a boozehound, I just want to be prepared!"

Locals aware of the plant's properties might wear large planks of wood on their feet, similar to snowshoes, to spread their weight evenly enough to avoid damaging the plants. Alternatively, they might coat their shoes heavily with beeswax, to keep them from adhering.

I could see people cultivating this plant for its useful adhesive properties.
valadaar | 0xp
Yep, if you can somehow harvest the 'epoxy' before it hardens (under water, perhaps) it would make excellent glue. It is, of course, biodegradable, but over a timeline too long to assist escape.
valadaar | 0xp
Spitting Euphorbia

This bush is generally low key and resembles an oversized (4' height) common Euphorbia (Light green foliage, many small leaves, spherical overall shape). It is, however, somewhat intelligent and of a rather dour disposition. It has a caustic, milky sap that it can project up to 20'. This sap is very caustic and will inflict serious burns to organic materials. It is easily upset by sudden movement, sound, or light and will spurt sap until whatever disturbs it is gone, or it depletes its supply (usually 10-12 discharges per day).

If somehow subdued, it could be harvested for its sap that can then be used as-is as a weapon, or for use in alchemical work.
valadaar | 0xp
Singeweed

Singeweed appears very similar to Red Hot Pokers (http://www.freefoto.com/preview.jsp?id=12-65-53&k=Red+Hot+Poker") but differs in two major ways.

It is animated, capable of movement, and it is infused with elemental fire. When disturbed by intruders, it will envelop its flowers with flame and attempt to strike intruders in range. Strangely, the flames do not hurt the flower itself. Though capable of movement, they will not move further then 10' from their original rooting site.

The elemental energy is tied to the plant's life force, so if ripped up or otherwise killed, the energy will dissipate. Magic which works with elemental fire will apply to the plant.
valadaar | 0xp
Scorpion Grass

This grass appears as normal, overgrown grass - standing about 18" high with the occasional even taller spire covered with seeds. Some of these spires are different, containing a very strong, stiff core and ending in a barbed thorn. The thorn is quite toxic and sharp enough to easily pierce leather or find it's way through chain links. The spire is also capable of moving and will slash or stab at anything warm which comes within 18" of the plant.
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Suggested Submissions
The Unseen Fortress By: valadaar
Locations » Fortification » Forest/ Jungle

In the realms, not all fortifications are walls of wood, stone and iron.

Comments ( 8 )
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Voted Dozus

2007-03-23 11:41 PM
Link: [3763#26080|text]
0xp
A nice assortment of unique foliage. This kind of stuff is the real meaty flavor of a good campaign.
Voted Scrasamax

2007-03-24 02:39 AM
Link: [3763#26086|text]
0xp
Have no fear, I've brought my Weedwhacker+5!
Voted Wulfhere

2007-03-26 01:26 PM
Link: [3763#26171|text]
0xp
A well-done selection of nasty foliage. Alert travelers could be warned of the presence of these plants by the signs they leave behind (scattered animal bones near Scorpion Grass, damage to nearby plants from spitting euphorbia or singeweed, etc.).

They are too obviously magical to occur naturally; only a truly irresponsible wizard would create such nasty plants. All it would take is a few patches of Scorpion Grass near a village to wreak havok on local livestock. Hopefuilly, such plants can't effectively compete naturally with more normal flora, or they could render entire regions almost uninhabitable.
 
valadaar

2007-03-26 01:34 PM
0xp
Yes, these critters are sort of Alice-in-wonderland inspired (plus my own garden, when I actually maintained it... another story).

They are part of the magically-reinforced garden of the Unseen fortress and intended as 'nature-themed' deathtraps.

If they escaped, then they could easily become the subject of an adventure.
Voted tinypoisonousfish

2010-01-10 10:02 AM
Link: [3763#73207|text]
0xp
Reminds me of Expedition to the Barrier Peaks. :)

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It is rumoured that a sort of little people living deep in the green woods have magic acorns. If they throw and hit someone with by one of these acorns the victim will experience temporary madness for a small duration of time, making the babbling victim easy to capture of kill.
By: Michael Jotne Slayer | UpVote