Difference between revisions of "Carnivorous plants"

Revision as of 06:33, 24 November 2007

Felarya possess a wide variety of carnivorous plants. Like other vegetables, they are usually static, but they still represent a great danger if you don't know them.

Podmaw

Threat: Moderate

Hanging from the undersides of large branches, at first glance these large egg-shaped pods might look like a natural growth on the massive trees of Felarya. They even emit a slightly sweet aroma, much like a ripe fruit. However, once a prey is underneath them, they reveal their true nature. The pod splits open, revealing a gooey maw and writhing tentacles, and those tentacles shoot down towards the intended victim. Once ensnared by the mass of tentacles, the prey is swallowed whole and alive into the stretchy and elastic stem of the plant. The Podmaw then retracts and begins to digest the trapped victim. The process usually takes a few days. Of special note is that sometimes the large creatures of Felarya, such as nagas, will pick the Podmaws, much like one would pick a fruit, if there is a trapped humanoid inside that is still alive. They consider it a special delicacy, as the plant sap adds a sweet taste to the prey.

Sack Vine

Threat: Low

These extremely long and thick vines can be found coiled around the trunks and branches of the trees of Felarya. They are easily identified by the large purple colored blossoms (which resemble tulips) and shriveled green sacks located along the length of the main vine. When a prey gets close to one of the blossoms, it immediately strikes and envelops the victim. The prey is then swallowed and travels along the length of the vine, until it reaches one of the shriveled green sacks. The plant then begins to pump in digestive enzymes. The sack walls will also begin to constrict around the form of the victim, restricting all movement during digestion.

Doormat Plant

Threat: Low

These plants seems harmless at first glance. They essentially look like big lily pads, although they are found on land. When prey steps onto the center of the pad, the ground suddenly gives way and they find themselves being pulled into a narrow hole in the ground. The leaf engulfs them as this occurs, sealing the prey within their grasp. The encasing leaf then begins to exude digestive fluids, which digest the prey over time. The consumption is total, and once the prey is totally absorbed by the plant the leaf will re-emerge from the hole once again, ready to catch more prey.

Dryad Gut Worm

Threat: Special (if you ever encounter it you are already in deep trouble)

Probably one of the most unique predators in Felarya, this carnivorous plant only exists in the stomachs of dryads. Much like a tape worm or other intestinal parasite in animals, this worm like plant grows within the stomach of the dryad and devours whole food that finds itself in the dryad's gut....most typically a humanoid. These hardy creatures can even survive the stomach acids of the dryad. Interestingly enough, the only way for a dryad to remove the parasite is by eating caffeine rich food... most commonly coffee loving humans out on a camping trip.

Giant Pitcher

Threat: Low

While one might expect an obvious trap to be of no danger, the Giant Pitchers of Felarya are quite the opposite. Like their smaller insect eating cousins, the Giant Pitcher consists of a large pitcher shaped growth that contains a pool of digestive fluid at the bottom. However, unlike the smaller kind, the Giant Pitcher's fluid pool emits a chemical scent that drives any nearby animal (or person) into a artificial state of extreme thirst. The animal will literally think it will die of thirst if it does not drink anything, and it will be inexorably drawn to the Giant Pitcher. They will willing leap inside, and once there, actually begin to drink the digestive enzyme sap contained within. This, combined with the enzymes working on their body from the outside, will quickly reduce the victim in question to food for the plant. The effect can be countered by quickly drinking an actual safe liquid, which will give you enough clarity of mind to realize what is going on.

Poisonous Creeper

Threat: Medium

Poisonous Creepers are vines lined with rows of sharp spines that grow up the trunks of trees in Felarya. When they sense prey is nearby, they will shoot the spines in the general direction of the victim. Each spine tip is coated with a deadly poison, which will instantly kill any small to medium sized humanoid. Once it's target is killed, the creeper will extend tendrils of it's vines outwards towards it. It will drag it back to the main vine, where more vines will wrap around the corpse, mummifying it. Once wrapped, the corpse will be broken down by digestive fluid excreted by the vines over the next days. Given that the range of the spines can be over 100 feet, it makes this plant very dangerous . Fortunately they are somewhat rare, as they will typically shoot their spines at large beings as well as small, which commonly incurs the wrath of the large beings in question. Travelers have reported sights of enraged giant nagas literally knocking down the tree the creeper was wrapped around, then using a second tree to smash the creeper and it's tree into oblivion.

Mist Clematis

Threat: High

Sticking out of the foggy layer of mist ocean, these giant flowers are one of its greatest danger. Their stem is tick, supple, and strong enough to resist a chainsaw. The large blossom is of a pinkish white, and most of the time closed to better endure the cyclonics winds sweeping the zone. Once the flower locates a prey however, the blossom suddenly opens, revealing a large, slimy mouth. The plant then vacuum its target in a a brief but incredibly powerful suction, strong enough to overcome the ambient wind, and the prey finds itself almost instantly propelled into the mouth, dizzy and disoriented, and is promptly swallowed. The prey then travels slowly down the length of the stem, until it reaches the large stomach of the plant, situated deep underground.

What makes mist clematis so dangerous is their capture range. Some specimens are said to be able to suck preys in from up to 300 yards.

Blinking Flower

Threat: Medium

Blinking Flowers are carnivorous plants that exist in the spaces between dimensions. Every so often, then can phase into one of the dimensions they live between to snatch prey. They strike at lightning speed, engulfing their victim within their petals before blinking back to their dimensional void to digest their prey within their stems. While there is little defense against such an attack, they are rarely seen save for certain unstable areas of Felarya such as Miragia forest.

Gloomlotus

Threat: Low

The Gloomlotus can commonly be found in the Dridder forest region. Unlike most plants, the Gloomlotus actually requires darkness to thrive instead of light. They prefer caves, although one can find them in the darkest parts of the forest as well. They emit a sickly, purple glow as a means of attracting curious prey. Once the prey approaches, the Gloomlotus will puff a cloud of pollen in the victim's face, which causes them to fall into a coma. The flower will then begin to spray fine fibers over the body of the prey, encasing them in a cocoon to protect the prey's body from other animals or beasts in the area. The Gloomlotus will then grow roots into the trapped prey, slowly breaking them down into food.

Earth Mouth

Threat: Moderate

A great plant buried deep underground, with only its mouth emerging on the surface, often at the bottom of a funnel-shaped cavity. They are rather easy to spot, however they are still dangerous because the plant will shake the ground around the funnel whenever it senses prey. Once in the funnel, it's almost impossible to escape. The plant makes the surface vibrate, and the prey finds itself slowly and inexorably approaching the center where it is swallowed alive. Some species of earth mouths possess a sticky tongue as well.

Gravedigger

Threat: Medium

A completely mobile plant with no need to take permanent root. It consists of a large pod-like mouth sitting atop a gut-sack supported by several large tendrils. When the mouth opens, tentacles from the stomach shoot out of the large maw and wrap around its prey, pulling it back into the stomach, where digestion begins. Its name comes from its habit of digging itself into an underground burrow after ingesting a meal, essentially digging its victim's grave for it.

• Credits to Veeshan123 and El Portero for some of the ideas