Difference between revisions of "Carnivorous plants"

Revision as of 06:28, 7 November 2009

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. See also regular plant life.

Fairies as preys for a carnivorous plant.

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 affected will literally think they will die of thirst if they do not drink soon, and they will be inexorably drawn to the Giant Pitcher. They will willingly 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 safe liquid, like water, 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 outwards towards it. It will drag the corpse back to the main vine, where more vines will wrap around the corpse, mummifying it. Once wrapped, it 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 sightings of enraged giant nagas literally knocking down the tree the creeper was wrapped around, and 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 the mist ocean, these giant flowers are one of its greatest danger. Their stem is thick, 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 cyclonic winds that sweep 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, in a brief but incredibly powerful motion, strong enough to overcome the ambient winds. 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 range. Some specimens are said to be able to suck preys in from up to 300 yards away.

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 inter-dimensional space to digest their prey within their stem. 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 its 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 eating, essentially digging its victim's grave for it.

Hydra Tree

Threat: Very Low

An immense carnivorous plant resembling a cross between an anemone and a tree, with a very wide trunk and massive tentacles crowning an enormous mouth high above the ground... A mouth that is fully capable of engulfing a giant naga whole!

Ironically, hydra trees pose almost no threat to humans or anything too small to trigger the tentacles. The plant however, is a mortal danger for greater predators, such as nagas. Its tentacles possess a formidable strength that very few creatures can match. Once captured, the prey is brought to its mouth and forcefully pushed in. Once the plant begins to swallow, the prey is as good as dead. Very strong esophageal walls will grip it, slowly pushing it down in to a cavernous stomach deep underground. Even worse than their great strength is their resistance to damage; trying to hurt an hydra tree is like trying to hurt a mountain.

They are very rare however, and great predators, other than fairies, quickly learn their exact location. Fairies simply don't use size-changing magic around them, and stay small. Sometimes, nekos or humans will build villages at the base of hydra trees, as they provide a natural and strong protection. Once the tree has devoured a prey though, it will digest it for a whole week. Its tentacles fold around its mouth and it won't attack another prey until its digestion is finished... a sure sign to predators that the place is safe for now...

Coulorme

Threat: Moderate

A carnivorous tree growing in Chidokai forest. A quick glance will not reveal it as a Coulorme tree, as it looks very similar to the other trees of that zone: high with a long, twisted trunk and dense foliage. Even climbing the branches of a Coulorme doesn't pose any particular danger, making it even harder to detect. Its roots are another story though: they are very long and will suddenly come to life as soon as they sense a prey approaching. Once captured, the prey is swiftly brought to the cavernous mouth of the plant, usually situated under the trunk.

In an environment like Chidokai forest, full of narrow spaces, where you can have trouble distinguishing between the ground and the trees, and between a branch and a root, the Coulorme trees are really dangerous.

Coulorme

Threat: Moderate

A carnivorous tree growing in Chidokai forest. A quick glance will not reveal it as a Coulorme tree, as it looks very similar to the other trees of that zone: high with a long, twisted trunk and dense foliage. Even climbing the branches of a Coulorme doesn't pose any particular danger, making it even harder to detect. Its roots are another story though: they are very long and will suddenly come to life as soon as they sense a prey approaching. Once captured, the prey is swiftly brought to the cavernous mouth of the plant, usually situated under the trunk.

In an environment like Chidokai forest, full of narrow spaces, where you can have trouble distinguishing between the ground and the trees, and between a branch and a root, the Coulorme trees are really dangerous.

Angler Seaweedle

Threat: Moderate

A carnivorous plant residing within the depths of the Felaryan Seas, usually sleeping at the bottoms of the ocean floor. In order to catch prey, the Angler Seaweedle will allow four stalks of "seaweed" to float above it's body, while concealing it's mouth in the sand. It will then wait for an unsuspecting prey to swim up and eat the "seaweed". The seaweed stalks however, are actually powerful tentacles that will wrap around the prey and drag it to the seaweedle's mouth, which will uncover itself from the sands to engulf it. Biting into the seaweed will unleash a powerful tranquilizer into the prey's nervous system, which makes its capture much easier.

Smaller versions of the Seaweedle will feast on fishes, while larger versions will agressively feast on human-sized prey and small mermaids. As long as you stay away from any suspicious seaweed deposits, the angler will pose little threat, though.

• Credits to Veeshan123 for the Sack vine and doormat plant, to Pendragon for the angler seaweedle, and to El Portero for the gravedrigger.