Folialiths

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==Description==
Folialiths (sing. Folialith) are entities that possess rough, bark-like skin and leaves covering their upper body which they use to mimic trees. They typically reside on outdoor levels, however they have been seen in certain indoor levels such as Level 1, disguised as potted plants. They vary in size, from trees to plants, but on average they are roughly 12 meters tall.
Typically, they possess 12 to 15 legs, which they fold in on themselves to form the bark, branches and roots of the tree. Folialiths are lone hunters, and tend to go for larger entities such as Hounds and Clumps. When aggressive, they appear to have several tendrils protruding from their backs, which they use to impale and kill prey, after which they will place the deceased corpse into its foliage and it will be drained, the skin and bones discarded later. They typically have thickets of leaves covering their upper body, however it is shed when they die.
Additionally, when a Folialith dies, it will stand on all of its legs and raise its tendrils up into the air, before shedding it’s leaves and perishing. It is theorised that they do this to spread spores, as no Folialith eggs have been found, nor have they been observed to mate. The tendrils of a Folialith have a slow-acting poison which can cause nausea, headaches and cysts over a period of 12 hours, after which the symptoms will gradually disappear.
==Behaviours==
Typically, the younger a Folialith is, the more aggressive it is. Younglings pose little treat, but their presence typically means another is nearby. Folialiths tend to prioritise other entities over humans, but are not picky and will hunt any living thing smiley than itself. Younglings are quite strange, as they seem to be brave enough to attack entities larger than itself.
==Biology==
Studying the insides of a Folialith is extremely difficult, as when they die their body turns as tough as stone, meaning conventional dissection tools will not work. Dissecting them alive is similarly as difficult, as they possess However, one dissection attempt has been successful, and has giving quite a bit of information.
Firstly, Folialiths have no mouth, instead using some of its legs like roots to absorb moisture from the ground. The leaves on its upper body are equipped with small barbs, presumably to catch avians which fly into its leaves to nest. It's eyes are black compound eyes similar to that of a fruit-fly, and two holes for ears. It's digestive system is similar to that of a plant, with xylem and phloem tubes to transport nutrients and water. 
Folialiths have no skeletal structure and no respiratory system, but they have a nervous system all throughout their body. Lastly, they have sharp spikes on their backs, obscured by the leafage. These spikes are used to absorb the nutrients in deceased prey when they lower them in.
==Variants==
===Enlightened Folialiths===
Enlightened Folialiths are the oldest Folialiths known to exist, and only three of them have confirmed existences. They are enormous, each being roughly the size of a large building. They are unable to move due to their weight, and instead depend on sunlight to photosysnthesise. They are relatively friendly towards humans, and will even give them fruits such as apples which grow off of their backs.
Their legs will have sunken into the ground, absorbing nutrients and minerals from the soil. If wanderers wish to visit them, they are able to go to Level 110, Level 224 and Level 370. It is considered good luck by many to leave gifts such as fertiliser or compost to help them survive longer.
===Disfigured Folialiths===
Disfigured Folialiths have undergone massive changes in their body structure, most notably their upper body. Gone are the tendrils protruding from their backs, which are instead replaced with two long, wooden tentacles fitted with tiny barbs to catch their prey. The now have roughly 20 to 30 long, spindly legs which they use to jump on prey and ensnare them.
Disfigured Folialiths are also significantly smaller, standing at around two meters each. However, this makes them much faster and more agile, and allowing them to camouflage into their surroundings easier. They are also more aggressive, hence wanderers are advised to take caution near any malformed trees. Due to their aggressiveness, taking a picture of one alive is nearly impossible.
When they die, Disfigured Folialiths will stand as tall as possible and root themselves to the ground. It is assumed that they do this for the same purpose as normal Folialiths, which is to spread spores to reproduce. However, this variant experiences rigor mortis, meaning when wanderers touch them they will still react to the touch and start to flail around, potentially hurting the wanderer.
===Mossy Folialiths===
Mossy Folialiths can only be found in dense jungle or forest levels. They do not posses neither tendrils nor tentacles, instead their body is dominated by legs covered in a thick layer of moss. Like Enlightened Folialiths, they depend on photosynthesis and the soil for survival, hence they are relatively friendly towards wanderers, and are safe to approach. 
Additionally, Mossy Folialiths seem to repel the other, more aggressive variants and certain entities for some unknown reason. Due to this, it is advised to attempt to find a Mossy Folialith if unable to exit a level while being chased. They are easy to find, since they do not bother with camouflaging themselves as they do not hunt, and are usually as tall as the average human.
Curiously, this species has been seen reproducing by branching off one leg into the soil and detaching it painlessly, allowing it to grow over a few months and produce another Mossy Folialith, albeit relatively small. When it dies, it instead curls its legs up and lays on the floor, unlike the other variants.
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Category:Entities