Vine Crawlers

= Vine Crawlers =
== 1. Description ==
Vine Crawlers are mobile plant creatures inhabiting Najer, Simulami and Valondor
They exhibit relatively high intelligence and agility, being able to hide and travel underground as well as climb trees. They are quite adaptive species, with multiple subspecies being created in just 55 years.
The common feature of all Vine Crawlers are their long, whip-like arms, characteristic beaks, root-like appendages used to move around and their inability to provide enough energy for themselves through photosynthesis. They have to resort to stealing nutrients from other plants and intense erosion of the soil, thus categorizing them as weeds.
They’re also considered an invasive species.
== 2. Environment & life cycle ==
Almost all Vine Crawlers require a decent amount of soil to exist, which is their only requirement to survive. That makes this species unable to inhabit rocky mountain terrains or traverse large bodies of water.
They adapt to the local environment quickly, no matter the conditions. They have not yet encountered any diseases that would even slightly threaten its population.
There is no known estimated age restriction to Vine Crawlers. They continue their existence in a specific cycle.
Vine Crawlers are born from large seeds, and quickly sprout to their regular size in around 3-4 months, while they’re often being provided with nutrients by other Crawlers. 
After that, they stay in that form for about 20 years, while asexualy reproducing and creating around 190 seeds in that period. They often create nests, sometimes as big as having a population of 50 of those specimens. 
As the Vine Crawlers get older it ceases its high mobily, expanding its roots and growing in size. It accumulates bark and creates leaves to make up for energy production. At this stage the newly formed “Trunk Crawler” resembles the tree, often similar to those in the local ecosystem. It protects the local Vine Crawler nests. After several years, the lignification process overtakes the entire body, leaving a wooden shell and a small, young Vine Crawler inside, that makes its way to the surface and repeats the cycle. The newly formed tree is used to expand the desirable ecosystem and host more nests.
== 3. Origin & History ==
Vine Crawlers were created by Azzarsprite #12 within the Azzar’s quarterstaff’s pocket dimension, in the result of a gardening experiment. They were initially kept in #12’s garden, where they multiplied and adapted. Their escape attempts from the confinement were successfully stopped. Given the different flow of time in Azzar’s world (before he arrived at eight world) Vine Crawlers might be considered ancient for rathnir’s standards.
Around 43 AB some of them (or their seeds) were voluntarily released into rathnir, as Azzar planned  IronJaw’s assasination. They first appeared in the southern region of Najer. They served their purpose to appear as if the bandits under the command of Miragiks attacked Ahjejeko Farm. They migrated towards Elmwood, where they created their first nest. They pushed local Glade Elves from their homes in the process. Azzar then retrieved them back to the quarterstaff. Before that happened, Joseph Elmwood managed to retrieve some seeds and raised a new generation of Vine Crawlers fitted for roofed forest.
As it turns out, few of them went in a different direction after the assasination and sparked a new population, expanding onto the deserts, savannas and swamps.
The real population of Vine Crawlers stayed ambiguous as they avoided populated areas and created their nests in secluded areas.
Azzar held onto his original and now fully-obedient vine crawlers, as they can be seen fused with the chess golems summoned by the red Mage, attacking Waju, pretending to be invaders from a different timeline.
They’re also seen in a seed form and immediately evolved into a grown stage by Sleepy, cementing their connection and obedience to Life Players. Those specimens were destroyed by Afxisi during the fight in Campus Ordo.
== 4. Anatomy & Behavior ==
Vine Crawlers and composed of several simple plant tissues composed in a complex way.
The most inner part is made out of hardwood, protected by a thick layer of phloem. The body is wrapped in long strings of strong vegetal cuticles. The root appendages possess a decent layer of cortex used for detecting vibrations. A complex web of cortex and endodermis tissue serves the role of a brain and nervous system.
Their whip-like arms are usually used for defense, but are suitable for climbing and even grabbing tools and weapons, as they did during the attack on Ahjejeko Farm.
It’s worth noting that Vine Crawlers are capable of regrowing their lost arms and even torsos and roots, although at much slower pace.
They also possess a beak and a tongue they use for consumption of fruits and plants, usually when their roots are damaged.
They’re capable of emitting screeches, but use it only to scare off any threats.
To increase their survivability, Vine Crawlers form groups and nests, preferring abandoned buildings, forest clearings and oases. They don’t attack other creatures unless provoked. They’re very territorial and will attack anyone that gets too close to the nest. They will tend to other vine-related plants near their nests to help their young and generally will support weaker members of the group. 
Despite their high intelligence, they’re easily controlled by Life Players. and can be reduced to a cluster of vines to control other creatures.
Adult specimens are 1.6-2 m tall, while "Trunk Crawlers" can grow up to almost 19m. Vine Crawler's appendages are usually around 1.5 long but can stretch up to 3.5 meters.
== 5. Food ==
Vine Crawlers feed on water and minerals from the ground, favoring the soil rich in nitrogen, to the point where they can be easily lured to certain areas with materials rich in that element (like fertilizers or guano).
They’re also capable of getting those resources directly from the other plants, draining vines, leaves or even “consuming” fruits. Some have been seen feeding on mushrooms as well. They resort to those practices if the good soil becomes scarce.
Some of their energy comes from photosynthesis as well.
== 6. Subspecies ==
==== Leaf Vine Crawlers / Green Vine Crawlers ====
The original species of Vine Crawlers, created by Azzarsprite #12, was the first and only subspecies to emerge from the quarterstaff.
==== Red Vine Crawlers ====
This variant is stronger than the green one. They seem to be even more territorial as they wander through large open spaces. Preferring dry climates, they occupy savanna biomes and accommodate their color palette accordingly.  Red Crawlers rely more on soil nourishment than on photosynthesis, as they have longer roots and shorter, thicker arms, no longer required for climbing.
What’s interesting, #12’s garden has also a red variant, which evolved from Green Crawlers parallel to those in rathnir, despite no contact being made with those two ecosystems.
==== Ligneous Vine Crawlers ====
This subspecies evolved in the swamps of Northern Simulami. They rely more on acquiring nutrients from water and consuming duckweed. They plant their seeds underwater.
Their cuticles are darker and much more flexible. Dried, they are a perfect material for simple clothes or even a substitute for leather armor. They’re the weakest of all subspecies.
==== Thorn Vine Crawlers ====
Formed on the harsh deserts of Najer, this subspecies pith became similar to those of a cactus, focusing on sustaining its water resources. This protective layer proved to be useful for making armor, especially when combined with Ligneous Crawler skin.
Thorn Crawlers’ appendages have spiky, hard formations on their ends. This makes their attacks particularly dangerous.
They prefer to stay hidden underground during the day, only coming out when the sun is low. As their bodies are covered with different dimples, spikes and tabs, they accumulate the morning dew on their surface. Most of them don’t ever come into “tree form”. Only a few of them reached that stage at a few oases, where they like to make their nests, burrowing the seeds deep underground, giving them access to underground water sources.
==== Foliage Vine Crawlers ====
This species has been solely seen in the terrain surrounding the Elmwood Forest and the forest itself. They have longer appendages and more agile bodies. They don’t burrow into the ground, preferring to suck nutrients directly from the trees, just like mistletoe. Their body is covered in small, tiny roots that could be mistaken for a pelage.
Foliage Crawlers have a great night vision and learned to coexist with Glade Elves, becoming almost fully domesticated.
They don’t reach the tree stage.
==== Mushroom Vine Crawlers ====
This subspecies was born when Azzar brought some seeds to Valondor, during the construction of the Waldblume fort. When Green Crawlers started consuming local mushrooms they became infected with them. Rather than killing the crawlers, the mushrooms and those mobile plants created a mutualism relationship.
Mushroom crawlers are rather weak, but can emit poisonous clouds of spores if threatened.
They lost their ability to photosynthesis and to consume plants and fruits for the favor of increased root efficiency. They also seemed to have four eyes instead of one, the mushroom DNA merging with crawler’s forever. This subspecies exists solely around Waldblume, forming a special bond with giant mushrooms located there. They will attack anyone that threatens giant funguses.
== 7. Danger to the ecosystem ==
Vine Crawlers are a very young invasive species that manages to alter and accommodate their DNA at an alarming rate. They can be easily tamed by skilled species, but left unattended, their population will create a threat to the local ecosystem quickly.
They pose a major threat to farms and gardens. They might also carry some new diseases and proved to be resistant to rathnir’s ecological threats.
Category:Fauna
Category:Flora
Category:Animals
Category:2022 Mythical Creature Contest
Category:Najer
Category:Traveler's Era