Cultivator

Also called Malice, Cultivator is a type of soil preparing organism designed to convert tough soils into soft, easily tilled farmland. Naturally it goes wrong, and an entire archipelago becomes submerged in Cultivator.

The Islands of Plague, the Scar, formerly known as the Goldenhood archipelago, are an example of the highest extent of the Cultivator’s spread.

## Definition

Cultivator, also known as Malice is the term for the physical corruption of the land by the presence of the Dalmer bio organism created to turn arid and infertile land into farmland, but had quite the opposite, and many more extraordinary, effects. It accumulates in purple and black growths in the land like a cancer. Cultivator is capable of animating objects to attack mindlessly. These accumulations only attack if approached, otherwise they amble mindlessly around the growth that formed them.

Cultivator can corrupt just about anything from machines to thunderclouds to demonic yeast. Cultivator growths sprout eyes, which double as decentralized nerve clusters and respiratory apparatus for the whole, if enough are damaged or destroyed, the malice growth dies. Also, the eyes of Malice fear shiny objects and bright light. Cultivator generate waste in the form of crystals, those who use these crystals are granted the power to curse. Cursing is an effect that severely hampers muscle tone for a period of time, naturally, the more crystals one has, the greater the effect of cursing. Cursing also happens when the Cultivator matter is consumed.

## Biology

Cultivator has a cellular structure. Some creature strains can move faster over Cultivator than normal ground due to a collection of microscopic filaments that allow them to 'skate' across Cultivator rather than breaking through it. Some creatures can move up to 30% faster on Cultivator. Cultivator helps to sustain itself and other organisms by processing mineral, plant and animal life extracted from the ground via deep tendrils. Cultivator does not "climb" or "fall" down cliffs, but does flow down ramps. If Cultivator is carefully positioned on the edge of a cliff, it will expand on the hill and the lower ground simultaneously. Cultivator may grow in anaerobic environments and over water. It may also grow over hollows in the terrain; attempting to traverse over such hollows may cause Cultivator to tear and give way.

### Behavior

Cultivator is a living superorganism. It has a dark brown, almost purple coloration and is a viscous substance that feels thick and slimy. Cultivator is psionically-sensitive and may be influenced and controlled by psionic entities. It is used to nourish structures, and other strains of creatures. Malice originated in an ancient cistern whose filtration systems failed, rendering the water impure. During Apple moon, when dense clouds of rust colored radioactive waste pass over the moon, projecting rays onto the land, Malice grows at a terrifying rate, covering vast expanses of land.

Cultivator affects all it touches, sterilizing the land, warping its natural inhabitants into bloodthirsty mutants, and twisting the local flora into disgusting mockeries of proper plants. The Goldenhood Archipelago (most specifically the central isle of Kastrir) renamed the Dead Scar is perhaps the most startling examples of the long term effects of Cultivator.

### Seeding

Cultivator may be deposited in a number of ways. Some structures, such as Utriclean seeding plants, or Gravekin Necropoles serve as areas for Cultivator growth. Hive spores may also be used in the initial stages of infestation. Evolution has seen creatures gain the ability to spread Cultivator as well; by direct secretion, and indirectly through laid Cultivator tumors as they generate their own Cultivator and make it easy to spread Cultivator over the area. Cultivator spreads rapidly. This proliferation may be observed in real time. If left unchecked, Cultivator can consume hundreds of meters of land within days.

### Removal

Cultivator is notably averse to extremely high temperatures and will not grow in unsuitably hot places. While it may be set alight by high explosive or incendiary ordnance, its remarkable regenerative properties makes complete extermination by brute force a difficult proposition. Removal may only be guaranteed by destroying the structures serving as growth loci. It may be difficult to tell when Cultivator is truly dead.

Cultivator only dies if the nearby generator dies and it is on the edge of a patch. Cultivator inside a large patch, but deprived of generators, will not die. A ring-shaped patch will not automatically expand to cover the "empty" center without the normal assistance of generators. Cultivator dissolves in 30 seconds if not supported by a growth loci.

### Function

Most structures that can survive on Cultivator are effectively giant organs and draw sustenance from Cultivator. A colony forms a single living creature through the interconnectivity of Cultivator and gain nourishment from the Cultivator

Some structures can only be created upon the Cultivator. Dalmer cannot build structures on Cultivator. Edifice buildings may not land on the Cultivator, however they may lift-off. The Cultivator will expand to fill the vacated space over the course of a few seconds.

Cultivator is intended to be used as a resource, and some other races want to conquer the world using Cultivator.

## Races that can use Cultivator

Some other races are able to build structures on Cultivator. Whenever a building is finished, it instantly creates another layer of Cultivator around it. Furthermore, the undead Gravekin and **Utriclean** creatures regenerate faster while on Cultivator soil, the soil supplying the wounded creatures stem cells and proteins sufficient to close cuts, and regrow lost limbs in a matter of hours.

### Gravekin

Also known as Fleshcrafters, they are a corrupted form (for the Dalmer) of undead, they are named as such for the great cities they build that resemble elaborate mausoleums.

### Utriclean

Named as such because when discovered, the scientist thought the egg pods looked like leather bags.

### Toxic Cultivator

This cultivator adapted creature has the ability to "poison" a small area of Cultivator, injuring prey that steps over that area.

## The Dalmer and Cultivator

Despite Cultivator being its own creation, the Dalmer actively seek to see it destroyed.

### Cultivator defense system

The defense system is in two tiers, the first is a bubble shield that envelops the settlement that has an intense outer shine, preventing malice from entering the city.

The second tier is the rising of columns around the city that serve two functions, the first being storage spaces for defense guardians who use beams of concentrated light to destroy the creatures and the growth eyes, ensuring its retreat. The second is to serve as redundant shield generators for the city. Atop these towers are heavier variants of the guardians to defend the city from marauding creatures.

### Gelatinous Electro-Cybernetic Link

*Main Article: Gelatinous Electro-Cybernetic Link*

Using Cultivator as a basis, the Dalmer created the GECL, an autonomous construction material controlled by AI.