Buffalokra

Mighty Star Florabeast

Whoever ventured into a patch of wild Buffalokra to retrieve the first seeds must have been brave indeed, for they would have had to contend with the sharp, star-shaped horns and massive bulk of a truly fearsome Florabeast. Dominating the forests and jungles of the central African continent even to this day, they have been cultivated all over the world, prized for their ability to work, and to thrive in dry or depleted soils. They require less water than would be expected for a Florabeast of their size.

Planting a Buffalokra is considered a great responsibility in the cultures where they originate, since while the aggressive temperament that characterizes the animals they derive from has been largely eliminated by the bond between planter and beast, they still possess the power and might needed to knock down trees or push boulders just with their heads and horns. Those who choose to take such a creature under their care must accept the judicious use of such a power, and take care to not let it corrupt them.

If superior size and strength were not enough, the Buffalokra can also secrete a mucilaginous slime from their feet and hooves. This slime has a number of properties that are still being studied by zoobotanists and natural philosophers, but its sticky nature has proven useful in hunting for generations. Some explorers also use it as a natural trail marker, having their beast leave a trail of shiny goo that won't fade with rain or sun for many days. 

Name Explanation

The last letter of the animal and the first letter of the plant are the same. Initially this Florabeast was supposed to be an American bison paired with okra, but the African buffalo worked much better, both in their style and the origins of both plant and animal. The title of this Florabeast refers to the star shape in a cross-section of the okra pod.

Handbook No.

58

Latin

Abelmoschus bubalus

Flavor

Savory

Vegetable

Okra

Animal

True buffalo

Size

Large

Temperament

Aggressive

Origin

Africa