Rattlebean

Poison Disaster Florabeast

Most Florabeasts have no natural predators. Without flesh for carnivores to derive sustenance from, they draw little interest from wolves, lions, or other sharp-toothed creatures. While they do possess all of the components needed to sustain herbivorous creatures, the only known occurrences of such an event is after a wild Florabeast has recently expired and deer or birds flock in to feast on the remains. Live Florabeasts becoming prey to other plant-eaters was unknown in the Old World. But as usual, the New World continues to surprise.

The Rattlebean is a small, snake-derived creature with a powerful poison that can paralyze animals, and has a single dried bean in a seed pod at the end of its tail. The purpose of this pod is unknown, as it seems content to just rattle it all day, with no real rhyme or reason. This Florabeast is one of the slowest, most inattentive creatures that has been observed by zoobotanists to date. It lacks basic self-preservatory instincts and will wander into wagon traffic, off of cliffs, and into the mouths of hungry goats if left unattended. Its' poison rarely sees use, since it doesn't have the sense to use it to defend itself.

This would lead a reasonable individual to believe that such a beast should be avoided and not planted, but it is nevertheless quite popular, especially among young people, who enjoy their hapless antics. One of the few things that a Rattlebean seems to know with certainty is the voice of their planter, to whom they develop a fierce and strong bond. One of the few times that they actually display any protective instincts is when their planter is threatened, even if their defense would cause them to suffer their own harm.

Name Explanation

There is a variety of pole bean called Rattlesnake, and bean pods naturally resemble snakes anyway. The title of the Florabeast makes it seem like a fearsome poisonous creature, but the disaster comes from all the trouble it finds itself in.

Handbook No.

66

Latin

Phaseolus crotalus

Flavor

Bitter

Vegetable

Pole Bean

Animal

Rattlesnake

Size

Small

Temperament

Cautious

Origin

New World