Vampire Vine

What is the Vampire Vine?

Vampire Vine, or by its botanical name in Elven; Vêr Varesin. Is a rarely seen, carnivorous plant that grows most often on abandoned battlefields, fresh dug graves, and places of a massacre. There are very few botanical colleges and gardens that grow this plant for alchemical use. The plant survives by drinking the blood of dead creatures in its surrounding area and can survive for several months on a single husk by itself, hence its name. While the plant can grow in any soil or altitude it does however grow faster in the shadows. Its roots will dig through the ground and claim nearby bodies dragging them underground to be preserved and fed upon. The Vampire Vine is a semi-sentient lifeform that is passive most of the time, Its vines are an indication of its age, and one can usually tell the age of the plant by the number of budding vines that are growing from its stem. Each vines functions as a defending appendage. The Vampire Vines reach with its vines can be up to 60ft when old enough, though they usually wither and die before this reach is achieved, leaving the general reach of the plant to be around 30ft.

Behavior

While the Vampire Vine is normally passive and doesn't pose much of a threat. It becomes increasingly aggressive when there is little sustenance left for it to consume. A Vampire Vine uses its appendages for whip-like attacks. The vines are serrated with sharp thorns that cut into the victim as they become grabbled and begins to drain their blood. When the Vampire vine has grown into its fifth year, there is a chance it will start to spread its seeds, depending on the amount of sustenance it has consumed. The plant does this by creating a pheromone scent that lures in wildlife. Once sufficient wildlife has been detected, the plant will shake its vines violently, flinging hooked seeds into the air and the surrounding area. The seeds that are caught onto creatures are carried far and wide, the ones that land on the forest floor rarely live on and wither within a week. The seeds that are attached to the animals will slowly start to drink their blood, spreading their roots within them like veins. When the roots reach the heart of the creature, it will start to get sluggish and eventually die. As the creature dies, the roots will start to dig for soil. If it has landed a successful place, like a graveyard or a battlefield the plant will continue to grow for years to come.

Uses

The uses of the Vampire vine are particular and few. They are used in potions and poisons. The sap of a Vampire vine can be distilled and used to create an aphrodisiac that lures and captivates the opposite gender, a concoction mostly seen used by desperate bachelors, nobles and esteemed brothels. However, it can also be used as a substitute ingredient in the creation of powerful healing potions. The vines can also be made into a poisonous sticky paste that makes victims sluggish and sensitive to light and intensifies shadow for a duration of 24 hours once it is in the blood. This paste has before been seen used to coat weapons by the dark underbelly of societies.

Rumors

It is no surprise that the Vampire Vine are at times connected to rumors of roaming vampires. Their connection is still widely unknown but there are theories that the Vampire Vine is created and used by vampires. To harvest sources of sustenance of blood for later consumption. If true, this would mean that there are vampires that resort to feeding on a more "Humane" way, rather than ambushing living creatures.

Basic Information

Anatomy

The Vampire vine appears as a mass of dark green to ashen grey, vines sprouting from a stemlike pod in the ground. Its roots are dug deep into the soil and can slowly move on their own towards dead creatures in the nearby area. Each vine is serrated with crimson, hollow thorns that latch onto its prey and consume the prays blood. The plant itself can grow continuously if enough sustenance is provided, but the largest Vampire vine documented had a reach of 60ft.

Genetics and Reproduction

When the Vampire vine has grown into its fifth year, there is a chance it will start to spread its seeds, depending on the amount of sustenance it has consumed. The plant does this by creating a pheromone scent that lures in wildlife. Once sufficient wildlife has been detected, the plant will shake its vines violently, flinging hooked seeds into the air and the surrounding area. The seeds that are caught onto creatures are carried far and wide, the ones that land on the forest floor rarely live on and wither within a week. The seeds that are attached to the animals will slowly start to drink their blood, spreading their roots within them like veins. When the roots reach the heart of the creature, it will start to get sluggish and eventually die. As the creature dies, the roots will start to dig for soil. If it has landed a successful place, like a graveyard or a battlefield the plant will continue to grow for years to come.

Growth Rate & Stages

A Vampire vine grows the fastest in dark places with plenty of sustenance. The Age of the plant can be counted on the number of vines that are on display. A single vine grows every year, making it easy to determine that plants age. Once a Vampire Vine reaches its fifth year, it will start to produce seeds. This I an occurrence that happens around every five years. As the plant will continue to grow more vines will produce and its reach will grow larger.

Ecology and Habitats

Crypts, forested graveyards, ruins, abandoned graveyards, battlefields, and other places where the placement of bodies may rest are the ideal habitat for Vampire vines to grow. They are capable to grow in any soil or altitude as long as there is sustenance for them to consume.

Dietary Needs and Habits

The Vampire vines get their sustenance primarily from dead bodies around them by consuming their fluids. However, should prey come close enough it will attempt to latch onto them and use its thorns to consume the blood of the prey. Though in general mostly passive towards living prey it will be more aggressive when there be little sustenance left in the soil.

Biological Cycle

A Vampire vine is most active during the cold or early periods of the year. Seemingly sluggish in the warmer periods.

Additional Information

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

The roots and vines of the vampire vine are drawn to liquid with a similar constitution as blood. The vines move and roots move separately from one another to seek any living creature within its sense of vibrations or displacement in the ground.

Vampire Vine

Scientific Name

Plantae

Conservation Status

The Vampire Vine is seen as a dangerous weed once it grows to beyond its fifth year and if found in the wild it should be culled and the roots should be burned and salted. This is done by sending capable soldiers and botanists out into the field once the plant has been spotted.