The Wicker People
The Wicker People are wight-like insectoid creatures that appear the size of average humanoids. They are considered animals and appear as lanky, thin limbed bipeds that seem to walk as if they are being blown about by a light breeze, waving like willow tree limbs or branches. Their "skin" is the color of straw or long-grass and they blend very well into weeds, bushes, and trees. They stalk their prey often along roads and trails, blending in with the brush and grass, awaiting the chance to leap or to ride a wind current as their bodies are extremely light.
They can almost seem to coat their prey, like a cobweb, and they use their spindly limbs to entangle themselves in and around the body. They are very difficult to extract from their prey, and often the prey cannot extract the Wicker Person from their own body. They feed via a tube-like extension from their mouth that is razor-sharp at the tip and can dig into flesh or insert itself into an unguarded opening in the body. Their saliva contains a numbing agent as well as a sedative that quickly poisons the prey and puts them into a paralyzed condition. They extract blood, plasma, and muscle on which they feed. A single Wicker Person can drain it's prey of blood and moisture in less than 4 minutes. They like to hunt in groups or "patches," as they are commonly called.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Bipedal.
6 limbs.
A long, very skinny mantis like head with a snout like protrusion about 2 to 3 feet long extending from his mouth.
Extremely light weight, weighing nearly as much as wrapping paper.
Limbs and torso are semi-rigid and bend easily, being difficult to break or tear.
Eyes are extremely small and not typically visible unless very close.
Rain and moisture wicks off of them and can collect in small vents near their tor
Biological Traits
Slight variations include thorns or the appearance matching the colors and textures of the native plant life.
Genetics and Reproduction
They are hermaphroditical and reproduce by growing small pods that blossom into puffs of small seeds resembling a dandelion bloom that can travel easily in a breeze or wind and cling to bushes, grass, or weeds. Any other Wicker Person can fertilize these seeds by blowing its own seeds close by, which is expelled in a light liquid mist. Once fertilized, they become seedlings that become ambulatory within a few days. A grouping of seedlings from the same parents form a "patch" and often remain together through their lifecycle.
Growth Rate & Stages
A Wicker Person can live a lifespan of 2-10 years. As seedlings they are an average of 6-15". They are usually fully grown within 6 months reaching a height of up to 6 ft, fully standing.
Ecology and Habitats
Wicker Persons inhabit grasslands, forests, and deserts where shrubs, brushes, bushes, and weeds can be found. They prey on any kind of mammal or bird. They are able to prey easily on larger creatures, particularly when they are in "patches."
Dietary Needs and Habits
They feed on the bio-matter of mammals and birds most often. They usually need to consume up to 50lbs of blood/plasma/flesh every 3 days.
Biological Cycle
They are susceptible/vulnerable to the cold and during winter seasons attempt to migrate to moderate or warmer climates such as deserts or wasteland. They resist coastal regions as salt water is poisonous to them. In their youth, they are resistant to fire, wind, and thunder damage, but vulnerable to acid and cold damage. As they naturally age, they turn to the color of dark brown, become brittle and are vulnerable to fire, wind, thunder, and acid damage.
Additional Information
Social Structure
Minimal. They do prefer to travel in patches, often with seedlings spawned from the same parents.
Domestication
No domestication is possible. Species does not thrive in captivity.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
The fibrous marrow of the limbs can be used in a medicinal solution to clot blood or remove infection. Seedlings have been known to be harvested, dried, and smoked in pipes as a painkiller.
Facial characteristics
A flat, sharp, tube-like extension protrudes from the slit like mouth. Eyes are beady and black, often hidden behind narrow slits. The head, torso, and limbs are like blades of grass or branches.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Can be found in most areas of Bedlam, save for coastal regions.
Average Intelligence
Creatures of instinct, but the can display some intelligence when migrating or attacking in "patches."
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
They are very sensitive to wind patterns and can use them for hunting prey or for riding wind currents, often for miles during a medium to strong breeze.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Some insects, including bees, wasps, ticks, or mosquitos.
Civilization and Culture
History
Discovered by the ancient zoologist, Pliney the Scientist, during an expedition of Beldam prior to the Elven colonization. Pliney, while cataloging various mammals near what is now called the "Grief Stricken Wood," was attacked by a patch of Wicker People that floated from nearby long grass. Using a spell of "Acid Splash" and a "Frost Brand Dagger," Pliney was able to detach the Wickers from his body and subsequently destroy many, frightening off the others. Pliney, starting a campfire for the evening, chose to burn some of the bodies as kindling as they had dried up considerably after dying. He notices that the pale blue smoke arising from the fire was fragrant and smooth and had an effect which seemed to ease the pain of his wounds considerably. He chopped up some of the remaining bodies and took the scraps, smoking them as a painkiller during the remainder of his journey. He published a detailed drawing of the "Wicker People" along with a detail description of the creatures in his now legendary published work "The Zoological Paradigm of Bedlam Island."
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Scientific Name
Paleas Equitem
Lifespan
2-10 years
Average Height
5'5"-6'1"
Average Weight
Several ounces.
Average Length
Torso head and limbs are close to 1-1.5" in thickness. They appear flat and nearly one dimensional.
Average Physique
Extremely thin, spindly, as if made of blades of grass or willow tree like limbs and branches.
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Light brown, green, and often veined like grass or branches. Rarely do they appear to possess bark or leaves.
Geographic Distribution
Discovered by
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