Thornshade vine

"Thornshade Vine is among the most perilous flora known to our neighboring lands. Regrettably, it thrives in abundance across many regions, compounding the threat it poses to unwary travelers. While its low growth, seldom reaching higher than a man’s knees, makes it easily identifiable to the informed, its danger lies not in its stature but in its deadly reach. A mere brush of air carrying its pollen or sap mist can spell doom for those as far as three meters from its tendrils. Its nature is deceptive and cruel, and I shall expound upon its traits and dangers further in due course."

— From studies of Biologist Vermin Zacharid

Basic Information

Anatomy

Anatomy is uniquely adapted for survival and predation. Its central structure consists of a dense, fibrous core surrounded by its broad, crimson-veined leaves, which absorb nutrients and light. Long, slender tendrils extend outward from this core, each lined with obsidian-black thorns that are thick, sharp, and highly venomous. These tendrils are incredibly flexible, enabling the vine to spread across uneven terrain, cling to surfaces, or burrow partially into the ground for stability. The flowers, perched atop shorter stalks near the center, emit a sweet but treacherous aroma, attracting prey or deterring predators. Beneath the soil, a complex root system anchors the plant and absorbs nutrients, while also producing a faint toxin that prevents other vegetation from growing nearby. This multi-layered anatomy allows the Thornshade Vine to dominate its environment with stealth and lethality.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Thornshade

This plant primarily employs the same strategies as ordinary vegetation, drawing nutrients from the soil through its root system and from sun using leaves. However, what sets the Thornshade Vine apart is its unique 'hunting' adaptation. The plant thrives on the decomposition of creatures that fall victim to its venomous tendrils, as their rotting remains enrich the surrounding soil with vital nutrients. The area around a Thornshade Vine is often exceptionally fertile, supporting the plant's rapid growth and robust structure. This abundance of nourishment allows the vine to develop its expansive network of tendrils and formidable central structure, ensuring its dominance in its chosen habitat.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

The Thornshade Vine is highly sought after for its potent toxins, which are harvested from its obsidian-black thorns. Alchemists and assassins prize these extracts as key ingredients in crafting lethal poisons capable of inducing paralysis or death with even the smallest dose. While dangerous to handle, skilled herbalists carefully process the venom to create both weaponized toxins and, in rare cases, diluted antidotes. Despite its danger, the Thornshade Vine’s practical applications make it a coveted resource among those willing to take the risk.

Tendril thorns

The tendril thorns of the Thornshade Vine are a perilous feature, obsidian black and cunningly concealed beneath grass, fallen leaves, or loose soil. Thick and razor-sharp, these venomous thorns carry a potent toxin that induces near-instant paralysis upon injection. They grow along slender, creeping tendrils that spread outward in every direction from the plant’s central flower, often extending as far as two to three meters. This hidden network of deadly tendrils makes the Thornshade Vine a silent predator, catching victims unaware as they pass too close to its reach.

Scientific Name

Umbraaceris Venenosa

Lifespan

7 Months

Average Height

Up to 80 Centimenters

Average Length

2 to 3 meters in radius

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

The Thornshade Vine’s flowers are deceptively beautiful, with vibrant purple petals streaked with veins of molten gold. These blooms exude a sweet, enticing fragrance that lures unsuspecting creatures into the vine’s deadly embrace. The leaves, in stark contrast, are broad and dark green, with deep crimson veins. Their waxy surface glistens faintly, often damp with dew or a subtle excretion from the plant itself, adding to its eerie allure. Together, the flowers and leaves create a striking yet ominous visual that warns those who recognize its lethal nature.

Geographic Distribution

• Covenhor
• Grastorn Fields
• Krallhage
• Rovashk
• Skallvork
• Skiaga
• Sulkazar
• The Region
• Vorgar

Assassin's guide to killing

Skilled assassins have been known to discreetly attach Thornshade Vine thorns to hidden parts of their armor or rings, turning even the slightest contact into a deadly attack. By brushing past a target in a crowded market or body-checking them during a staged altercation, they can deliver the venom unnoticed. A single scratch is often enough to paralyze in a minute or two, making these subtle weapons ideal for assassins who value precision and stealth.