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roseembolism) wrote2009-08-19 09:12 pm
roseembolism) wrote2009-08-19 09:12 pm
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UTGM: Some random useful flora and fauna.
There have been so many distractions alas, so many apologies for not posting more. In any case, I present for your entertainment a selection of plants and animals from the world of Under the Green Moon.
There is one special distinction for all these living organisms: they are actually created organisms, made aeons ago by some of the great civilizations. They are the primary reminders of the past glory of humankind.
Journeyweed (Also known as peasantweed or povertyweed): a common plant found along the sides of roads nearly everywhere, it bears beanlike pods, that when they dry out are very nutritious, albeit with an unpleasant bitter taste. Travelers can live indefinitely on journeyweed, either gathered by the road, or baked into bread...but few want to.
Paradise Tree: simply a highly useful plant: it's leaves can be woven into a variety of cloths, it's bark can be removed and used for everything from clothing to thatch, and it's wood is extremely durable. It's flowers can be made into a number of medicines, and both the fruit and root nodes are edible. It's a valuable resource on any farm, and it's only the the time involved in growing these trees that keeps them from being more common.
Threadweaver: these odd gourds excrete an extremely strong thread; though no thicker than a spiderweb, they can support a full human's weight. They are used to make nearly unbreakable cord, or are woven into very tough (and expensive) armor clothing. They give off a thousand feet of thread, and by soaking them in a nutrient solution they can be recharged several times. There are also rare trees that produce similar threads.
Wound Foamers: highly valued by people who have no access to a healer, these gourds can be opened and squeezed over a wound, producing a thick foam that rapidly sets into a rubbery cast. Wonds covered by the foam heal faster, don't go septic, and are numb to pain.
Lamp Trees: the inedible fruit of these plants provide a soft light overnight, provided the main plant has plenty of sunlight- naturally in winter or during cloudy weather these plants are less efficient. The come in a variety of types: trees,bushes, and vines where the bulbs can be placed a distance from the main plant. Naturally they are very difficult to breed.
Treasure Trees: these rare mangrove-like trees have extensive root systems that stretch far out into the the bayous where they like to grow. What is most noticeable are the veins of metals that they develop in their bark, which can be stripped out at seasonal intervals and processed just like good salvage. Suppositions on where the metals come from differ, what has been quantified is the types of metal found: gold, silver, iron. These are a valuable resource for any ruler and wars have been fought over groves of these trees .
Lifepods: these strange lifesaving plants are single semi-translucent pods about 10 feet long. The pod can split down the middle allowing a badly injured or even newly deceased person to be placed inside. Once inside, roots appear to penetrate the patient, and life activities such as breathing and nutrition are taken over by the pod. Nearly any injury can be healed in a pod, even lost limbs growing back. Since patients are comatose in the pod, one can even use pods for emergency hibernation.
Changer Pods/Insane Lifepods: Though hard to tell from regular lifepods, insane lifepods are generally avoided, because people put into them may come out healed...but changed. Changes range from minor skin hair and eye coloration, to extreme features such as fur, scales, or extra limbs. Surviving the changes are chancy, since some changes may not take, leading to gangrene, organ rejection and death.
Living Ships/Coral Ships: there is a surprising number of these large ships left, partially because their hulls are very tough. Though each one is unique, there are basically two major types of living ships: Coral hulled ones, that come in both monohull or catamaran designs, with a living skin and frame that resembles very hard, very tough coral with an outer shell like mother of pearl. In fact, more than just appearing like coral, the hulls of these ships are alive, and slowly grow and change. The second, rarer type resemble great whales crossed with shrimp, and are actually able to submerge for a time, with the crew living in hollow spaces along the dorsal ridge. Few of these ancient organisms are in perfect shape: the coral ships often have sections of dead hull, and both types may have broken internal systems.
Sky Fish: Though there are larger created organisms, perhaps nothing is so impressive close up. A variety of breeds of these huge creatures exist, but the most common design resembles a giant swollen manta ray, with a bulge underneath it's stomach called the "Carriage".. All Sky Fish have a similar internal structure: a thin, tough shell surrounds huge cells filled with lighter-than-air gas, which in turn are supported by ribs of supremely strong and tough bones, which in turn connect to the bottom "carriage" that contains most of the creature's organs, as well as spaces for cargo and crew. Translucent panels on the top allow the sun to warm the gas, and movement is provided by complex "flipper" wings, that have slots in them that open on the forward stroke, and close on the power stroke. The creatures are semi-intelligent and can reproduce on their own, but they are designed physically and emotionally to bond with their pilots.
Living Cities: The rarest and largest of organisms, these are huge living buildings in the shape of giant pyramids, towers or domes, covered in greenery. Invariably found next to oceans or inland seas, they provide cavernous spaces for ships and sky fish to shelter, as well as space for thousands of people to live. Healthy ones provide light, fresh water and recycling for their people; unhealthy ones have major systems broken down, or may even be in the process of dying, providing dark hives that rival the worst slums in wretchedness. There are also a wide assortment ofrumors that surround these enigmatic cities: claims by some telepaths that they sense great slumbering intelligences; that some of the more reclusive and isolated of these cities have a weird symbiosis with their inhabitants; even of "lost" cities that have made their inhabitants part of the living creature.
There is one special distinction for all these living organisms: they are actually created organisms, made aeons ago by some of the great civilizations. They are the primary reminders of the past glory of humankind.
Journeyweed (Also known as peasantweed or povertyweed): a common plant found along the sides of roads nearly everywhere, it bears beanlike pods, that when they dry out are very nutritious, albeit with an unpleasant bitter taste. Travelers can live indefinitely on journeyweed, either gathered by the road, or baked into bread...but few want to.
Paradise Tree: simply a highly useful plant: it's leaves can be woven into a variety of cloths, it's bark can be removed and used for everything from clothing to thatch, and it's wood is extremely durable. It's flowers can be made into a number of medicines, and both the fruit and root nodes are edible. It's a valuable resource on any farm, and it's only the the time involved in growing these trees that keeps them from being more common.
Threadweaver: these odd gourds excrete an extremely strong thread; though no thicker than a spiderweb, they can support a full human's weight. They are used to make nearly unbreakable cord, or are woven into very tough (and expensive) armor clothing. They give off a thousand feet of thread, and by soaking them in a nutrient solution they can be recharged several times. There are also rare trees that produce similar threads.
Wound Foamers: highly valued by people who have no access to a healer, these gourds can be opened and squeezed over a wound, producing a thick foam that rapidly sets into a rubbery cast. Wonds covered by the foam heal faster, don't go septic, and are numb to pain.
Lamp Trees: the inedible fruit of these plants provide a soft light overnight, provided the main plant has plenty of sunlight- naturally in winter or during cloudy weather these plants are less efficient. The come in a variety of types: trees,bushes, and vines where the bulbs can be placed a distance from the main plant. Naturally they are very difficult to breed.
Treasure Trees: these rare mangrove-like trees have extensive root systems that stretch far out into the the bayous where they like to grow. What is most noticeable are the veins of metals that they develop in their bark, which can be stripped out at seasonal intervals and processed just like good salvage. Suppositions on where the metals come from differ, what has been quantified is the types of metal found: gold, silver, iron. These are a valuable resource for any ruler and wars have been fought over groves of these trees .
Lifepods: these strange lifesaving plants are single semi-translucent pods about 10 feet long. The pod can split down the middle allowing a badly injured or even newly deceased person to be placed inside. Once inside, roots appear to penetrate the patient, and life activities such as breathing and nutrition are taken over by the pod. Nearly any injury can be healed in a pod, even lost limbs growing back. Since patients are comatose in the pod, one can even use pods for emergency hibernation.
Changer Pods/Insane Lifepods: Though hard to tell from regular lifepods, insane lifepods are generally avoided, because people put into them may come out healed...but changed. Changes range from minor skin hair and eye coloration, to extreme features such as fur, scales, or extra limbs. Surviving the changes are chancy, since some changes may not take, leading to gangrene, organ rejection and death.
Living Ships/Coral Ships: there is a surprising number of these large ships left, partially because their hulls are very tough. Though each one is unique, there are basically two major types of living ships: Coral hulled ones, that come in both monohull or catamaran designs, with a living skin and frame that resembles very hard, very tough coral with an outer shell like mother of pearl. In fact, more than just appearing like coral, the hulls of these ships are alive, and slowly grow and change. The second, rarer type resemble great whales crossed with shrimp, and are actually able to submerge for a time, with the crew living in hollow spaces along the dorsal ridge. Few of these ancient organisms are in perfect shape: the coral ships often have sections of dead hull, and both types may have broken internal systems.
Sky Fish: Though there are larger created organisms, perhaps nothing is so impressive close up. A variety of breeds of these huge creatures exist, but the most common design resembles a giant swollen manta ray, with a bulge underneath it's stomach called the "Carriage".. All Sky Fish have a similar internal structure: a thin, tough shell surrounds huge cells filled with lighter-than-air gas, which in turn are supported by ribs of supremely strong and tough bones, which in turn connect to the bottom "carriage" that contains most of the creature's organs, as well as spaces for cargo and crew. Translucent panels on the top allow the sun to warm the gas, and movement is provided by complex "flipper" wings, that have slots in them that open on the forward stroke, and close on the power stroke. The creatures are semi-intelligent and can reproduce on their own, but they are designed physically and emotionally to bond with their pilots.
Living Cities: The rarest and largest of organisms, these are huge living buildings in the shape of giant pyramids, towers or domes, covered in greenery. Invariably found next to oceans or inland seas, they provide cavernous spaces for ships and sky fish to shelter, as well as space for thousands of people to live. Healthy ones provide light, fresh water and recycling for their people; unhealthy ones have major systems broken down, or may even be in the process of dying, providing dark hives that rival the worst slums in wretchedness. There are also a wide assortment ofrumors that surround these enigmatic cities: claims by some telepaths that they sense great slumbering intelligences; that some of the more reclusive and isolated of these cities have a weird symbiosis with their inhabitants; even of "lost" cities that have made their inhabitants part of the living creature.
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