Species Name: Vegible, Vegetable People, Vegepymy
In the last days of Atlantis, an enormous amount of magic was expended during its final invasion. Vast devastation was wrought on the known world, with forests blazing up, and islands sinking into the sea. Eventually Gaea became aware of the savage conflict. Shocked by the destruction, she gave sentience to a grove of trees (the original Throne of Trees). For thousands of years they acted as guardians of the earth and all the different forms of life which inhabit it. But the Parliament only existed in the Grove of Serenity, in between space and time. There were human agents who could act on their behalf in our world, and of course the elementals, but the Infernal forces seemed to be gaining ground. Eventually the decision was made to seed Earth with a new race; a sentient plant life. The Vegible are an offshoot of that seeding.
Type: Humanoid Vegetable
Physical Traits: Vegibles are short, have sharp, thorn-like claws, and leaf-like tendrils form a fringe on their shoulders, abdomens, and limbs. A topknot of these tendrils sits at the apex of their head. Their colouration matches their surroundings; forest ones have brown skin and green tendrils, while those found underground might have grey skin and black tendrils. The Vegible are omnivorous humanoid plants. Some Vegible closely resemble humans but with a fey cast to their features such as tilted eyes and pointed ear tips; most display plantlike features such as hard wood for bone structure, have foliage and petals for hair, and bark acting as flesh. Golden sap moves through their veins instead of blood and pollen falls off of them as they move. With their bodies being fibrous, Vegibles are notoriously difficult to kill or wound with normal weapons; bullets pass nigh-harmlessly through them. Only complete disintegration will kill them.
Height: See table below
Weight: See table below
Abilities: Nightvision up to 30 metres. Immunity to poisons, venoms, paralysis, and stunning. Also see table below.
Mobility: Legs
Sensory Organs: Visual
Communication: Vocal
Reproduction: New Vegibles are created by budding, but only if food is plentiful.
INT: 3D6, WIS: 3D6, STR: 3D6, DEX: 3D6, CON: 4D6, CHA: 2D6, MR: 2D6, HPs: CON +D10
Orbit/Climate: See Earth
Feeding Habits: Vegibles produces their food photosynthetically by absorbing nutrients from the earth and atmosphere and using sunlight to make them into energy and tissue. They suffers D6 extra damage when attacked with weapons employing fire or cold. Complete nourishment for a day can be achieved by taking root in the soil for an hour during which it can't move. In addition they need three hours of bright sunlight or six hours of dim sunlight. Vegible have the same water needs as other races and animals, although they usually draws it from the soil. If the plant doesn't meet these requirements for a day, it suffers the same consequences as any other race or animal that doesn't eat all day. It takes several days of no food or water to kill a plant. It should be noted that certain special buildings or rooms (such as greenhouses, etc.) may be constructed so that the plant will get the full benefit of equivalent sun and soil while indoors.
Lifespan: 200
Technology: 2
Culture: Diversified mix of kind and evil people. Parties of Vegibles hunt near their lairs. In their home territory, Vegibles blend into their surroundings, so opponents receive a -2 penalty to surprise rolls. Vegibles will attack any form of animal life for food. Though capable of using their natural camouflage for ambush, they seldom use other tricks or traps, preferring direct assault. Half of the Vegible encountered carry spears, while the others use clubs or go without weapons (equal chances). Vegible form primitive, settled tribes. Their lairs are usually found in warm underground areas, though some tribes have lairs in the underbrush of deep, dark forests and jungles. Tribes are very territorial. Vegible co-exist well with plant and fungus life. They often use shriekers to guard their lairs, and Vegible native to the lair can pass by those shriekers unnoticed. Vegibles live by scavenging and hunting. They will eat meat in any condition, from fresh to carrion. In times of great need, they have been known to eat other Vegibles, though they seldom attack members of their own or an allied tribe. Vegibles are usually honest, direct and focused, taking most things at face value. They are eager to learn, experience and understand. Despite the kick start of knowledge from the dream they still seem naive as there are some matters which seem beyond their comprehension. Emotions and tact, in particular, are difficult for them to grasp, so often a Vegible will state out loud something which would normally be politely avoided by other races. Death too is not fully understood but viewed as something to be embraced and, as with many things in a Vegible's life, is viewed with a great degree of curiosity. These views serve to form an acceptance of and fascination with death that other races may find disturbing. Vegibles craft their armour and weapons from organic material, such as roots, leaves or leather, and sometimes grow their armour out of their own bodies in the form of leafy padding, spines or bark.
Government: Parliament of Nature via the Throne of Trees
Population: 5,141,460