Mandragora

The mandragora is not a natural plant, but was created long ago by a Faerie woman named Idunna. Though the plant was created long ago back during the Ancient Era before the fall of the Lily Civilization, due to an occurrence, it may be possible that seeds have found there way into the current time.

Traits

The mandragora plant is technically a parasitic plant. It's natural form is that of an ashen grey seed which can be planted in the ground or more typically in or around the roots of another plant. The mandragora needs another plant or host to sustain itself. Left without one, the most it grows is a tiny sprout a couple inches tall which only lasts for a couple days before withering and dying. If planted in another plant or near the roots of a plant the mandragora's small roots latch onto the plant and infect it. The seed infects the plant, changing its DNA into its own. At this time the base plant changes its appearance and usually gains the trait of long thorny vines. Through this way the mandragora lives by becoming a part of another plant and using its systems to absorb nutrients from the ground and sun. It also needs another plant in order to multiply but all seeds produced through the base plant are the same as the natural mandragora seed. Being parasitic the mandragora can survive in any climate since it bonds with the native plant life.

Another unique trait with the mandragora plant is its ability to absorb the energy around it. This is usually done from living creatures or other plants, but some believe the plants can in fact absorb the magical energy from spells, wards, and such things. This ability is done through the use of the thorny vines making contact with the individual. The rate of absorption is general slow to moderate depending on the size of the mandragora plant. When the mandragora has absorbed enough energy it emits a deadly, high pitched scream. This comes from the flowers the plant sprouts. The scream is known to kill individuals if strong enough, though more commonly it's known to knock people unconscious and cause bleeding from the ears. Impairment to one's hearing is also known to happen, though it's temporary. If the scream is power enough the sound can cause death but this usually is only known to happen when the plants are manipulated by an outside force. Naturally the plants emit their scream before it's strong enough to kill unless the person is severely weakened possibly. While the mandragora can sustain itself like normal plants with water, soil, and sunlight, it gets the most sustenance from the energy of others. The vines will quest about in search of any prey.

The other ability of the plant comes when a seed is implanted into a living person or beast. The person becomes part plant as the seed works to take it over. A strong enough individual could probably resist the changes, but otherwise they would find themselves changing in appearance and gaining plant-like traits; ashen grey skin, usually a change to hair and eyes. Something like a blue-black or dark purple. They also will sprout the same vines as infected plants. The subject gains control over plants, though this is mainly focused on other mandragora plants. The mandragora have a very low level of sentience, somewhat of a hive mind. One can get a sense of other mandragora in the area and through them a sense of things around them. People or animals infected with a mandragora seed are known as mandragorae, the most common though are dryads who've become infected, being the most prone to the parasitic plant due to their nature and also ties to the trees of the island. Mandragorae also can emit the deadly scream using enough energy though it takes a lot to do. Removing the seed from an infected person is nearly impossible and takes a very delicate touch or else it could cause considerable damage to the person and even death. Mandragorae also can find themselves susceptible to people with magic or abilities to control plants though that depends on how strong their minds are to resist such control.

Appearance

The mandragora in its natural state is a small, ashen grey seed. You can spot a plant infected by the mandragora with the following traits; The bark or body of the plant becomes an ashen grey color. Any leaves or needles of the plant become a dark purple and it'll usually sprout blue-black thorns. The plant also grows long vines with dark purple flowers and blue-black thorns used to absorb energy from its victims.

Warning

Due to the parasitic nature of the plant, it's advised to stay clear of an infected plant and alert the proper people to get rid of it. Getting too close to the plant could allow it to absorb your energy and prove potentially fatal.