Early Access
An exoflor is one of many varieties of carnivorous plants originating from another world (or a celestial body such as an asteroid or comet). Their fronds grow from long vine-like stems and are covered in sticky modified spores. The combined effort of the trapping fronds and strangling vines catch and choke prey, whose decaying flesh creates a nutrient-rich environment for the spores and adult plants. Even prey that escapes is dusted with hundreds of spores, which later fall off to populate new areas.
Exoflors usually look like ivy, kudzu, or similar viny plants, with fernlike fronds growing in pale green, pale yellow, or faded fall colors. The vines creep like ivy or hang from larger plants and structures, with the fronds presenting as leaves or primitive flowers. It easily shares space with other plant species, so a field of flowers and tall grass might have a few exoflors growing within it, and a sturdy tree might have one or two exoflors hanging from it instead of moss.
Exoflor spores can survive for years in harsh environments only to become active when the conditions are right for growth. Some very old exoflors enter a terminal life stage, growing vertically and resembling a weeping willow tree. These woody exoflors can’t move from where they stand and devote most of their energy to filling the area with a visible dusting of spores.
Woody exoflor: level 5, dodge as level 3 due to size; two strangling vine attacks each inflict a moderate wound
Motive: Hunger for flesh
Environment: Anywhere plants grow
Health: 3
Damage Inflicted: Minor wound
Movement: Immediate (in short bursts)
Modifications: Stealth (to appear as a harmless plant) as level 3; ambush (attack with surprise) as level 2
Combat: An exoflor attacks by lashing out with one to three vine-fronds, either individually or as a combined attack as a level 2 creature. If the target is moving through an area of dangling vines or a patch of exoflor on the ground, these attacks are eased. Each hit means the foe must make a Might defense roll or become grappled, taking a minor wound from each vine that round and each round thereafter that the foe fails to escape. An immediate area of five or more exoflors can attack in tandem as a level 4 creature.
A healthy exoflor’s vines can grow a few inches (6 cm) per day, but for short intervals the entire plant can drag itself an immediate distance each round as its movement for up to a minute, after which it must remain in place until it experiences several hours of strong daylight. It uses this rapid movement to escape threats or to approach unwary prey, such as resting creatures. A “speeding” exoflor’s movement resembles that of a crawling brittle star.
Interaction: Exoflors are unintelligent plants.
Use: The old house on the hill is overgrown with creeping vines. A patch of soft greenery looks like a safe place to camp.
GM Intrusion: The character has an allergic reaction to the exoflor’s adhesive; a painful itchy rash hinders their physical tasks until the substance is carefully washed off.
GM Intrusion: The exoflor’s vine wraps around the character’s neck, inflicting an additional minor wound each round and strangling them. The character will suffocate in about a minute if they can’t get free.