The Hanging Gardens of Hastur

[Baobhan]

Were a person to enter the sanctuary of Hastur Reigns on Taris, they would see a home converted into a vast greenhouse with the opening room being little more than a lounge which doubled as a bedroom and a kitchen. The two doors which would lead out into either direction have been covered by sealed doors, each with warning signs upon them to dissuade others from entering, or, entering at their own risk. Gloves masks and other safety gear as well as a basic shower setup in the corner of the room further reinforce the idea of the hazardous nature of the set-up.

However, upon entering one of the green-rooms, they would be met with a most bizarre and unique sight. Rows upon rose of flowers, trees and other plants in their own select different environments, all perfectly catered and in the prime of their being. Beautiful arrays of colors would call out to the onlooker as they seemed to be begging to be touched or smelt. Rooms replicating Desert like temperatures all the way down to low like refrigerator like environments replicated room to room as the wonder seemed to continue. Many of the plants seen would be labelled while a work-bench sat slightly away from them all accompanied with biographical drawings of plants as well as mapped cell structures and notes sprawled out across the desk written in haste.

While not all of the plants were noxious, only the owner could truly know the difference...

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Name: Louloudio-Nichti (Umbaran Night-Flower)

Biology: Beautiful as it is the Louloudio-Nichti, or more simply put, Umbaran Night Flower is a fascinating plant to those who would view it. Consisting of a central point and roots as deep as the plant growing outward no longer than half a meter in length at maximum growth...The plant boasts broad long leaves which fan out in every direction from the epicenter of the plant. Amongst these leaves each plant often grows between 3-12 flowering stems. The flowers of the plant are often a deep night blue, but often has a bright glowing gold substance coating the petals and pollen.

The plant itself rather than using direct photosynthesis like other plants has adapted to the 'shadow world' of Umbara, evolved to drink in what little UV light and ambient radiation the world has to offer. This energy intake is used for the creation of glucose within the plant in order to ultimately create ATP. The waste from this process is bought up through the plants stem and released through its petals as a bio-luminescent liquid which glows a light golden for a few minutes before it evaporates in wind.

This golden substance, called 'Iine' by Umbarans, is an extremely dangerous to consume toxin. 6-8 petals (less of the seeds or roots) of the Night-Flower contains enough of the substance to seriously harm or kill most humanoid species. The toxin works by disrupting the victims body's neuromuscular junctions, resulting in what is known as "ascending muscular paralysis." The paralysis typically begins in a person's legs, and ascends rapidly up the body until in reaches the respiratory muscles, resulting in death.

Breeding: Night Flowers most commonly reproduce through loose pollen which fills the air and breeze as well as through seeds that are eaten by animals when they mistakenly devour or disturb the plants. Incredibly durable, as the plant kills the host the flowers will lay dormant for weeks or months until the body has broken down enough for the airborne pollen to fertilize the seed. The result is the plant growing from the nutrient rich soil from the organic matter of the unfortunate host. The plant is happily able to be cross-bred with other Ipomoea and similar plants with differing effects.

Strengths: The plant is able to grow without almost any natural light, it is notoriously easy to grow and spread in sunlit worlds due to the sheer abundance of everything it needs, producing so much of its toxin they mistakenly were given the name 'Weeping Sun Lillies' due to the sheer sum of the bio-luminescent liquid they would produce. Their poison, while lethal in moderate doses, used correctly can be a potent muscle relaxant or heart disease medication.

Weaknesses: Of all the things the Umbaran Night Flowers hate, it is dry and arid weather and high temperatures. Drying the plant prevents its inner processes from working properly and nearly instantly inhibits any of its proteins causing the plant to seize up and cease to function. Though its roots may recover and attempt to rebuild the plant, it is rare.

Diet: The Weeping Sun Lilly feeds of low amounts of low UV light as well as phosphate enriched soil. The more light the plant gets, the faster its growth cycle, and in turn, the faster it will inevitably expire as the plant 'burns out' at an accelerated rate.

Behavior/Temperament: The plant, if not contained on sunlit worlds, is known to be a pest, and is quickly hunted down and exterminated should it be found due to how quickly it is able to spread. Some communities who have caught the flower too late in its growth cycle have had severe issues with culling its population due to this factor and how long its seeds are able to hybernate for before potentially being pollinated.

Communication: N/A

Culture: The Umbarans have known about the effects of Louloudio-Nichti for centuries, going back to the dawn of their civilisation, fields of the plant could be seen lighting up the glades as far as the eye could see. Knowing the dangers of the plant, they kept away from it, culling it as much as possible. The plant, due to the fact that it would bloom from the dead, was often considered to be evil by nature due to the misconception of it growing within hosts, making it feared and despised... to such an effect that there was a once common myth about the Louloudio-Nichti, where a folk hero was tricked into consuming it by a foul spirit... however, through faith, and clensing himself with fire, he overcame the venom and rose up to banish the evil ghast.

History: Louloudio-Nichti has been grown for many years by the more risk taking rich and powerful as a status symbol in their gardens due to the flowers radiant beauty, even though in many systems the plant is considered a strict item of contraband as a biohazard. However, to date, with the correct permits it has been known for botanists and especially medical staff to possess samples or special gardens tailored to handle the noxious plant. However, as a medicine on Umbara and other worlds, while it is still commonly used for its many purposes, due to its so low thresholds for dangerous use, it is often passed over for weaker variants, as other chemicals one usually builds up its potency, whilst with Louloudio-Nichti, its potency needs to be decreased substantially.

Planet: Umbara; P-10

Technology: The Umbaran night flower has a couple of useful effects due to its Iine:

. In safe doses: The medication is a powerful muscle relaxant and paralytic which can be ingested or administered directly to a muscle via injection of trace amounts. Iine is most commonly used to help with localized loss of muscle control, targeted pain relief, an anesthetic, heart medication, seizure medicine and treatment for other strictly muscular problems. Known side effects caused can be tingling in the muscles, numbness, loss of reaction speed, temporary local paralysis and shortness of breath and other asthma like symptoms.

. In Lethal doses: The "ascending muscular paralysis" as a lethal effect can take hold and overcome a victim within a matter of minutes under still and safe conditions naturally, escalating with more concentrated amounts of the toxin. It's to be noted that while the effect of the paralysis is excessively aggressive leaving even still victims motionless in less than a minute, death from the effects is known to take between 5-10 minutes due to how the body attempts to protect the heart and lungs.

Treatment: While there is no known cure for the muscular paralysis effect of the Umbaran Night Flower, the best treatment available is a simple one, adrenaline. High doses of adrenaline are known to contract the muscles and keep the heart pumping, it is recommended that any patient effected by the toxin of this flower is taken to hospital immediately and put under support until their body is able to recover.

Intent: The intent is to broaden some of the more colorful flora in the setting for use medicinally and as a chemical weapon for weapon coating or use in darts and other ranged technology similar to the kaminoan saber darts.

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[Baobhan]

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Name: Clamantes Viduam (The 'Crying' Willow Tree)

Biology: The Clamantes Viduam as it appears seems to be an all in all rather ordinary tree.. long, crescent shaped, jagged leaves drape the trees many vine-like extensions that hang from its far extending branches. The bark of the tree itself when new layers form are a pale green which quickly becomes a dark brown as the tree ages. At the pique of its growth cycle, the 'Crying' Willow grows to about 20 meters tall and equally as broad on average, with few larger due to exceptional circumstances. The wood of the tree is flexible and moist, allowing the tree to sway and bend. Like most plant matter, the tree drinks sunlight and uses phytosynthesis to produce glucose for ATP production as well as requiring phosphorus enriched soil to grow. But, the normality of this monster ends there.

Immediately in the wild, when presented with a specimen of the Clamantes Viduam, one would instantly notice very quickly that there would be little other plant-life surrounding it. The Clamantes Viduam is exceedingly hostile to other vegetation and animals, its deep roots, which are often extremely shallow, grow even wider and longer than the branches of the tree, devouring an enormous amount of fluid from the earth. This lends the tree to often cultivate and excel around moist places bordering large water sources like rivers or lakes. But its not only its roots that attack others, the highly soluble, viscus and adhesive sap which grows from the tree is the sort of long lasting natural bio-weapon that only tropical worlds like Tython could provide.

Breeding: The Clamantes Viduam breeds through cellular generation and self reconstruction. Splinters of branches often shed from the tree, some which are live, or lucky enough to plant itself into nutrient rich soil near enough water can easily become whole new trees on their own. Also, the trees nut like seeds grow within small green berry like bundles amongst the leaves which are hard to see within the foliage. These seeds are equally able to be blown by wind great distances to be planted and produce another of these monolithic willows, however, it takes on average, at least two decades into the trees life cycle to even begin to grow these seeds..

Strengths: Due to being in wet climates, its high water intake and the sap which coats the rest of the willow, the tree is rather hard to catch alight in the wild, and is more likely to simply smolder and blacken even within the rare forest fires of the rain-forest areas that it tends to inhabit. The tree has developed numerous toxins within itself to protect itself, its bark as well as its berries from harm, be it from bark grazing herbivores or invasive insects and birds which would otherwise harm the tree. The Phorbol of the tree itself has the property of being highly soluble, making even rain-water which has come into contact with the tree highly dangerous.

Weaknesses: The tree takes a long time to mature, and the cultivation rates of its seeds are notoriously low due to how fickle they are. Botanists and Herbologists claim that the reason for its low reproductive rate is simply due to how dominant the tree is in any environment it actually manages to mature in. Simply put, the tree is free to attempt to reproduce over and over again without fear of being destroyed or inhibited simply due to how aggressively it dominates its surrounding area.

Diet: The 'Crying' Willow absorbs nutrients through the ground with its invasive and expansive root structure, capable of drying out moist areas without a consistent water source on its own due the sheer magnitude of the plant's required water intake. Other than its own hydro absorption network, the willow generates through photosynthesis normally.

Behavior/Temperament: The tree is exceedingly invasive and aggressive toward all life in its environment, literally carving out a location of land where it dominates on every level, in such an efficient manner it earned itself its name. The tree attacks other beings from multiple fronts, extending roots which wrap up smaller plants, starving them of water as well as absorbing so much water in the area that smaller plants simply cannot fight for control nearby. Those few plants which are able to survive on a low enough moisture content, be it from rainfall alone or other means, are then attacked by the very rain that falls on them. The 'Crying' Willows core toxin; Phorbol, found thickly in its sap is a hyper aggressive chemical irritant, which, even by rainfall can make rain-water toxic enough to cull all but a stark few plants which have developed a resistance within its area. It is not uncommon to see birds and other small animals bodies' around one of these trees, swollen horrifically with sores and inflammation due to using the tree as shelter from rainfall. As an additional note, other lesser toxins can be found in the trees leaves and berries, enough to potentially be lethal to small animals due to trace amounts of cardiac glycosides found within them. Enough to make a humanoid sick, but little else.

Communication: N/A

Culture: The Sap from the Clamantes Viduam was used by native peoples to coat blades and projectiles with due to the added lethality it would give to the weapons, also, several amphibians and a single species of bird over hundreds of years have developed some resistance to the toxin of the tree, while still not immune enough to live under it, they have adapted to use the toxin on their backs or feathers as a type of armour to keep themselves safe.

History: While the Clamantes Viduam has been a known factor on Tython for many years as well as a couple of other forest planets in the inner rim. It has not been used practically other than a weapon or a poison by most of the earlier tribes around them. The toxins it produce are extremely concentrated irritants that have been used to test to see if anti-irritants are highly effective. As a weapon it was used to a great extent, tipping arrows, coating blades or using as a poison in food or drinking water were common uses for the sap.

Planet: Tython (L-10)

Technology: Phorbol when it comes into contact with organic matter has an instantaneous effect similar to an extreme allergic reaction which spreads from the effected area. With symptoms being redness, itchiness, hot flushes, irritation, extreme swelling, blistered tumors, tissue damage consistent with chemical burns and if too much area is exposed to the toxin (60% or higher of a victim) even anaphylaxis and death... all within a matter of moments. Should the chemical be swallowed, the effect causes the walls of the throat and other exposed skin areas to swell violently, causing the victims airways to close off and the lungs to swell, causing pulmonary oedema, making it incredibly hard and even impossible to breathe, also increasing the chance of anaphylactic shock astronomically.

Treatment: Phorbol can be treated with powerful antihistamines and hyrdocortisols which would be used to treat extremely severe allergic reactions. These chemcials over time will allow the blisters to heal as they would normally and prevent the creeping spread of the affliction. Antibacterials are also recommended to prevent infection to the irritated areas. In severe cases of anaphylaxis, adrenaline can be used to keep the heart moving and aid the body in fighting the irritant.

Intent: The intent is to broaden some of the more colorful flora in the setting for use as a chemical weapon for weapon coating or use in darts and other ranged technology similar to the kaminoan saber darts or gas grenades.

 

[Baobhan]

Name: Mycena Zellestrian (Zillo)


Biology: Mycena Zellestrian is a heterotrophic fungus that is particularly noticeable when it is seen in the wild due to its rough edges, lack of vibrant color and unique silk like structures that fall from under the hood of the mushroom. Known to grow no larger than five to eight centimeters in height and ten centimeters in width, donning an almost triangular hood to protect itself from the harsh elements around it. Thus, Mycena Zellestrian is one of the larger fast growing mushrooms that are native to the cold environments of the icey worlds it is known to inhabit. Often represented as a menace, its survival on the dank, cold worlds it is often found with a fascinating defense mechanism which has many a Mycologist enthralled at the potential implications.

The Mycena Zellestrian Mushroom survives its harsh climates solely due to a chemical that, amongst the fungal kingdom, is only seen within its cell walls. Called Thermosalient Mitochondric Acid (TMA), the substance is a light almost sticky substance that is found within the cell walls of the 'skin' cells of the mushroom. It's in this skin that the mushroom draws its nutrients in order to consume and grow, expanding its skin like organ as it does so. Effectively surrounded by its stomach, the mushroom reacts to cold by consuming more organic carbon as a fuel source to produce more ATP within itself, so that it may produce chemical heat, but also grow more rapidly. Simply put, the chemical energy given off by the metabolic process within the outer layer, prevents the inner layers of the plant from freezing, and enables it to grow. TMA is also a potent psychotropic toxin, known to induce intense rage and high adrenal responses, triggering severe aggressive behavior in those afflicted. Due to the TMA content in these mushrooms they become progressively warm in colder weathers.

The flesh of the Mycena Zellestrian Mushroom tends to be long and fibrous, able to be flaked off one at a time as long silken strands by even light breezes as the mushroom matures, much like those of a dandelion. Other than TMA, the Mycena Zellestrian produces several other chemicals to defend itself, growth chemicals found within the seeds of the organism called Proterium, contain the building blocks that would ultimately lead to TMA and Protenin production in the adult, (a process similar to cells dividing into body and sex cells in the development mammals) the raw effect of the spores should they be ingested give a sensation of delirium and Synesthesia. Protenin, another substance which develops from the building blocks of Proterium, has similar effects as a Synesthesiac and is often used in tandem to make it stronger.


Breeding: Mycena Zellestrian reproduces A sexually, as the adult plant matures and begins to die after little more than a couple of days, the hood of the mushroom begins to turn upward, inverting and exposing the fibrous silks underneath to the elements. These silks are blown off in the wind, linking dozens upon dozens of spores for new mushrooms. Able to be carried miles due to the cold climates of its native planets. As well as lay in hibernation for years while frozen, as soon as the mushrooms are exposed to moisture and organic carbon, they flourish, growing rapidly in reaction to cold weather spikes, coming to maturity between a standard week, or only a couple of days in harsh conditions. Due to the fact that strings of spores are connected to every strand of silk, the mushrooms tend to grow in large clusters, dotting the landscape where the strands have fallen.


Strengths: Being a Fungus, they are a simple organism, and are able to grow naturally without sunlight or photosynthesis. Needing only soil and organic matter of some kind to absorb carbon in order to grow. The reactive nature of TMA allows them to resist extreme sub-zero temperatures to approximately -15 degrees celcius sustaining no damage at all, taking extremely cold temperatures in excess of -40 degrees celcius in order to damage the interior of the fungus. Mycena Zellestrian is also known to grow to maturity extremely quickly, far faster than most plants, making them easy to harvest so long as one has the correct equipment.


Weaknesses: Mycena Zellestrian has 2 key weaknesses. The first, by far the lesser of the two, is the mushrooms hate of dry arid weather. TMA holds the mitochondria needed for the fungus to grow, which, without cold, does not trigger well. In extreme heat, the proteins within the TMA begin to break down killing the fungus in record time. The second, and far more intrusive weakness of the plant, is disease. Being native to cold worlds, Mycena Zellestrian mushrooms are almost NEVER exposed to intrusive diseases or infections, making them incredibly prone to anything that would target them, cultivating them easily and with nearly no resistance, meaning that a single simple disease or plague could easily decimate a population of Mycena Zellestria, should it be able to resist extreme cold temperatures.


Diet: Like all heterotrophic fungi, Mycena Zellestria consumes organic matter through root like structures which dig deep into them, secreting harmful enzymes which break down the matter, fermenting it and allowing it to be drained as rich nutrients. The enzymes which the Mycena Zellestrian mushroom produces, are another branch of chemical which grows from the stem cell like proto-toxin that occurs in the spore stage of its life cycle called Protenin.


Behavior/Temperament: While not aggressively invasive, Mycena Zellestrian Mushrooms are still a fungus which spread quickly in supportive ecological climates such as winter forests. In some conditions they have become pests, but due to the nature of their home-worlds, outbreaks are known to be seldom at best and often handle-able due to farmers being able to simply introduce a disease to close clusters, which often kills them quickly and without fallout due to the cold weather.


Communication: N/A


Culture: Mycena Zellestrian is used by many cultures as an Entheogen; Proterium and Protenin are both powerful Synesthesiacs that cultures have used for spiritual enlightenment at one point or another more than recreational use. Due to the disorienting hall effects in the waking world, like many opiates the two agents are known to cause strange and oddly vivid dreams due to their Synesthetic effects, making perceived senses, even those within dreams oddly real, to the point that those who have had nightmares, have awoken with psychosomatic bruising on their arms and legs which would fade quickly.

TMA on the other hand, has had another cultural purpose as a combat drug with more war-like cultures. Warriors and berserkers taking large hits of the drug before charging into battle in order to remove mental restraints and push the bodies adrenal response further, allowing them to fight harder and faster than they would otherwise with exceedingly increased ferocity. It was this property that gave the Mycena Zellestrian the nickname Zillo, as those who consumed it would fight with the savageness and strength of a wild untameable beast, seemingly ignoring wounds that were inflicted upon them.

It was these properties that gave Mycena Zellestrian incredible significance spiritually and practically.


History: The history of Mycena Zellestrian's use goes back hundreds of years to the ages of primitive warriors to fight their foes and shamans attempting to divine into the deeper nature of the universe. However, it was Mycologists which found the Mushroom on Hoth that bought a more galactic appeal to the nature of the fungi. Sending waves through the scientific community due to its unique properties, hoping that some of its properties might be usable medically in one form or another. Though it was seldom used as a medicine due to the difficulty of separating the negative effects of TMA, it became popular as a natural alternative bio anti-freeze in machinery on frost planets.


Planet: Yahmsborg / Hoth / Ice planets


Technology: Unlike many toxic plants, it is exceedingly difficult to overdose on the toxins that are commonly found within Zillo, requiring exceedingly large doses of which many other chemicals would be just as lethal at.

TMA: when used is a psychotropic drug causes an immediate adrenal response in the body by stimulating that area of the brain while simultaneously stimulating the pre-frontal cortex to trigger anger and aggression within the patient. The result of the simple yet effective combination is an immediate aggressive response, engaging the 'fight' response involuntarily within the patient. Though how they would aim or process this emotional impulse varies from patient to patient. Other Symptoms of TMA intake are shaking, sweating, increased heart rate largely increase body temperature, high blood pressure and severe aggression as well as extreme drowsiness due to overexertion as the drug wears off. The adrenal and neural response also dampens to the point of turning off most pain receptors in the body, a mix of the rage, adrenaline and numbness is known to create a sense of invulnerability which removes many of the instinctual limiters we place on our actions. Simply put, it makes you as strong as you 'really' are, past the point where the organic mind intentionally hesitates to avoid its own harm.

Dangers of taking TMA are largely situational, it is a strenuous drug that puts a lot of pressure on the body. Specific dangers include: over-stimulation of the brain which can lead to headaches and the killing of braincells. Overexertion due to the removal of physical inhibitors can lead to over-heating, hyperthermia and even heat-stroke. Large doses on those with heart conditions can even cause cardiac arrest. Not being careful when striking can often cause splintered bones, torn muscle fibers or micro-fractures due to the body not holding back from impacts.

Proterium & Protenin Also psychotropic drugs, but with little similarity to the effect of TMA. Proterium and Protenin act as high potency Synesthetics and hallucinogens, meaning that they effect the bodies' senses, linking them together in such a way that 'sound' could trigger a sensation of 'taste' involuntarily while simultaneously causing a state of delirium. Leaving a victim in a state of sensory chaos and potential overload, where sounds can be seen as colors, physical sensations or even physical locations that completely disorient those who ingest it. The two chemicals are rather similar in effect and function, causing their symptoms by overstimulating the Parietal Lobe, causing neural connections to misfire. The end result is often panic, confusion complete sensory disorientation and/or a sense of being 'lost.' (Both physically and metaphorically.)

Sleeping on Proterium and Protenin causes extremely vivid dreams which seem real to the dreamer, to the point some of them can have physical effects on the body due to psychosomatic processes. This has led many to believe that the drug has spiritual properties in connecting with the spirit world.

There are no known dangers to the intake of Proterium or Protenin on their own, but what people are prone to do on them is often what causes danger. Overdose on Proterium and its derivative often trigger extreme sickness or the killing of some or more brain-cells, leading to damage over extensive use, but little in the short term.

Treatment: Mycena Zellestrian intoxication is relatively easy to treat, though the method is invasive. In cases of ingesting the Toxins, charcoal treatments can also be ingested to induce regurgitation or bind the substance so that it is not absorbed through the intestines or stomach lining, preventing the chemicals from reaching the blood-stream and effecting the brain. Though, should it be injected into the blood-stream directly, treatment becomes less about aversion and more about mitigation, as the patient would require fluid solutions delivered via an IV drip to dilute the chemicals and counter-act the effects. This is usually accomplished with potent neural depressants or anesthetic which, while countering the effects would cause severe drowziness and Somnolence.


Intent: The intent is to broaden some of the more colorful flora in the setting for use as a chemical weapon for weapon coating or use in darts and other ranged technology similar to the kaminoan saber darts or gas grenades.