Mandrake

Among skulls, bones and antlers. The grayed roots of bursted open trees glowing with a blue coloured sheen and smoke stand as the one and final warning to turn around and make haste as far away from the scene as possible. These creatures, known as the Mandrakes, do not discriminate between prey and predator. They will consume anything that walks on their tainted grounds.

Twine, sinew and bone

Autopsy recording #49. We have disected a fair number of these so called Mandrakes yet and can confirm that their biology is something outlandish and incredibly wrong to nature. Where most creatures are based on one materia alone, be it flesh, elemental or plant based lifeforms, these Mandrakes have a thick outer exterior of bark, shell like from pineapple or a really hard lettuce. Underneath though is blue pulsating human flesh. Combined with a mixture of sinews, bone, twigs and wicker.
Furthermore, the Mandrake is a sentient, root based lifeform, which has proven itself capable of adapting and learning, with how it's internal roots intertwine and repair the organs of dead creatures or plain replace them with floral components which allows them to live, breathe and fuction again. Their breath in peculiar is interesting though, as they clearly breathe through the skin. Hence, battling these creatures with fire can be hard due to how their pores can eject water through the skin to quench burning. Hence, it would be a better idea to use chemical oils to battle them. As does the plant compound not take damage like normal flesh does, if tasting the sting of a rapier or shot by a bullet. Rather than bleed out like an ordinary mortal, all that is squeezed out is some water, while vessels redirect like a trainrail. Which is why ordinary bullets are completely against the creatures, yet great weapons such as axes, hammers or the harnessing of electricity work as a good counter.

Limbs, thorns and fingers

Further research into the subject suggests that the Mandrakes take different forms for different roles. Larger bodies with bigger arms and hands tend to be reinforced with bark and growth of thorns, as clearly based around a more tanky creature meant to take hits. Others have the legs of goats, elk or even horses, with antlered heads with sharp vines for fingers. These creatures are likely the skirmishers.
The only constantly occuring shapes for the Mandrake seems to be a vaguely enough humanoid form, carrying grippers, arms, legs and some form of feet or cloves. If this pattern is anything to go from, one can also assume that these monsters aim to best adapt their bodies like mortals. Hence, it is of importance we destroy and battle this threat before they learn to weave modern weapons and armour into their being, as it would render them even harder to kill than they already are.

How to kill a lettuce-man

Naturally, one can only study the enemy so much without studying their own tools and advantages. Now the simplest methode for figuring out what would best kill a Mandrake, we turn to the five elements.

• Fire while effective at completely disintergrating these plant based subjects, can be easily countered by a high density of liquids being pushed out of their skin, which kills the flame and cools them from further heat. Certain chemical compounds can impregnate their skin though and keep burning through the water.
• Water is especially useless against the Mandrake. They feed and heal from liquids and fully capable at breaking down any toxin and even a fair share of acids, which they can then use themselves. Practically strengthening the creatures. Nor does freezing them work, as it only preserve their plant based organs. In fact, the Mandrakes seem to be both faster, smarter and way more lethal during the colder months
• Earth is more usefull than one might think, considering the Mandrakes have their roots within and controlling of it. Then again, dropping a hard rock to crush something, or bashing it with a hammer is usually a cure-all.
• Wind is completely useless against the Mandrakes.
• Energy
has been tested and proven incredibly effective against both Mandrakes and The Huntmarshall's Curse infection they spread through the woods. The electrical voltage seeks out all the wet vessels within the creatures and their corruption, then cook their impurities out from the insides. Practically blowing the creatures up and spreading a nasty seismic discord through their ranks, which is most unpleasant to them. Electricity can thus burn away the taint, without also scorching the entire forest with them.

Origin/Ancestry

Abyssal

Discovered by

Magnolia "Magpie" Dolchenfeuer