Taru Warolue

The Rolling Grass

Warolue is a pleasant enough grass in the mind’s of most. It is not a rare plant, but it is also not common. As citizens have expanded their land holding in the Shield Mountains around the Circled Sea, the grass has been removed; generally. Some however purposely grow patches of the grass around their property to protect against smaller scavenging animals. Patches of this grass often hide depressions and holes in the rocks in which they are found growing. These hidden obstacles can be an additional hazard to wandering animals or the distracted. It’s hard to walk away when your ankle or legs are broken. It is not called Rolling Grass because it rolls, or citizens of the Realm roll it, but because it does the rolling of those poor animals who loiter in its vicinity for too long a time.

Basic Information

Anatomy

This grass is a low ground level grass with short (six inches) blades which lay flat. They have a broad loose root system which must be submerged in water. This means that the grass can only grow in shallow pools of water commonly found in the narrow tidal/wave zone between the Shield Mountains and the Circled Sea. Warolue can survive long periods dehydration in a hibernation like state, but this is rare due to the moist temperate weather of the Circled Sea region.

Genetics and Reproduction

This grass reproduces by sending out thick seeding vine like shoots from its main patch. When the vine encounters another pool of shallow water, a main root structure develops and a new patch of grass grows. The seeding vine remains allowing the two patches to share water and nutrients.

Growth Rate & Stages

On average it takes three weeks for a full mature patch of grass to grow from a seeding vine if conditions are good. Longer or shorter times are possible should conditions be optimal or sub-optimal. Younger patches are common food for both land and water animals.

Ecology and Habitats

Taru Warolue is found only on the coast of the Shield Mountains and the Circled Sea.

Dietary Needs and Habits

Ample water that is mineral rich, sun light and the occasional dead animal are all the dietary needs of the Taru Warolue.

Additional Information

Domestication

Some communities and individual households have adopted the practice of planting patches of Taru around or through out their properties. This reduces the small animal and bird population in the area, but of course may place the occasional lazy citizen at risk, should their friends be angry with them.

Uses, Products & Exploitation

There are no notable uses or products associated with Warolue.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Found throughout the Shield Mountain range near tidal/wave zone.

Average Intelligence

Grass. Just your plain average grass.

Perception and Sensory Capabilities

Grass. Certainly there are some plants in the Realm that have unusual perceptive or sensory capacities, but the Taru Warolue is not one of them. If you want to encounter that kind of strange and dangerous consider an unguided tour of the Green.

Lifespan

Very long? Unknown.

Conservation Status

Jade List - Least Concern

Average Height

Warolue is a low grass, typically no taller then 30 centimeters.

Average Weight

Varies depending on the size of the patch of Warolue. The larger patches will easily reach several hundred pounds.

Average Length

Smallish to unusually large. Many conservationists have voiced a concern that some patches are critically large. Exhibiting behaviour that is unique.

Body Tint, Colouring and Marking

Green. Light Green. Dark... Green. Some shade of green. Unripe fruit green. Reds. Yes... reds, perhaps

Geographic Distribution

• Sèk Tela Hringhafi

Size type:
Medium to large
Danger Level:
Low. Unless you are stupid, a small dumb animal, drunk, or unconscious.
Speed:
None. It just sits and waits for you to get comfortable.
Armour Class:
None. Wet grass is easy to damage.
Attacks each round:
None.
It will just wait until you can’t move anymore, die and wrap you up slowly, then eat you as you dissolve.
Reach:
None.
You come to it.

Special Qualities:
Treasure:
In the wild the grass will have almost nothing of value. Sure it might be the case that some poor animal had some small piece of value trinket in its gut that the grass couldn’t eat, but every creature that might have something worth selling knows to avoid the grass.
So ... rarely.
If the grass is ‘domesticated’ any value items will be harvested by its owners.
So ... none.
In short don’t get your hopes up. It’s just grass.
Tactics:
To say that Taru Warolue has tactics would be generous. Typically small animals encounter the grass settle in for a snack, and then never leave. Sometimes larger wounded animals can be found in the grass as they stumble upon it or just decide to rest.
Healthy mature grass constantly emits a sonic aura that is paralytic to almost every animal. Animals that remain in the aura long enough become unable to move. Once this occurs the animal dies due to suffocation, and the grass slowly sends thick grip vines with fine hair like thorns to pull the animal to it with the intention of completely wrapping it up. The grass now just slowly allows the carcass to decay dripping its rich mineral nutrients into the grass and the water the grass grows in.
The few animals that are immune to the sonic aura benefit greatly. Not only do they have increased protection from predation as they can hide in the grass patches, but they can also share the kill of the Taru Warolue.