Alraune

"It was then that we entered a clearing of sorts - for the first time in hours, sunlight had pierced the canopy and cast a soft light upon our surroundings. Amidst the moss sat two enormous flower bulbs. Upon approaching them, the petals had started shaking lightly before unfurling, revealing what appeared to be two humanoid women - or at least from the waist up..." - Pip and Merrin

Basic Information

Anatomy

Alraune are humanoid from the waist up but possess lower halves veiled by large petals. Vines sprout out of the base of their bulb, which are capable of absorbing nutrients from of the soil. These vines are strong enough to allow for movement should the alraune uproot him- or herself. Smaller tendrils grow up out of the bulb, wrapping around their humanoid forms. Alraune often distinguish themselves from one another with various flowers and leaves that they are capable of growing out of their upper half at will.
Their skin comes in a multitude of green shades, although yellow and brown tones are not uncommon in colder seasons when nutrients are scarce.
An alraune's anatomy is far closer to that of a plant than that of a humanoid. As a result thereof, their occurrence is limited to biospheres where the climate is temperate and supports plant growth. While they are largely omnivorous, they are capable of generating energy for themselves through photosynthesis, which releases oxygen in the process. This process is especially useful in times of a food shortage.

Ecology and Habitats

Alraune are formed under rare circumstances; it is only when the potent magic from the Feywilds seeps into the material plane and binds the soul of a recently deceased humanoid to a flower's seed that they come into existence. The infused seed is capable of spending a long time in a stasis, waiting for the opportune moment to start growing. Once the seed germinates, it spends the first year growing into a bulb. It remains in this bulbous state, ever absorbing nutrients and growing until reaching maturity and flowering into an alraune at around 5 years.
They do not practice history or keep written records of their exploits. Alraune tales are purely shared by word of mouth and often carry little significance. If anything, their existence is only recorded by the faint whispers of the forest.
Under the dryad's reign over Carracosta, the island had plentiful magic, but lacked space for the alraune to flourish. Soon after the eradication of the dryads however, alraune began forming in the ruins of their empire under the influence of the remnants of dryad magic. Many of these alraune were in fact former dryads, retaining the memories of their former lives. Some of them are still alive today, living simple lives in primordial forests or quiet groves.

Additional Information

Social Structure

Although they don't form societies or even groups in the traditional sense of the word, alraune are still a part of nature and are willing to share their territory with allies if they find that this could be beneficial to themselves. Should their domain become endangered, they will fight alongside others to regain control. Alraune regard Druids highly, finding their ways with nature inspiring and uplifting. Alraunes generally respect druids enough to not meddle in their business.
Alraunes tend to shy away from other races, hiding in the deeper parts of the forest - Should they come across a human it's often only from the treetops or as an inconspicuous form within their bulbs. There have been a few cases in which alraune have left the security of their forests with adventurers for a reason known only to them. It is possible that they left to gain experience and knowledge to bring back to their home one day, because they have lost everything in a forest fire, or that their seclusion in an ancient forest is endangered.
In the inns and fields of the outposts near the vast forests that alraune call home you may hear whispers of stories where adventures were taken captive by the alraune - where they were entangled and slowly digested until not even their bones were left. It is also speculated that consuming humans might be an important part of creating an offspring for alraune, as their origin is connected to the deceased.

Scientific Name

Planta Sapiens

Origin/Ancestry

Carracostan

Conservation Status

Largely undiscovered