Janim
Half salad, half meat, I dont know what to make of these things, but without them our expedition would not have made it past the first oasis
Anjet of Cenn Caerwaith
Full Description
The Janim are an enigma of the Wastelands, part plant and part animal. The outer rind is thick and green, covered with sharp spines and thorns, and unless given close inspection looks like nothing more than a common cactus of other desert plant. If cut, the plant bleeds a runny greenish sap and emits a thin wail. If the core of the plant is cut into, it bleeds red blood and screams and flails about with thorny limbs.
Should they decide to become mobile, the Janim resembles a comical humanoid, pot bellied with stumpy arms and legs. The eye spots are limited at best, but the creature can see and smell well enough to avoid hunting areas and to get out of the way of more dangerous predators. Barely three feet tall, they are only a threat to lone travelers, or those weakened by exposure to the desert.
Additional Information
The origin of the Janim is not exactly known, but they are found across the sandy and rocky parts of the desert Wastelands. They are a hybrid of both plant and animal, with dual circulatory systems (blood and sap) and the ability to survive by photosynthesis and root absorption as well as consuming organic matter through a primitive stomach like sack. Like the fish-like Samaki the Janim are bottom rung creatures in the Wastelands, primarily prey for larger herbivores and predators.
The Janim has two methods of self preservation. The most direct method is that the creature can uproot itself and run away with surprising alacrity. Most humans would be hard pressed to catch a Janim at full run. The second method is that developed janim can throw their thorns, often three or four times before exhausting their supply. These thorns are a nuisance most of the time, but are incredibly painful to catch in the eye, nostrils, and mouth. Janim do tend to aim for the face.
Janim Fruit
Large and bulbous red pods, janim fruit are highly coveted by most intelligent creatures. The spongy flesh of the fruit is very nourishing, and the juice inside has a minor restorative effect, much like a weak curative spell. The seeds inside pass easily through the digestive system and a few days after being 'expelled' sprout to grow into new Janim.
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? Responses (8)
A quality submission, I like these creatures
Weird and usable. They remind me a little of the Cactuars from Final Fantasy. I love those guys. Good sub.
A good submission for any desert based roleplaying game.
Omnomnomnom.
Probably actually two symbiotic creatures? Just a thought.
A fun creature (though Siren may be on to something here).
How smart are they really? One could imagine some to learn to coexist with a nomad tribe - trading protection for their fruit and guard duty (these things probably don't sleep). Just think of the nomads traveling the desert with their trees following them...
I was about to ask questions, and manfred hit my important questions: Intelligence and symbiosis.
My questions included:
Do they fight back if you try to eat them (in plant mode)?
Do they like giving their fruit away?
Do they plant themselves?
Are they solitary or group orriented? (Do they grow in patches?)
Their flesh is consumed by carnivores, leaving their plant flesh to rot and lay seed?
Do they fight back if you try to eat them (in plant mode)?
In 'plant mode' they are basically asleep. Hit them or otherwise attack them, they will jump up and attempt to run away. If persued, they will respond by throwing thorns.
Do they like giving their fruit away?
Would you give your children away? Janim will not attempt to recover lost fruit, the seeds are quite hardy, but they are not in the habit of giving the fruits away. As a rule, these creatures are xenophobic of just about everything.
Do they plant themselves?
Yes, but their root system is shallow and highly mobile. A janim planted in the ground is basically asleep.
Are they solitary or group orriented? (Do they grow in patches?)
Both. Most janim can be found in small patches of 3 to 5 members, most of these will be juveniles not old enough to fruit. Once the janim reaches maturity, they are more likely to become less group minded. Resources in the wastelands are scarce and a solitary janim is more likely to spawn more of itself than a group is.
Their flesh is consumed by carnivores, leaving their plant flesh to rot and lay seed?
Their plant flesh is rather like the exoskeleton of an insect, largely unpalatable except to large gut fermentors or animals with extensive digestive systems. The 'meat' flesh is edible to both carnivores and herbivores. Their outer rind doesnt have and seeds in it, on the rudimentary eye spots and thorns. Only discarded fruit, or seeds from eaten fruit will germinate into new Janim.
What a mad little creature! I love it!
Truly a bizarre desert region you have there Scras!