Bramblet
Actually two species that have developed a symbiotic relationship to an unusual degree, bramblets are composed of a porcine mammal and highly-specialized plant related to common shrubs. Growing to a length of about two meters and a meter and a half tall, the animal portion of a bramblet belongs to the porcine family, related distantly to the common hog. Usually dark or mottled in complexion, they sport thin and wiry fur, but their most distinguishing feature is their companion shrub. These thorny plants are anchored into the back of the bramblet by their thin and flexible roots that penetrate the skin and blood vessels and hook into the bone. Bramblets have no nerve endings in their backs, and so this plant partner causes them no pain.
The bramble shrubs come in several varieties, some that produce berries or fruits and others that shed nuts. Containing the seeds of the shrubs, which only develop in living flesh, these products are vital to the bramblet life cycle. Rubbing against trees, they are picked up by male bramblets and chewed up before being deposited onto the backs of their juvenile young, allowing the seeds within to take root.
Because the shrubs require a great deal of sunlight, bramblets are usually found in plains, grasslands, hills and light forests. Omnivorous by nature, bramblets are voracious eaters, consuming everything from grass to carcasses. Some subspecies even develop larger tusks and sharper thorns and hunt live prey.
Hormone differences in bramblets produce different types of growth in their shrubs. Males’ shrubs typically grow taller and develop much brighter flowers, and are referred to as “crowns'' while females’ shrubs develop long viny branches that hang down around the bramblet, providing a protective wall for their young to hide behind, called “skirts”. They have developed a synchronous mating season, and while males strut and battle for attention from the females, the shrubs bloom and produce pollen. Some varieties require pollinating insects, and so swarms of bees can be found alongside mating bramblets. Pollen-producing types make their way to windy cliffs and can cloud the air with their pollen.
Berry-producing bramblets are often domesticated, as their fruit can be harvested and turned into a variety of goods. Special care must be taken to remove the seeds from the berries, as they can take root in the intestinal tract if consumed, producing a painful condition known as “thorngut” that can lead to death. The only effective treatment for thorngut is with an alchemical concoction created from the milk of a bramblet, which kills the bramble shrub in case of accidental ingestion by juvenile bramblets. Breeders are known to carefully pair shrubs to produce striking colorations and flower shapes, and competitions for bramblet appearance are not unknown. Bramblet meat is said to be a delicacy, but killing bramblets is frowned upon, as this prevents their other products from being harvested.
Other Types
Dire Bramblet: Growing up to four meters in length and up to three tall, these bramblets are larger and far more aggressive than their normal counterparts. Their tusks can grow up to 30 centimeters and develop a sharp piercing point. Their fur grows thicker and they develop a skirt of vines that keep enemies at bay and stick into their flesh with hook-like thorns designed to ensnare and rip. Shockingly fast despite their weight, they are adept hunters, and their carnivorous diet lessens their shrub’s dependence on light, giving its leaves a crimson tinge and allowing them to live in deep forests and caves.
Shred: Upon a successful attack shreds the target’s skin and causes them to bleed for d6 damage at the start of their turn until an action is taken to close or bandage the wounds.
Killer Bramblet: A tragic misnomer, these sad creatures are thankfully rare. When a juvenile bramblet is separated from its family, it can instead be seeded by predatory bloodvine. Thought to be a cousin of the bramblet shrubbery, the bloodvine finds fertile ground in a young bramblet, allowing it to achieve a symbiosis not seen in other species. Covered in tendrils sporting razor-sharp thorns and specialized spines, these bramblets are unwitting accomplices as the bloodvine lashes out at any living creature that gets within range, enveloping it and feeding off its blood. The bramblet also benefits, as excess blood contributes to its growth. Extremely grim creatures, killer bramblets are sometimes found dragging the carcasses or bones of their own family, often the first victims of their murderous passenger.
Blood drain: Upon a successful attack attaches to the victim and drains their blood: 1d3 automatic damage per round.
Detaching: If killer bramblet or victim dies, or if vines are attacked and hacked away.
Myconic Bramblet: Reanimated corpses overtaken by the myconic infestation, these undead creatures bear no resemblance towards their living forms. Most often they are found largely intact, bloated and sluggish, with their thorny shrubs totally replaced by broad-capped mushrooms or sail-like fungal growths. Their slow speed renders them less dangerous in combat, but their bite can still spread the infection, and once their fungal growth blooms they can release a massive number of infectious spores onto the wind, making them a priority for elimination.
Myconic infection: Those exposed to myconic spores without appropriate protection must save vs. poison. On a failure, they become infected. See “The Myconis” for information on this fungus.
Bloom: The myconic bramblet may disperse its spores all at once in a 10’ radius around itself. Those who inhale the spores are subject to myconic infection. Additionally, the area around the bramblet provides cover with a -2 penalty to attacks against all those within. It persists for 1 minute.
Toxic Bramblet: Distinguished by their red flowers streaked with green or purple, these bramblets are solitary and protect themselves with a novel adaptation of their shrubs. When threatened, their flowers release a specialized type of pollen loaded with toxin that paralyzes and eventually kills anything that inhales it. Faster than normal bramblets, the toxic bramblet will then flee. They are not aggressive and have not learned to weaponize their toxin, but if backed into a corner they will release it in great quantities.
Pollen cloud: When under duress, the toxic bramblet can release a misty cloud of pollen around itself that contains highly poisonous compounds. Creatures in a 15’ radius must save vs. poison. On a failure, they take d8 poison damage every hour until they die or are cured.
Rumors and Talk
If the dangerous pollen of a toxic bramblet is ingested under the light of a full moon, it confers total immunity to their poison.
Bramblet rustlers, outfitted with thick leather gloves and padded armor, operate out of the hills.
The meat of an old male bramblet cures impotence.*
Wild bramblets have very long memories, and will remember people who help or harm the herd.
Intrepid smugglers hide illicit packages in bramblet shrubs to get them in and out of town unseen.
Bramblet berries are actually full of their sweet blood.*
The shrub is actually the entire animal, and the pig is just a complex decoy mechanism.*
A ranger in the forest has a bramblet that produces golden berries.
*False
Adventures
Bramblet herders are losing their flock to rustlers hiding out deep in the wilderness. The brigands do not respect the creatures’ lifecycle and simply slaughter them for their meat.
A scholar from the city is paying for armed mercenaries to escort them into the wilds to observe bramblets in their natural habitat. A dire bramblet has taken up residence in the area and will attack trespassers.
The preeminent menagerie of the nation seeks brave adventurers who can bring back a toxic bramblet for their new exhibit.
A myconic bramblet has managed to turn its entire flock, and they are now wandering the countryside, directed by the myconic intelligence to infect small towns. A bounty has been placed on their destruction.
Encounters
An unseeded juvenile bramblet is found wandering on its own. Initially fearful, it will warm to anyone who feeds it. The flock is nearby, looking for the lost one.
2d4 bramblets and 1 dire bramblet. A spear is lodged in the dire bramblet’s side, covered in blood (not hers), but has an obsidian head worth 20gp.
1d4+1 bramblet herders and a flock of 2d8+2 bramblets. They are passing through and will trade bramblet berries for 5sp/bundle.
A killer bramblet, its vines wrapped around the corpses of an ox and a human, draining their blood. The bramblet is trying to escape, but the vines hold it in place. If the host or itself is threatened the bloodvine will strike.
3 ogres, 2 crowded around one that has eaten a thorny variety of bramblet and now has a mouthful of brambles. They are not initially hostile and will welcome anyone small and brave enough to reach into the ogre’s mouth and pull out the thorns stuck inside. As a reward they will offer 100gp and a potion of healing (2d4).
1d6+2 brigands suffering from poison. A toxic bramblet lies dead nearby. They will succumb to the disease if not cured. They are bearing an official writ of permission to hunt the creature, with a stated bounty of 120gp. If anyone attempts to take it and claim their kill they will fight to the death. If they are cured, they will agree to part with it as thanks.
Items
Thorngut Surprise: Small seeds harvested from bramblet berries, they can be added to food and ingested. Anyone who eats the seeds must save vs poison. On a failure, they will develop thorngut symptoms within 1d6 weeks. After the first onset of symptoms, this condition is fatal after one week. The only cure is bramblet milk. Often used by assassins in lands with no bramblet populations, it produces a very painful death.
Bramblewine: Made from the berries or fruit of bramblets, this wine is extremely potent. There are many flavor varieties.
Thistlecake: Nuts shed by bramblets can be used to create a flour, which is then baked into this thin and tasty bread with a natural sweetness that makes it highly sought after.
Partisan’s Friend: Dead or shorn branches from a bramblet can be harvested for their thorns. Properly treated, they can easily be shaped into wooden caltrops that are no less sharp than their metal counterparts. Supremely cheap and plentiful, these are often used by rebel forces to hamper occupying soldiers.
Bramblet Milk: The milk produced by bramblets is used to treat thorngut, and is otherwise just a satisfying drink.
Rancher Mitts: Thick gloves reinforced with bramblet hair. Wearers can safely touch, grapple and otherwise interact with bramblet shrubs or other thorny or spine-covered surfaces including bloodvine.
Miracle Marrow: The bones of a bramblet are used as anchors by the roots of the plants that sit upon their backs. Those same bones are marvelous fertilizer. An application of this mealy white powder can cover a 20’ surface of earth. Plants will grow much faster than usual in the area. An application of blood will speed this process even further.
Dried Bramblet Tail: An irresistible delicacy, these tails are prized among monster slayers for their attractive properties. Carnivorous creatures are drawn to this treat, and will pursue it at all costs, even ignoring other prey to devour it.
Toxidart: Using hollowed spines and concentrated pollen from a toxic bramblet, these darts make for a deadly weapon. Those hit by the darts are subject to the poison effect detailed under the toxic bramblet’s “Pollen cloud” ability.
Bramblepelt: A leather coat fashioned from bramblet hide. Its innate resistance to thorns gives its wearer protection from piercing attacks, which deal half damage.
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