species:gardener
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species:gardener [2022/01/30 18:03] conan |
species:gardener [2026/02/04 02:04] (current) conan MOSS |
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| ====== Gardeners ====== | ====== Gardeners ====== | ||
| - | The Gardeners are not really an individual species, but rather communicative components of one of a number of vast sentient alien ecosystems, dubbed Cordyceps by their discoverers. The beings called Gardeners are actually human corpses embedded with Cordyceps entities. The first successful contact with the Cordyceps was in 3428 PT PT, after a distress signal was detected from an unsurveyed system in the [[:sector:Saggital Bridge Sector]]. A scientific party from the Free Union discovered a lone planet orbiting a particularly bright white dwarf star, completely covered by a dense layer of plant and fungal matter. The distress signal originated from a crashed Terran sleeper ship from the ancient [[:system:Sol]] system, which had lain dormant on the planet for at least a thousand years. On landing to investigate, the scientists were greeted by humans, who had no memory prior to five years before, and were covered with greenish sores. These humans called themselves “Gardeners” and spoke of a Melody sung by the planet itself that guided them. Fearing an alien contagion, the exploration party retreated to the crashed ship and checked its data logs – the ship had suffered a life support system failure in transit, and its payload of twelve thousand colonists had all perished in their stasis chambers prior to landing. Five years prior to their arrival, the outer hull of the ship had been breached in an earthquake, and the native ecosystem had entered the ship and gotten into some of the stasis pods, somehow bringing the unrotten corpses of the colonists back to a semblance of life. The living immune systems of the explorers would protect them from a similar fate, so they were able to establish proper contact with the Gardeners. | + | [{{:species:gardenerschatting_byrobdavies.jpg?400 |<html><font color=black>Gardeners tend to be gregarious and collaborative as a group.</font></html>}}]The Gardeners are not really an individual species, but rather communicative components of one of a number of vast sentient alien ecosystems, dubbed Cordyceps by their discoverers. The beings called Gardeners are actually human corpses embedded with Cordyceps entities. The first successful contact with the Cordyceps was in 3428 PT PT, after a distress signal was detected from an unsurveyed system in the [[:sector:Saggital Bridge Sector]]. A scientific party from the Free Union discovered a lone planet orbiting a particularly bright white dwarf star, completely covered by a dense layer of plant and fungal matter. The distress signal originated from a crashed Terran sleeper ship from the ancient [[:system:Sol]] system, which had lain dormant on the planet for at least a thousand years. On landing to investigate, the scientists were greeted by humans, who had no memory prior to five years before, and were covered with greenish sores. These humans called themselves “Gardeners” and spoke of a Melody sung by the planet itself that guided them. Fearing an alien contagion, the exploration party retreated to the crashed ship and checked its data logs – the ship had suffered a life support system failure in transit, and its payload of twelve thousand colonists had all perished in their stasis chambers prior to landing. Five years prior to their arrival, the outer hull of the ship had been breached in an earthquake, and the native ecosystem had entered the ship and gotten into some of the stasis pods, somehow bringing the unrotten corpses of the colonists back to a semblance of life. The living immune systems of the explorers would protect them from a similar fate, so they were able to establish proper contact with the Gardeners. |
| Although the Gardeners generally prefer to stay with and tend to their home ecosystem, the planet encouraged a number of them to go out and learn more about the wider universe, to see how they could assist with the development of civilisation and life, and perhaps bring some of that knowledge back. On learning more of the Free Union and their struggle for freedom from the Ascendancy, it came to regard the Sovereign Worlds as needing its tending and wisdom, and offered to join them as an equal. | Although the Gardeners generally prefer to stay with and tend to their home ecosystem, the planet encouraged a number of them to go out and learn more about the wider universe, to see how they could assist with the development of civilisation and life, and perhaps bring some of that knowledge back. On learning more of the Free Union and their struggle for freedom from the Ascendancy, it came to regard the Sovereign Worlds as needing its tending and wisdom, and offered to join them as an equal. | ||
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| ===== Character ===== | ===== Character ===== | ||
| - | The character of the Gardeners is an extension of the hivemind ecosystem of which they are a part, with some individual variation based on the individual’s role or speciality. They all have an urge to protect and care for each other and their home planet. They have an innate tendency to act in accordance with what they see as “the greater good”, for the Cordyceps as a species and also for those who they regard as positive forces in the universe for protecting life and diversity – the Free Union is the prime example, which they have allied with. All Gardeners are in tune with their home ecosystem through something they call the Melody – a signal that communicates guidance and intent. An individual Gardener hears the Melody of the ecosystem they are from – although they are broadly similar in outlook, there are slight differences between the three. | + | [{{ :species:arrowrootchate11_byrobdavies.jpg?250|<html><font color=black>The heroic Captain Arrowroot tries to be a force for good in the galaxy.</font></html>}}]The character of the Gardeners is an extension of the hivemind ecosystem of which they are a part, with some individual variation based on the individual’s role or speciality. They all have an urge to protect and care for each other and their home planet. They have an innate tendency to act in accordance with what they see as “the greater good”, for the Cordyceps as a species and also for those who they regard as positive forces in the universe for protecting life and diversity – the Free Union is the prime example, which they have allied with. All Gardeners are in tune with their home ecosystem through something they call the Melody – a signal that communicates guidance and intent. An individual Gardener hears the Melody of the ecosystem they are from – although they are broadly similar in outlook, there are slight differences between the three. |
| * The Thicket ecosystem is deeply nurturing and caring of those who it feels need its protection. It is the oldest of the Cordyceps ecosystems, and is endlessly patient. It is also the dominant of the three Cordyceps ecosystems. | * The Thicket ecosystem is deeply nurturing and caring of those who it feels need its protection. It is the oldest of the Cordyceps ecosystems, and is endlessly patient. It is also the dominant of the three Cordyceps ecosystems. | ||
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| ===== Appearance ===== | ===== Appearance ===== | ||
| - | Gardeners are outwardly human, but much of their internal functions have been replaced by the plant or fungal Cordyceps lifeforms. These lifeforms derive energy from chlorophyll sacs embedded in their skin. The chlorophyll sacs impart a patchwork greenish tinge to the skin, which can be physrepped using makeup. The sacs tend to swell over time and can eventually burst through the skin, causing the epidermis to crack and split and leaving angry red scars. | + | [{{ :species:gardener_crest_byagentbsmith.jpg?250|<html><font color=black>The internal plant-based physiology of Gardeners can erupt from their bodies as vines and impressive fungal growths</font></html>}}]Gardeners are outwardly human, but much of their internal functions have been replaced by the plant or fungal Cordyceps lifeforms. These lifeforms derive energy from chlorophyll sacs embedded in their skin. The chlorophyll sacs impart a patchwork greenish tinge to the skin, which can be physrepped using makeup. The sacs tend to swell over time and can eventually burst through the skin, causing the epidermis to crack and split and leaving angry red scars. |
| Some Gardeners display external outgrowths of plant and fungal material, such as vines and fungal fruiting bodies. These protrusions are extensions of the internal Cordyceps lifeforms, usually with a sensory or photosynthetic function. Vines, where present, tend to be simple trailing fronds with palmate variegated leaves that resemble the Ivy of the northern continents of ancient Terra. The external protrusions are generally associated with heightened stresses on the individual's symbiote biology, which responds wit outgrowths to gather greater resources from the external environment. Once grown, however, they are likely to remain for some time, as the Cordyceps organisms adapt to the new components. Although these outgrowings are relatively uncommon in the general Gardener population, they are much more prevalent in those hailing from the Kudzu ecosystem in the wake of the recent alien contagion, probably associated with the responses to the infection. | Some Gardeners display external outgrowths of plant and fungal material, such as vines and fungal fruiting bodies. These protrusions are extensions of the internal Cordyceps lifeforms, usually with a sensory or photosynthetic function. Vines, where present, tend to be simple trailing fronds with palmate variegated leaves that resemble the Ivy of the northern continents of ancient Terra. The external protrusions are generally associated with heightened stresses on the individual's symbiote biology, which responds wit outgrowths to gather greater resources from the external environment. Once grown, however, they are likely to remain for some time, as the Cordyceps organisms adapt to the new components. Although these outgrowings are relatively uncommon in the general Gardener population, they are much more prevalent in those hailing from the Kudzu ecosystem in the wake of the recent alien contagion, probably associated with the responses to the infection. | ||
| ====== Game Rules ====== | ====== Game Rules ====== | ||
| - | + | [{{ :species:moss_striding_byagentbsmith.jpg?250|<html><font color=black>Some Gardeners manifest a truly impressive level of vine growth.</font></html>}}] | |
| - | **Species Keywords:** Plant, Parasitic, Undead | + | * **Species Keywords:** Plant, Parasitic, Undead |
| - | **Default Faction:** [[:Free Union]] | + | * **Default Faction:** [[:Free Union]] |
| ==== Species Trappings ==== | ==== Species Trappings ==== | ||
species/gardener.1643565787.txt.gz · Last modified: 2022/01/30 18:03 by conan
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