Paprot

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Paprot
Paprot.jpg
Racial statistics
Type: Plant
Origin: Natural
Size: Large
Height: 2,2-2,6m
Average lifespan: 180 years
Climate: Humid terrestrial
Innate abilities: TBD
Worlds: Tatarak

Paprots are a race of sentient, non-humanoid plant beings native to planet Tatarak in the Lampa system in the Liminus Sector. One of the more alien races populating the civilized galaxy, paprots have bizarre biology unique to their world and lead nomadic, philosophical lives. Despite the differences, paprots are highly tolerant and consider all life - event non-sentient one - to be equal.

Culture[edit | edit source]

Paprots are nomadic creatures. They spend most of their life wandering the forests of Tatarak and slowly feeding on the trees and foliage. While they're grazing, they like to use their intellect on contemplating life and the universe. The arrival of mercane traders who established paprot contacts with the Galaxy has only strengthened this aspect of their culture, giving them more material to dwell on. Although many consider slow, contemplative paprots to be infuriating, their unique insights into philosophy attracted certain schools of scholars to Tatarak. Monadist preachers also like to use paprots as example of life that we should all lead - without attachment to physical universe, a life spent on contemplation - paprots themselves rarely sign up for organized religions of any kind.

Two large subcultures of paprots are known. A group known as 'caretakers' are a sworn-in order of paprots who take care of their young. After pollination, paprots carry their seedlings to special, designated 'youth forests' where they are watered and otherwise taken care of by old, experienced paprots. When they uproot and are ready to take on the usual paprot lifestyle, the caretakers make sure to give them a good start in life. Caretakers are usually more reserved and slightly xenophobic, fearing aliens might corrupt the growing young.

The other subculture only emerged after alien contact. These paprots have taken to some alien habits, like building shelter and gathering material wealth. Known as 'hoarders' to other paprots (yet nevertheless enjoying the same respect as aliens) they maintain the few trading centers on Tatarak. Hoarders take a unique spin on the galactic culture, letting moss and grass grow into their buildings and furniture, still remaining one with nature despite taking on a more materialistic lifestyle. Hoarders especially enjoy jewelry and alien art - be it philosophical books, holy scripture or paintings of creatures they only heard about.

Biology[edit | edit source]

Paprots possess a plant-like anatomy, although they are not technically plants by Earth or other Titan world standards. They have a tough, wooden semi-flexible exterior which grows on their backs leaves and flowers which are used in aerial pollination. Much like standard plants, they're hermaphrodites, possessing flowers of both genders on their backs. They're capable of photosynthesis.

Yet much unlike standard plants, they're mobile and clearly heterotrophic (being known for their habit of grazing). Their stature resembles an elephant more than it resembles any known plant. Because photosynthesis does not produce enough energy to satisfy their needs, they have to supplement it with external plant matter. Unlike non-Tatarak plants, their internal issue is also much more differentiated, leading to organs with highly specific functions, including nervous tissue. Clumps of nervous tissue along the creature's head and back (up to the 'tail', in fact easily irritable nerve endings) are sophisticated enough to give them sentience.

Paprots communicate through a fairly standard language, using sounds created through a series of empty chambers within their wooden bodies. The last chamber, located in their heads, leads straight to the mouth, much like in traditional animals. They also possess six light receptors on the front of their heads, functioning as their eyes.

Paprots move using four inflexible trunk-limbs with irregular root-toes. The limb has no knees and therefore cannot bend, but it can be pulled into the body if the paprot needs to get closer to the ground. Every paprot's 'toes' are different in shape, size and count, often being compared to human or dwarf fingerprints. Instead of hands, paprots use a set of two highly elastic prehensile twigs growing from the middle of their backs. The twigs resemble fern plants, can change length, are highly flexible and end in three to four 'fingers', giving paprots manual acuity equal to or exceeding that of humans.

Paprots are capable of taking on any class that does not collide with their anatomy, like monks and rogues.

Races
Common races Human - Elf - Dwarf - Gnome - Halfling - Orc - Goblin - Goliath - Giff - Dohwar - Mercane - Oni - Reigar - Sphinx - Dracon
Other races Aboussaur - Ajazy - Android - Aperusa - Aureal - Baku - Blemmye - Boggard - Bugbear - Cactusfolk - Catfolk - Cecaelia - Centaur - Cerebromorph - Corallite - Craner - Crion - Cynosurine - Darfellan - Dragonid - Ereleshku - Ettin - Finchkin - Gargoyle - Ghilani - Giant - Girallon - Gnoll - Grav - Grippli - Gullard - Hadozee - Harpy - Hobgoblin - Hamsterling - Hopslet - Hothak - Hurwaeti - Hydross - Kappa - Kenku - Khorak - Kobold - Korraw - Kyton - Lektin - Lizardfolk - Locathah - Ma'yee - Medusa - Merfolk - Minotaur - Molekin - Myconid - Myrmidon - Nephilim - Naga - Nerugi - Nsing - Oortling - Osh'wari - Paprot - Plumkin - Polarid - Raptoran - Ratling - Salamander - Saturnite - Satyr - Scorpid - Sea Devil - Sealkin - Shivan - Siyokoy - Syrinx - Tanukki - Telchin - Thorak - Tiefling - Treant - Triton - Troll - Trox - Ursine - Vagash - Vannara - Vegepygmy - Velocix - Venerean - Vespene - Vroomn - Vyrhuo - Wayang - Wurm - Xantid - Xill - Xiwangmin - Xixchil - Yaksha - Yapper - Yeti
Spiritual races Akashic - Angel - Demon - Ghost - God - Worldmother - Wraith
Undead races Draugr - Death knight - Écorché - Ghoul - Jiangshi - Larva - Lich - Mummy - Natural undead - Vampire - Zombie
Extinct races Bond'wari - Titan - Xa'tac - Yellowstone Progenitors