Shark_Force wrote:i've just been thinking lately about some possible plants that the resistance might have worked on to provide to the gardeners. there's a pretty good variety so far, but i tend to think of them as being the combat engineers of the resistance, and i'm just curious what sorts of things you'd expect them to have.
one that i've considered has been underground tunnels that push things through them to help with transporting supplies. where the tunnels come to the surface would be something like thickets or bushes to cover up the entrance, and they'd be used to covertly transport various materials as needed.
another that i think would make a lot of sense would be something that grows very quickly and produces something like sandbags. perhaps they would form bushes (anything as obviously non-natural as sandbags would be a bit too visible, though perhaps the third idea i've had could help with that). some sort of hedge-like plant could work to fill the role perhaps.
a third would be a network of vines that would function basically as camouflage netting. i mean, normal vines could do that, but these would be designed to quickly grow and to quickly blend in with other growth, maybe even disguise themselves as other plants entirely. perhaps even going so far as to develop a proper stealth field that covers an area underneath them once they've fully matured.
but i'm sure that isn't everything a combat engineer could possibly want. what else could you imagine being developed?
edit: almost forgot, a plant that would function like a slap patch, except obviously immobile, and probably with more daily charges
edit again: and i keep getting new ideas... some sort of plant that could act as a sensor system. basically functions as a spotter for a gardener using direct control of their plants.
and another plant that grows various types of bio-tech explosives found in the core book. intended to provide useful supplies to anyone needing them, without the need to go all the way back to an actual base. the kind of thing you'd plant around a bao house you expect covert operatives to work from.
Sorry I'm late. Was fighting off a bad cold.
Having re-read this thread, then gone back to the first post, I thought of a few things;
Hauler-Vines; This network of vines & roots usually laces the supply-tunnels of a House's base to enable them to move critical supplies under the proverbial 'nose' of the Machine's forces, like a series of hands relaying an item in succession in one direction. While few in the Resistance understand the term 'bucket-brigade' as it applies, after watching this network in action usually provides understanding.
After the House establishes an underground base, a Gardener (see Rifter #50, 'Forced Choices') assigned to surveying any connecting naturally-formed passes/tunnels (or ones formed by the growing base-plant) carefully spreads a series of seeds in the tunnel to form the aforementioned network. These seeds take a few days to sprout & interconnect with each other, following the curvature of the tunnel. This root-like 'webbing' also reinforces the tunnel, shoring up weak spots. The webbing gains its nutritional requirements from the earth it is embedded in, plus the occasional tending by the Gardener or an assigned maintenance person. These people are nicknamed 'water-bringers'.
One strange side-effect of the network having a rudimentary 'sense' of it's home is that, if any machine enters, the vines emit a high-pitched shrieking and expel the intruder out the nearest exit with enough force to send it flying several dozen meters.
When a supply-tunnel is collapsed, even partially, the Hauler-Vines creature suffers and begins to wither, but does try to clear the tunnel of debris. Usually this last act of service cannot forestall the death of the vines, and once it dies, any remaining tunnel crumbles. A tactic of an evacuating House is to kill the tunnel-vines with a specific poison (known only to the Gardener) if the tunnel is compromised by the Machine's forces. The vines emit the warning shriek & then collapse the tunnel in upon itself.
The vines appear as greenish-brown roots, only a few centimeters (4-6) in length when relaxed. When active, they thicken up & move the 'supplies' down the tunnel in smooth but rapid succession.
Camo-Vines: A variation of the Tangle Weed (Rifter #50, pg. 71) with the powers of Chameleon Skin (Splicers main book, p. 163, as the Skinjob ability) added, the Camo-Vines plant resembles a large blanket of interwoven vines and leaf-like pads that provide not only some shelter but camouflage from enemy forces. The leaves sample the surrounding area and shift their colors, much like a chameleon, to better blend in. The plants natural cool state reduces thermal detection by feeding on the heat and spreading it out, reducing the thermal signature.
Using the Camo-Vines as directed (above) adds +15% to use of the Camouflage skill when in use.
Sandbeans: These are large sandbag-like plant sacs that appear as brownish-grey sacks. Various weights (up to 100lbs) are available. The plant itself that grows these sacks is similar to the tomato plant. If damaged or cut open, the Sandbeans spill out large quantities of edible bean-like seeds. Many a survival kit contains a handful of these seeds for consumption. While many complain they are flavorless, several smaller Houses owe their survival in times of food shortages to this plant.
Slap-Leaf: A hand sized leaf used in the treatment of cuts & wounds. Produces an aloe-like salve that can speed up healing time by as much as a full 1/4. Slap-Leaves can be layered into 'casts' to aid in mending broken bones. A single Slap-Leaf can help the injured person recover 1d6 hit points each. When used up, the Slap-Leaf will turn brown, dry up & flake off. When used in a cast, recovery time can be reduced by as much as 20% (roll 1d4; 1=5%, 2=10%, ect.)
Sensor-Vines: Resembles a large sheet of vines and leaves. If disturbed, emits a loud whistle-like noise.
ok, that's all I've got for now. As of this posting it's 2am and I need sleep.
EDIT: Came back, tweaked it a bit. Hope you like.
