Bloodthorn vines, also known as vampire vines[4] or vampire thorns,[3] were a species of predatory vine found in the Realms.[1][2][3][4]
Description[]
These tough, wiry plants had[2] smooth trunks that varied in brown to yellowish tones[4] and on average grew to heights of 10 feet (3 meters).[3] They had vines that were light green in color,[3] yet looked desiccated, and were covered in leaves as well as[2] sharp, hollow thorns.[1][2][3][4] Their leaves were pointed, had two-lobes,[4] and were pale in color. But once a bloodthorn fed, their leaves took on the same color as a victim's blood.[1]
On average their vines grew to lengths of 7 to 12 feet (2.1 to 3.7 meters),[4] while their thorns were typically 3 feet (0.91 meters) in length. Bright red berries also grew continually on these plants. They were juicy, yet bitter, and produced a fragrant odor that appealed to most creatures[2]
Abilities[]
These plants were capable of a limited degree of movement.[1][3] In addition, a few scholars believed that extreme cold could immobilize these plants and that electricity could cause them to grow.[3]
Combat[]
Whenever a living creature came close to them a bloodthorn would lash out with as many of its tendrils as possible, grappling the creature and jabbing it with its thorns in an effort to extract blood.[1][2][3][4] However, they typically ignored scavengers and allowed them to remove the carcasses of their victims.[2]
History[]
Following the Spellplague, the inhabitants of the city of New Sharandar grew bloodthorns on their defensive wall, the Living Abatis.[5]
Ecology[]
After a good feeding of three or more human-sized victims, a bloodthorn would reproduce by shooting out seed thorns away from itself. Such thorns typically flew around 10 to 20 feet (3 to 6.1 meters) away from their parent.[3]
Diet[]
These plants were a sanguivorous species, subsisting entirely on the blood of living creatures.[2][4]
Habitats[]
Bloodthorns were generally known to grow in thick, briar-like patches in deserts and plains. They were native to the Outer Planes, but could sometimes be found transplanted on Prime Material plane.[2]
In northwest Faerûn, bloodthorn grew in the heavy woods of Cormanthor, Daggerdale, and Shadowdale. Particularly the Border Forest, Spiderhaunt Wood, and the Vale of Lost Voices.[6] In west Faerûn, bloodthorns grew in the Forest of Tethir and the Forest of Mir.[7] And beyond Faerûn, they grew in the jungles of Chult.[8]
Beyond the Prime Material, bloodthorns grew in the barren wastelands of the Abyss, Carceri, Outlands, Pandemonium,[2] and Baator.[9] In the Abyss, they were particularly known to be found on the 1st[10] and the 248th layer.[11] They also grew in the fiendish plane of Fury's Heart.[12]
Relationships[]
Dryads and vine horrors were known to sometimes cultivate this plant to use as a guardian. And stirges were known to lair near them in hopes of preying on their ensnared victims.[1]
On the plane of Baator, bloodthorns were often consumed by grazing herds of stench kine.[9]
Usages[]
Alchemists and wizards could often find uses for the hollow thorns of these plants.[3]
Trivia[]
Bloodthorns could be summoned by means of the spell summon nature's ally IV.[2]
Appendix[]
Notes[]
- ↑ In Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two these creatures are labeled as being carnivores. However, this contradicts their description as blood suckers.
See Also[]
Appearances[]
Adventures
Novels & Short Stories
Organized Play & Licensed Adventures
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Rob Heinsoo, Stephen Schubert (May 19, 2009). Monster Manual 2 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 204–205. ISBN 0786995101.
- ↑ 2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10 2.11 2.12 2.13 Eric Cagle, Jesse Decker, James Jacobs, Erik Mona, Matthew Sernett, Chris Thomasson, and James Wyatt (April 2003). Fiend Folio. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 23–24. ISBN 0-7869-2780-1.
- ↑ 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 3.12 Jon Pickens ed. (1995). Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two. (TSR, Inc.), p. 95. ISBN 0-7869-0199-3.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 4.5 4.6 4.7 4.8 4.9 Gary Gygax (August 1983). Monster Manual II 1st edition. (TSR, Inc), pp. 18–19. ISBN 0-88038-031-4.
- ↑ Matt Sernett, Erik Scott de Bie, Ari Marmell (August 2011). Neverwinter Campaign Setting. Edited by Tanis O'Connor. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 178. ISBN 0-7869-5814-6.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb and George MacDonald (April 1989). Curse of the Azure Bonds. (TSR, Inc.), p. 93. ISBN 978-0880386067.
- ↑ Scott Haring (1988). Empires of the Sands. (TSR, Inc), pp. 22, 49. ISBN 0-8803-8539-1.
- ↑ James Lowder, Jean Rabe (1993). The Jungles of Chult. (TSR, Inc), p. 8. ISBN 1-5607-6605-0.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 William James Cuffe (December 1998). “Stench Cow Recipes!”. In Jeff Quick ed. Polyhedron #133 (TSR, Inc.), p. 11.
- ↑ Ed Stark, James Jacobs, Erik Mona (June 13, 2006). Fiendish Codex I: Hordes of the Abyss. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 117. ISBN 0-7869-3919-2.
- ↑ Jeff Crook, Wil Upchurch, Eric L. Boyd (May 2005). Champions of Ruin. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 133–134. ISBN 0-7869-3692-4.
- ↑ Eric L. Boyd, Eytan Bernstein (August 2006). Dragons of Faerûn. Edited by Beth Griese, Cindi Rice, Kim Mohan. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 11. ISBN 0-7869-3923-0.