| True Name | Tor'daros |
| Frequency | Very Rare |
| Quantity | 1 |
| Locale | Deep Forest |
| Form | Plant |
The vicious stinger tree appears as a broad tree with a numerous large bulbous green spheres hanging from the branches. This tree tyically stands about eight to nine meters tall. The spheres are about a meter in diameter and a tree will have between 30 and 60 such bulbous spheres. Each sphere bears several glistening black barbed spines about a half meter long. The tree has hundreds of long ropey roots on the surface of the ground snaking out away from the tree. Some of these roots are just under the surface of the ground. The roots branch out in a complex network. The spines are usually referred to as "stingers", hence the name of the tree.
The roots form a sensory network for the tree. If the tree is disturbed in any way (and this includes the vibrations of merely walking near the plant), one or more of the bulbous spheres will violently contract, expelling stingers with great force. These black stingers will fly out toward the disturbance with surpising accuracy and have a good chance of hitting and impaling the creature as it passes. These barbed stingers are attached to a fibrous filament connected to the plant that unwind from the bulb. Once the stingers impale the prey, the bulbs will contract reeling in the filament and stingers along with the prey. The plant drags the prey in close to be devoured.
Once prey is dragged close enough, the roots will begin to entangle the prey. Several roots can usually grapple and constrain the struggling prey. It is possible to break free of the roots with enough strength or with a sharp blade if an arm is free. If the prey is securely entangled, the roots will begin secreting acidic fluids which will dissolve the prey creature. Entangled prey will be rendered unconscious within one minute and will be killed within five minutes. The body will be completely dissolved in a matter of hours. The blood and fluids from this dissolved prey soak into the ground. Creatures digested in this manner serve as the trees primary source of nutrients. The tree uses its roots to absorb water and nutrients from the soil to maintain itself for long periods between meals
If attacked, the plant will defend itself by firing stingers at targets. The plant cannot see or hear, but the root network can accurately sense vibrations in the ground and stingers will be fired in the direction of the vibrations. A stinger plant typically has between 20 and 50 spheres and several hundred stingers so it can fire several stingers in any one direction. After firing a stinger, it takes about for the stinger to be reeled back in and fired again. While a stinger plant could defend itself against 2 or 3 creatures, it could easily be overwhelmed by a large group. The filaments and roots are tough and fibrous but can be cut or burnt. The bulbous spheres can be cut or smashed. The stingers are sharp and tough, but will usually not penetrate a shield or heavy armor.
This rare plant is found only deep in the great forests of Ithria. It was once thought to be unique to the Dark Wood, though encounters from other large forests have been reported.
This strange abomination is another example of something that lies somewhere between plant and animal. It is almost certain that this plant was the product of dark sorcery, engineered as a weapon for the Great War and now only a dangerous reminder from that dark chapter of history. Fortunately, this tree is rare.
Once each year, this plant releases several pod-like seeds which are semi-autonomous. These seeds crawl away from the mother plant. They crawl far from the mother plant and then burrow deep into the ground. The seeds seek out good soil, available water and a location which is far from any other stinger plants.
The name of this plant, Tor'Doras, has been passed down for centuries and scholars believe that it is related to the wizard that created the plant. Possibly his name.
This website was last updated April 30, 2025. Copyright 1990-2025 David M. Roomes.