Scerpian Vine

Scerpian Vine

“Oh Snail! Climb Mount Fuji; but slowly, slowly.” - Kobayashi Issa

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Summary:
A vine of immense strength, the Scerpian Vine acquires its name by the nature in which it seems to writhe and cling to the ground, in addition to its hard scale-like bark which covers the entirety of the mature vine, from root to flowering upper canopy. It has developed over time to be one of the hardiest and most difficult plants to rid oneself of, despite its relatively slow growth. Possessing a very dense barklike outer layer, it is flexible and resistant to chopping or slicing; while the interior of the vine is a tightly-woven network of stringy fibers that bind and often resist the blade of a saw with intense resolve. Anything short of a high-strength steel tool is unlikely to cut the vines without sustaining significant damage to themselves.

Basic Description:
Growing to incredible lengths through interconnected root networks, the Scerpian Vine is a menace, clambering across whatever lies in its path as though it were a mere assistance towards its eternal goal of acquiring more sunlight and soft soil. Possessing broad clover-like leaves that adorn the upper portions of the heavy vines, it is the nature of the vines to creep and spill wherever they may in order to absorb as much sunlight as possible. Vines closer to the ground tend to be heavier, thicker and of a stronger wood-like texture. When growing in clusters large enough, the vines nearest the center of the cluster tend to adopt a tree-like structure, often sinking a primary root ball, the vines at the core being more akin to branches than looser vines. At times, the Scerpian Vine forms nigh-impassable walls within their habitats, choking out other flora and fauna to such a degree that in some cases, the largest Scerpian clusters are essentially forbidding wastelands.

Rarity: Rare

Location:
Scerpian Vines tend to be found in low-lying areas, where moisture and humidity collect in large volumes, such as the floors of jungle canopies, wet coniferous forests and swampy lowlands. It is not found often, but where it is, it is growing in enormous clusters, typically consuming whatever structures, trees and rocks as it proceeds ever-onwards as a veritable force of nature.

Properties:
The Scerpian Vine grows slowly, but plods ever-onwards as a force of nature. It takes quite a lot of work to rid an area of the menace.
Possessing dense, flexible, wood-like bark, the plant is difficult to burn, and equally difficult to cut with anything but a hardened steel saw.
The interior of the Scerpian Vine is a dense and fibrous material, resisting to-and-fro cutting actions, typically having to be grasped by both ends and chopped through. The fibers can be equated to the strength of tightly-woven silk.

Special Properties:
Barring the relative strength of the Scerpian Vine, it possesses no known medicinal or alchemical properties.
The interior fibers of the vine are highly conducive to capillary flow.