Liam Kincaid (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
firstofitskind) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
fandomhigh2020-02-13 09:00 am
firstofitskind) wrote in fandomhigh2020-02-13 09:00 am
Entry tags:
The Cryptozoologist's Field Guide, Thursday, Period Two
The students had all been handwavily informed that today’s class would be meeting on the causeway rather than in the Danger Shop and that they'd need to dress for actual winter temperatures.
When they arrived, they’d find their teachers standing in front of an open portal, Liam with a duffle bag slung over each shoulder.
"We figured today’s as good a day as any for a trip off-island," Liam said with a tight smile. He didn’t find this week as, uh, frustrating as some, personally, but that secondhand frustration, as someone fairly attuned to his psychic senses and general energy levels, was another thing entirely.
"This is an actual field exercise, Verity said with a seriousness only seen when discussing cryptozoology and tango shoes. "That means you can get hurt if you aren't careful. You can get killed if you're not careful." Unlikely in this case, with the gas masks and the sheer number of people, but still possible. And, more importantly, still something they needed to know.
"But if you've got some aggressions to take out on a bunch of stupid plants, then we've got good news for you. Today we're going to fight swamp bromeliads."
"They’re yet another species that isn’t native to North America and yet has entrenched itself here anyway," Liam said with a sigh. "And I’m sure you’re wondering what’s up with these," he held up one duffle bag. "Swamp bromeliad pollen is- uh. Their pollen emits a scent that most mammalian species find appealing, and is also something of a narcotic." Not that all their students were mammalian in naturehi, Sidon!, but no chances were going to be taken. "It uses that pollen to attract its prey, which will then start to slowly lose consciousness. Once their prey is knocked out, the bromeliad extends tendrils that pull it in, enveloping it with its petals, and then begins to digest it. So you'll be putting one on before you head through the portal."
If they had more time, Verity would be open to letting the students find out if they were allergic to the pollen the way Liam was. It was a pretty standard test in the circles she moved in and it was better to know your weaknesses early to compensate for them. But they only had an hour and it didn't make sense to spend it babysitting anyone who ended up tripping balls.
"Swamp bromeliads vary in size from several inches across to several feet and while their prey tends to be mammalian, they'll eat frogs, snakes, birds, deer - whatever ends up caught in their petals." Sure, deer were actual mammals, but Verity wanted to slip that in to give them an idea of size. "Their interior petals are lined with sharp, woody teeth and snap shut when something of sufficient weight presses against them. So, even if you manage to avoid the dragging tentacles and the narcotic pollen, you still have to make sure you don't accidentally step on one. It's like a Venus flytrap, or a bear trap made of fibrous tissues." Verity looked around, "You're all probably too large to be grabbed by one, but over break, Liam and I rescued an eight-year old boy from one of the flowers. Think about that before getting too cocky." She raised an eyebrow. "If anyone is uncomfortable with today's assignment, you're welcome to remain here and head to the library for the period and write up a short essay about how swamp bromeliads propagate. The rest of you, follow us."
When they arrived, they’d find their teachers standing in front of an open portal, Liam with a duffle bag slung over each shoulder.
"We figured today’s as good a day as any for a trip off-island," Liam said with a tight smile. He didn’t find this week as, uh, frustrating as some, personally, but that secondhand frustration, as someone fairly attuned to his psychic senses and general energy levels, was another thing entirely.
"This is an actual field exercise, Verity said with a seriousness only seen when discussing cryptozoology and tango shoes. "That means you can get hurt if you aren't careful. You can get killed if you're not careful." Unlikely in this case, with the gas masks and the sheer number of people, but still possible. And, more importantly, still something they needed to know.
"But if you've got some aggressions to take out on a bunch of stupid plants, then we've got good news for you. Today we're going to fight swamp bromeliads."
"They’re yet another species that isn’t native to North America and yet has entrenched itself here anyway," Liam said with a sigh. "And I’m sure you’re wondering what’s up with these," he held up one duffle bag. "Swamp bromeliad pollen is- uh. Their pollen emits a scent that most mammalian species find appealing, and is also something of a narcotic." Not that all their students were mammalian in nature
If they had more time, Verity would be open to letting the students find out if they were allergic to the pollen the way Liam was. It was a pretty standard test in the circles she moved in and it was better to know your weaknesses early to compensate for them. But they only had an hour and it didn't make sense to spend it babysitting anyone who ended up tripping balls.
"Swamp bromeliads vary in size from several inches across to several feet and while their prey tends to be mammalian, they'll eat frogs, snakes, birds, deer - whatever ends up caught in their petals." Sure, deer were actual mammals, but Verity wanted to slip that in to give them an idea of size. "Their interior petals are lined with sharp, woody teeth and snap shut when something of sufficient weight presses against them. So, even if you manage to avoid the dragging tentacles and the narcotic pollen, you still have to make sure you don't accidentally step on one. It's like a Venus flytrap, or a bear trap made of fibrous tissues." Verity looked around, "You're all probably too large to be grabbed by one, but over break, Liam and I rescued an eight-year old boy from one of the flowers. Think about that before getting too cocky." She raised an eyebrow. "If anyone is uncomfortable with today's assignment, you're welcome to remain here and head to the library for the period and write up a short essay about how swamp bromeliads propagate. The rest of you, follow us."
Sign In [02/13]
Listen to the Lecture [02/13]
Into the Portal! [02/13]
… To a swamp, in a forest, in the middle of a Michigan winter.
Welcome to Buckley Township, everyone! The temperature was below freezing, but that didn't seem to have an adverse effect on the large flowers covering the swamp and growing up the sides of the trees.
"Welcome to the swamp bromeliad's preferred habitat," Liam said dryly, opening up the other duffle. "If you've ever worked with plants, you've probably heard the term 'hardy' at some point. Bromeliads are the embodiment of hardy; killing them is incredibly difficult."
Inside the other duffle there were a number of flamethrowers. Oooh, exciting!
"Many of our conversations have centered on conservation, but we've also talked a lot about striking a balance. Bromeliads aren't native to the area, but they've killed enough of the predators that are that they've essentially taken their place on the food chain. On the other hand, since there's nothing in turn that hunts a bromeliad, letting them propagate unchecked can be very, very bad for both the cryptid and non-cryptid animal population. Also, no matter how thorough we think we are today, enough plants will survive to repopulate this swamp before long."
Burn Some Flowers [02/13]
After a short demonstration on the proper use of that flamethrower, of course.
(If you have magic or another means of fighting a chompy plant on you, by all means go ahead.)
And yes, if you'd like to keep that mask with you after class you can. Maybe it'd help with the sex pollen?
Talk To Your Teachers [02/13]
OOC [02/13]
Re: Sign In [02/13]
Re: Sign In [02/13]
Re: Burn Some Flowers [02/13]
It wasn't as clear or easy as with Soulwood, but she could manage.
She closed her eyes and reached out till she could feel the difference between the bromeliads and the other plant life. Then one by one she stripped those plants of their ability to receive nourishment, withering them where they stood.
She worked till she felt herself growing dizzy, then shook herself free of the small roots that were beginning to grow over her hands and feet and stood, only to sway with exhaustion.