Lignea are permitted in Helovia as a Hybrid. So this requires the hybrid slot or a hybrid foal from 2 Lignea.


THE LIGNEA
the tree kin


They are an ancient, mysterious race that originates from a distant place known simply as Prim'sylva, or the first garden. It is said to be the place where plant life was first brought to flourish on this globe, although it is contested whether or not the plant kind or the animal kind came first - the plants hold firm that they began the root of life here, while the animals say they were only brought to provide a means of nutrient. Whatever the case, it is true that the Lignea are a harmonic balance between the two manners of existence on this planet.

Whenever a new plant takes seed in the soil, when it's roots begin to stretch down and its leaves unfurl as a sprout, a Lignea is born. They appear as a variety of hoofed animal, commonly horse, deer or bovine. In some manner on this animal, a plant identical to the one growing in the ground, grows on the beast. The Lignea takes the basic name of the plant, and carries its weight and its health wherever it goes. The plant within the ground is referred to as the soul plant of the Lignea, or its bonded plant or just bonded. The plant growing on the Lignea's back is referred to as the body plant.

Animal and plant are bonded in this way, a method said to bring harmony amongst the fractions. If either rooted plant or its soul Lignea are harmed, the other suffers. The Lignea are always born, or sprout, in Prim'sylvia, but it is common for a Lignea to travel to wherever its soul plant may be to offer it protection. Many more Lignea find the journey too difficult and fraught with the unknown to leave the safety of Prim'sylvia, especially when so many of their fellow kin reside there, and there is no shame in this. In fact in the past several hundred years, most Lignea have remained, as they found that the warring animals were more likely to attack a Lignea, where as they would have ignored the simple soul plant. For this reason many creatures and places have forgotten that Lignea even exist. Those that do still venture out are masters of camoflauge and speed. Despite all their best efforts however, many forests have begun to vanish across this globe. With them too go the Lignea.

There is great debate still amongst the Lignea over how best to protect themselves and their plants. The elders insist on hiding, and many agree with them, still fearing and hating the animals. Yet a few have chosen to travel far beyond Prim'sylvia in the hopes to learn, understand, and teach animals. Their history calls them the harmonic peace keepers, and to this destiny some have begun to march, that or face extinction.

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LIGNEA BREEDS
The Lignea are separated into different breeds according to their plant family. Different breeds of Lignea are usually unsuccessful at breeding with one another (1/6), and less so at breeding with non-Lignea (1/10), but it has happened before. Lignea are more successful at breeding with each other if they're of the same breed or two-different breeds that can naturally create a hybrid (1/3).


These are the normal physical traits for a Lignea breed, but they can vary to an extent. At times their soul plant may even serve as a horn (unicorn) or functioning wings (pegasus), though this is rarer and is often related to where their soul plant took root in the world.

Arborun - tree ones
.tall and strong of physical body (draft)
.a single tree tends to grow from their shoulder, back, or rump

Virgunus - shrub ones
.short and stout of physical body (mustang like)
.two shrubs tend to grow from their skull, either side of shoulders, or leg joints

Vitiun - vine ones
.elegant and lithe of physical body (arabian/thoroughbred like)
.vines tend to grow where hair would, either being part of the hide itself, or entwined within the mane and/or tail

Flosunus - flower ones
.short of body type (ponies)
.flowers may sprout in parts where hair would grow, either hide, mane and/or tail, they may act as a beard or as a line down the backside, or commonly as a horn

Herbanus - herb ones
.no specific physical body type
.herbs tend to grow around the face or hooves of the Lignea

Gramunus - grass ones
.no specific physical body type
.grasses tend to grow in place of hair, most commonly in the mane or tail, but also as whiskers, beards or portions of the hide and may commonly serve as wings

Siccabinus - dry ones
.no specific physical body type
.succulent type plants tend to grow along their backside, replace the mane of their nape, or exist like horns on their head.

Fungun - fungus ones
.no specific physical body type
.fungus tends to overwhelm the Lignea, often blotting out a sense or two as it will commonly grow around the face, but it also commonly hinders movement by growing close together by joints or tight spots of the body

Aquanus - water ones
.lithe and elegant body types
.freshwater plants sprout along their backside or head most commonly, permitting the aquatically designed Lignea to float just at the surface and rarely be detected.

Salnus - salt ones
.lithe and elegant body types
.saltwater plants [coral is not a plant!] sprout along their backside or head most commonly, permitting the aquatically designed Lignea to float just at the surface and rarely be detected.

Fruits and vegetables can grow in a variety of ways, most of which should already be listed.

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LIGNEA SUMMARY

.Lignea are open for variety and artistic freedom, so feel free to get creative, but do try and recognize why certain breeds appear certain ways

.Most Lignea have a marking or markings unique to them, which helps identify them among similar breeds.

.Lignea are an inherently magical animal, but are not commonly born with abilities. They find wisdom in learning, and often with extended lifespans (as long as their plant counterpart) are able to unlock their mind.

.That being said, Lignea always have earth/plant related abilities.

.Lignea have a high likelihood of bonding with a companion, as they are well attuned to both plants and animals.

.The plant on the Lignea retains the natural properties of that plant, and can be useful to the Lignea, though it does provide some discomfort and even injury when parts of its own body's plant are harvested for use.

.The plant on the Lignea will shift normally with the seasons, just like the soul plant does.

.Lignea tend to have a personality similar to their soul plant and certain personalities are characteristic for the Lignea breed. i.e. tree Lignea tend to be peaceful and wise, where as flower Lignea tend to be cheerful and carefree. Compare though a marigold flower Lignea to a rose flower Lignea, and they will be very different.

.Lignea are always named after the type of plant they are bonded to. This means there are hundreds of the same type of Lignea running around with the same name, but each will look slightly different and will grow to be individuals over time and with experiences.

.Lignea are always considerate of plants and consider all plants sacred, but they will favor their own specific type and their own breed more commonly above other types.

.Lignea tend to have a mild fear of those animals or even plants that would be natural predators to their soul plant. Such caterpillars hosting on certain plants or deer eating the bark of certain trees.

.Lignea use photosynthesis and drink lots of water in order to survive. Consuming plants would be abhorrent to them, and in some cases, cannibalistic.

.Lignea tend to consider that two gods rule the planet, an Animal God [Corocottas] and a Plant God [Nepenthes]. They worship both to provide harmony, but most Lignea do not get too involved with religious beliefs, content to worry about the living plants on their hooves. Lignea's religious affiliation can vary from individuals, and being open-minded they are apt to adapt to the beliefs of cultures they live near or within.

.Lignea tend to carry the natural colors of their animal counterpart, but may also have markings or hide colors influenced by the colors of their plant counterpart, and often have interesting markings, which is important in telling two of the same type plant Lignea apart.

.Prim'sylva is where are all Lignea still sprout from, even if their soul plant sprouts somewhere else. Some Lignea will travel to find their soul plant to protect it, while many more remain forever in Prim'sylva under the protection of the first woods and with most of their brethren. There is no shame either way, and as the animals started to war more with each other, many Lignea put their soul plants more in harms way by being present for their form attracted more attention than their soul plant would have. For this reason, many creatures have forgotten about Lignea, since they hide so well in their sacred woods, and hide so well even in any woods, being masters of camoflauge.

.If two Lignea breed, or a Lignea with a non-Lignea, the mother will carry the sprout to term and birth it naturally. Depending on the parents genes, the foal may be a 'true' Lignea, in which case it's soul plant will bloom where it first touched the ground. If not a 'true' Lignea, the foal may have Lignea traits such as growing plants on body or plant coloring on their hide, but will not have a soul plant connected to them.

.If two Lignea breed, the foal will express only one plant trait, unless those two parent plants can naturally create a hybrid expression.

.If a Lignea breeds with a non-Lignea, the foal can never be a 'true' Lignea.

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EXAMPLE



Willow is a tree breed of Lignea, and as such is a draft type. Her color is a normal horse color, silver dapple, with abnormal green color frosting her mane and tail. There is a mirrored green swirl markings (like vines, or long leaves of her willow tree) that encircle her eyes. She also has some willow tree leaves just naturally tangled in her mane and tail (dark green streaks). She has some moss growing along her flanks and down her tree's trunk as well.

A Lignea could be fully green in color, or even more colorful, like flowers, so long as the design correlates in a way to their plant.

Poppy declares herself president of their fanclub, and if you join Willow/anyone else joins one, wants to be its BFF.

Imi likes this idea oO

I may join a cherry blossom horse if your idea passes through :o
Would it be called 'cherry' or 'blossom' or 'cherry blossom' or does that not matter?

Also, would they worship the Earth God?

:D awesome

I would say Cherry Blossom, since Cherry would be the names of Lingea with cherry trees (forgot to add fruit breed, whoops) and Blossom is the name for blossom flower ponies.

Religion is hard to say, because although the god of the sun, moon and earth exist in Helovia, different gods existed in Isilme. The Lingea definitely tend to believe in a god of some kind, but I haven't figured out what =/ I think they'd be more prone to believing in just one or 2 gods, perhaps classifying it as an animal god and a plant god? But they are open to interpretation of other cultures religions, and vary in religious beliefs individual by individual anyway. Mainly they worship actual plants :P but yes here they would probably worship the earth god once they figure out Helovia's culture.

wants a Vitiun

You have too much muse! Very very cool idea, and I know I would like to see them play a small part in Helovia.

I think I would see them fit into the 'Other' category, as they really are a species of their own.

Unless another species was introduced to Helovia... Equine, Unicorn, Pegasus, Lignea, Hybrids and Others. I wouldn't be opposed to it.. ^^

Actually, introducing them as a new breed would be very cool. o.o'

Though I understand that breeding between the breeds is a rare thing, I am curious.

What would be the outcome between such a pairing? Say a vine and a flower. Would the offspring be one or the other, or something else entirely?

Does the mother carry the child to term or are they somehow spirited back to Prim'sylva? This in particular I see as a potential problem if breeding between the species is allowed.

haha I vaguely put it as usually unsuccessful but not impossible because I myself wasn't sure -shifty eyes-

I'd say between Lignea it'd be as possible as different types of plant breeding? Since there are some plant hybrids, but I don't really know enough about plants just off the top of my head... then again for simplicity sake and magical-ness, it could always just be possible with low chance of survival and create either a foal that expresses only one side (like when a uni or a peg breed without a hybrid slot), or that it creates a 50/50 combo.

In the event of a Lignea breeding and the child expressing one type of breed over the other, I was thinking they could still be a successful Lignea, and rather than a plant blooming first then a Lignea coming, that the birth of that Lignea will cause it's plant to bloom wherever it may fall from it's mother. I'd also say in that event the mother would carry it to term and have natural breeding with no Prim'sylvia involvement.

However, should the child express 50/50 of the genes, we could say the same thing happens but then the realisticness of the plant side starts to get funky, so I was thinking in that case they wouldn't be a true Lignea in the sense that they are bonded to a soul plant. They may have plants growing on them, but it's more of an aesthetic appearance?

But I was thinking definitely when a Lignea breeds with a non-Lignea, it creates a sort of 50/50 mixture and not a 'true' Lignea with a bonded soul plant. Perhaps also being infertile.

I DUNNO thoughts? I'm not sure how likely people would want to breed with a Lignea, hence why I wanted to avoid their breeding being impossible, but because they are a bit weird, wanted it to be more difficult, kinda like a hybrid.

Have been thinking about this a bit more lately!

In better consideration I think that all Lignea would photosynthesize and drink lots of water to get food, just like a plant. Because although their body is horse all plants are sacred to them, and there is even a GRASS lignea so I can't imagine them eating themselves, cannibalism lol?

I was also reconsidering my design for Willow, and decided to give her a special marking after all. I was considering how she/Lignea like to call things by their 'true' name not a personalized name (i.e. she is Willow and so are all other Willow Tree Lignea, she is not some crazy personal name) and how I thought she might want to call everyone here Pegasus or Unicorn rather than their actual name - just an idea for myself -shrug- but that made me realize how difficult it would be to tell other Lignea apart, even if different colors, ages and personalities, if each didn't have a special and unique marking to help identify them in a way.

I also have decided Willow will get a companion, as it makes sense to me that being harmonious between plants and animals that Lignea would easily bond to others. This might just be my personal preference for companions though lol :P I ended up picking an Ermine, or a stoat, for her, and in her nature, just calling him Ermine after his species. Typically these are burrowing animals, but can be good climbers - I was also deciding on a small species of wild cat, but thought an ermine was adorable and perhaps a little bit different.

Her new ref with Ermine and markings~

And also, just for myself, decided I would like Willow to eventually get magic to be able to move her leafy tendrils and use them like hands or ropes, and then upgrade that to a healing touch ^^

Am excited for these guys coming in soon now that Tallsun will be ending in a week!

I also thought if we were going to have several joining at once we might want to form a more solid history, such as perhaps some names and descriptions of the elders leading Prim'sylvia. I want to say there's a representation from each breed, as they believe so heavily in balance.

Also perhaps if all these Lignea joining know each other or it's just happenstance?

And perhaps why they left? If not all for the same reasons or if not all at the same time, just idk, maybe there was some BIG EVENT that chased a lot of some of the Lignea away (nothing like Prim'sylvia burning down or anything lol...)

thoughts?

I can help with the descriptions, if you need any xP

And I think that the Lignea leaving Prim'sylvia should know eachother - perhaps a group of friends looking for adventure? Or as you said, something major happened to their home. Maybe an invasion of vegetation-eating horses? xP

Definitely thinks they should be their own breed, not an other.

I would like to join with Birch, a white-gray draft who has a birch tree sprouting from his shoulder. The roots would go down his leg and eventually blend into skin and appear as veins. He'll have red leg striping, around which the flesh appears to lift and it seems as though they are cuts into his flesh, resembling a birch tree's bark. I'd like for him to have white eyes with red-brown flecks, and bark shavings in his mane and tail.
ismystock!

Is this right? Read the rules and is hoping she didn't screw it all up.

Yah Alex that sounds awesome!!!! :o




lmfao the way you said vegetation-eating horses, as if meat eating horses is more common? I wanted to avoid like catastrophe int heir home, I was thinking more like a political event, like younger generation rebelling or perhaps just threats closer to their home idk.

ALRIGHT SO

Tallsun has ended and Lignea can arrive :o I plan on setting up Willows account today and likely starting a Threshold post with her. Any other Lignea are welcome to join her, but all Lignea in Helovia do not have be connected or even know each other at all, I just thought it might be fun if a few did ^^

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I'm still in the process of designing the elders but here's what I have so far...


Arborun Elder: Bristlecone Pine -- male, bison, tree growing from withers, light bay, seal bay, grullo? pale green accents, 6,000 years -- stubborn, conservative, respected [gnarled trunk, few leaves, arid region, dry]

Virgunus Elder: Barberry -- male, ram, shrub on either knee, dark green color with brown and red accents, 8 years -- easily angered, confrontational, tempermental, grumpy [likes sun, spring, 6ft tall, 7ft wide, thorns]

Vitiun Elder: Passion Vine -- female, moose, vine over backside and rump, rich green with blue and purple accents, 23 years -- pleasant, seductive, selfish, beautiful [sun, fragrant, butterfly attractant, rapid and easy growth, 30 ft high, 30 ft wide]

Flosunus Elder: Buttercup -- male, pony, flowers twisted into horn, dark palomino or white, 5 years -- bright, fragrant, easily annoyed, indecisive, agressive [part sun, easy to grow, 4 inch tall, 4 inch wide]

Herbanus Elder: Mint -- female, deer, two mint leaves as wings, rich brown color with green accents, 2 years -- hardy, fragrant, strong odor helps awaken, cheery, perky, agrees to everything [sun/part sun, easy to grow, likes wet, attracts butterflies, 1-4 feet tall and wide]

Gramunus Elder: Velvet -- female, brahma cow, grass is in tail and makes a mane, spotted brown white and blue with green and blue accents, 13 years -- promiscuous, unfaithful, decietful, cowardly, puts on strong front, beautiful [doesn't handle cold, flood or trampling well, invasive, tall, likes wet ground, lots of seed]

Siccabinus Elder: Twisted Barrel -- female, camel, cactus serves as single hump, pale or tan brown with green and yellow accents, 50 years -- easily persuaded, gruff, uncertain, unfriendly, self-interests [can handle irregular water, grows in low areas where water can pool, little sun, easily uprooted, ant colonies]

Fungun Elder: Honey Mushroom -- male, boar, large and disfigured with two heads, mushrooms all over body, cannot move any more, pale white or gold with white or gold accents, 12,000 years -- sickly, weak, cowardly, slow, set in ways [largest organism, oldest organism, 2,200 acres, shade, cool air]

Aquanus Elder: Cattail -- female, hippocampus, cattails grow from top of head and shoulders, green color with brown and blue accents, 879 years -- selfish, vain, persuasive, withheld, stiff [sun, easy to grow, 8 ft tall, spread indefinitely]

Salnus Elder: Knotted Wrack -- male, seahorse, kelp makes a mane and tail, brown color with green and tan accents, 1,100 years -- shy, cowardly, nervous [sun, sheltered areas, 2m length, grows slowly]

okay updated with the elders mostly completed, just need to flesh out their designs and draw them but personalities and breeds and plants should all stay the same - so all Lignea would know of them.

Also added 3 more breeds of Lignea: succulents, freshwater, saltwater.

this makes a total of 10 Lignea breeds, and hopefully no more to add that I forgot about xP


I'm thinking the elders would probably all have companions, or most would? I feel since Lignea due tend to bond it'd be expected for the powerful elders to have companions, but at the same time I don't want to do even more work @.@

any thoughts for their companions?

please don't delete. Would like to keep this permanently even if it's not always being posted to.

maybe we should have a prefix for perm-threads?

bump to save

Um, I'd like to join as a lingea, but as tall sun didn't even start I'm not gonna make it right now. But I think as rare as the lingea are, I think each person should be able to have one true lingea and one Un-true lingea. But it's really up to you. Also, some of the specie descriptions aren't up there, so you might want to update that.

Hello!

Some of this info may be a tad bit old, for instance the TallSun in reference was Helovia's last TallSun when the sun god was on a rampage and temperature were hotter than normal ^^


Also Admin have been discussing this and have decided Lignea can be joined, but only as a Hybrid character not as an Other or any additional exception. Already present characters have been grandfathered in, but since they were not vastly popular and Helovia has no current plans to make other/new joinable species it made sense for them to have the same restrictions as a normal Hybrid.

So, would we have to win the hybrid slot or can we just join?