Tavix (World Guide, Plant, Dangerous) (Patreon)

Despite its relatively benign outward appearance, the tavix is one of the most dangerous succulents known to modern botany. Each of the plant’s six, two meter tall leaves constantly emits a potent cocktail of pheromones which, when combined with its pleasingly minty scent, are sure to attract the attention of curious sapient beings who might be passing nearby. The powerful chemical inducements cause victims to feel quite pleasant and comfortable in the plant’s presence. Some might even find it intimately arousing.

What makes the tavix truly dangerous is the fact that it is capable of hijacking portions of a sapient beings connection to its immortal higher-planar existence. Anyone within twenty meters of a tavix is subject to potentially permanent alteration of their perceptions, inhibitions, memories, and even survival instincts, all specifically with respect to the tavix. All who are affected find themselves knowing all about the peril posed by the plant, but also find themselves totally at ease with the idea of becoming its next victim. They know it will be fun, and very much want the plant to invite them to enjoy it for themselves.

When tavix are found in close groups, the range of their mind altering powers expands considerably. For every tavix within the range of a particular tavix’ powers, its range expands by twenty meters. This can bring more tavix within range, expanding its own range even further. Tavix have a maximum range of about on kilometer, and their tendency to survive only in smaller patches of ten plants or less ensures against the hazards of total planet coverage.

A single victim will, of course, get that invitation without a moment’s delay. If the victims come in a group, the tavix will read their minds to determine who among them is regarded as the most attractive, and most likely to make for a pleasing display to the remainder. That individual will find themselves taking their clothes off in fully willing preparation to offer their bodies to the plant.

Though each tavix has six leaves, there is a surface penetrating ‘node’ for a seventh at the front of the plant. The selected victim will stand on this node. The new leaf will instantly begin to form. Walls begin to grow upward around the victim’s legs, while a body hugging sheathe of plant matter begins to encase them. Not long after, minty aloe begins to fill the ‘cup’ formed by the walls.

Together, all these rise up around, and then eventually within, the victim’s body. To her, it feels at first quite pleasant. Once it enters her body, it begins to feel positively pleasurable, a fact that she will be more than happy to make quite clear to anyone watching. After four or five minutes, her body is completely surrounded in its tight inner encasement. After another minute, the walls of the leaf seal shut around her. A few moments later the aloe completely fills it.

The immediate victim of a tavix plant remains alive within the plant’s grasp for several days before suddenly dissolving into the aloe, along with her inner encasement. It is uncertain whether or not the victim actually dies, or if her transdimensional ‘life essence connection’ is bound up with the plant’s own. Though generally reported as the former, the marked effectiveness of each individual plant’s ability to permanently alter the minds of its targets with each newly absorbed victim suggests the latter.

Remaining victims in a group who were left to watch the absorption of one of their number will be directed to other nearby tavix who can make immediate use of their bodies. Should none be present, the victims minds are further altered to set up future ‘dates’ with the plant. Depending on how many prior victims the plant has absorbed, that date, along with all of the other mental alterations, might become permanently affixed in their mind or it might eventually be forgotten.   For plants which have absorbed six or fewer victims, the alternations fade within two weeks. For seven to twenty victims, the alterations fade within a month. For twenty to fifty victims, it can take up to six months for the alterations to fade. Over about fifty, and all alterations become permanent.

The aloe of a tavix’ seventh leaf is particularly minty, and highly soothing when applied to one’s body. It is also extremely rare, largely owing to its far flung foreign sources. While normal tavix aloe is worth only ¢500 per liter, largely as a result of it’s curiosity value, the same quantity of pure tavix seventh-leaf aloe is worth ¢15,500 on the open market. Each leaf contains about 220 liters of aloe, and can fetch upwards of ¢8million fully intact.