Difference between revisions of "Brainleaf"
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| − | [[Image:Brainleaf.JPG|thumb| | + | [[Image:Brainleaf.JPG|thumb|right|A Catachan Brainleaf{{Fn|1b}}]] |
| − | The '''Brainleaf''' is | + | The '''Brainleaf''' (also referred to as the '''"Grey Vine"''' or '''"Slave Vine"'''{{Fn|2}} and by the scientific name ''Vinea catachanus dominari''{{Fn|3}}) is a tree native to [[Catachan]]. It has a rudimentary animal brain with the lowest level of intelligence and can control hosts through attaching its leaves to them.{{Fn|1a}} |
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| + | The leaves can float away from the tree for many metres using a wing-like undulation and are seemingly harmless until they make contact with a living body, at which point they use barbed tendrils to attach themselves into their prey. The leaves then spread their tendrils into their victim's body, meshing with their nervous system. From this point on the victim becomes a mindless slave of the leaf, able to perform only the most basic motor functions.{{Fn|1a}}{{Fn|3}} | ||
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| + | The Brainleaf tree uses its victims to protect itself, and propagate its young. Victims have no intelligence, often lacking the motor skills to use primitive weapons. To protect the Brainleaf, the '''Brainleaf Thrall''' will charge at anything that gets too close and beat it with whatever appendages it has.{{Fn|2}} | ||
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| + | The leaf is almost impossible to remove once attached. It will inhabit its host until it wastes away, and will then look for a new home.{{Fn|3}} The Brainleaf can be removed from a host, though it is incredibly dangerous to the host. If the host isn't killed by the agonizing procedure, they will suffer permanent nerve damage.{{Fn|2}} | ||
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| + | The brainleaf has also been seen appearing on planets such as [[Necromunda (planet)|Necromunda]] through the ill-fated Cartels Mortifoli who trafficked the horrifying brainleaf. It was seen at the hands of individuals such as spire nobles and crime lords seeking a memorable punishment for failed underlings to the operators of fighting pits and blood dens of the underhive where the sight of fighters going toe-to-toe with the infected drew massive crowds, these spectacles were quickly shut down by [[Palanite Enforcers]] patrol H-Lambda-Red in a massive crackdown with full mobilisation as with no alternatives left the Enforcers drove the audience and their hosts into the pit to battle amongst themselves before finally executing the last standing victor to make sure no trace of the infection spread, as even one escaped brainleaf zombie could cause huge damage to the production quotas, such was the case in 879.M39 where entire sectors of [[Hive Temenos]] had to be locked down and purged, resulting in catastrophic delay of searchlamp shipments.{{Fn|5}} | ||
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| + | There is another variant of Brainleaf that appears as a grey, hairy vine wrapped around a tall object. When prey gets too close to the vine, it will reach down and attach a leaf to the back of the creature's neck. The fibers in the leaf then quickly burrow into the spinal chord of the victim, reducing a victim to a brainleaf thrall. {{Fn|2}} | ||
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| + | Members of Catachan [[Astra Militarum]] regiments race through brainleaf groves as a rite of passage.{{Fn|3}} | ||
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| + | =Origins= | ||
| + | Some [[Xenobiologist]]s hold that, alongside the [[Catachan Devil]], [[Kraken (Sea Creature)|Kraken]]s, and all known verdant [[Death World]]s, the Brainleaf is a descendant of a Tyranid bioform disconnected from The [[Hive Mind]] and forced to adapt to hostile conditions. In this case it is speculated to be related to the mind-controlling [[Cortex Leech]].{{Fn|4}} | ||
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| + | ==See Also== | ||
| + | *[[List of Flora and Fungi]] | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
| − | * | + | *1: [[Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader]] |
| + | **{{Endn|1a}}: pg. 216 | ||
| + | **{{Endn|1b}}: pg. 217 | ||
| + | *{{Endn|2}}: [[Dark Heresy Core Rulebook]], pgs. 346, 347 | ||
| + | *{{Endn|3}}: [[Liber Xenologis]], pg. 62 | ||
| + | *{{Endn|4}}: [[Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition)]], pg. 24 | ||
| + | *{{Endn|5}}: [[Necromunda: Bastions of Law]], pg. 31 | ||
| + | [[Category:Catachan]] | ||
[[Category:Flora and Fauna]] | [[Category:Flora and Fauna]] | ||
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[[de:Hirnklette]] | [[de:Hirnklette]] | ||
Latest revision as of 11:29, 25 October 2025
The Brainleaf (also referred to as the "Grey Vine" or "Slave Vine"[2] and by the scientific name Vinea catachanus dominari[3]) is a tree native to Catachan. It has a rudimentary animal brain with the lowest level of intelligence and can control hosts through attaching its leaves to them.[1a]
The leaves can float away from the tree for many metres using a wing-like undulation and are seemingly harmless until they make contact with a living body, at which point they use barbed tendrils to attach themselves into their prey. The leaves then spread their tendrils into their victim's body, meshing with their nervous system. From this point on the victim becomes a mindless slave of the leaf, able to perform only the most basic motor functions.[1a][3]
The Brainleaf tree uses its victims to protect itself, and propagate its young. Victims have no intelligence, often lacking the motor skills to use primitive weapons. To protect the Brainleaf, the Brainleaf Thrall will charge at anything that gets too close and beat it with whatever appendages it has.[2]
The leaf is almost impossible to remove once attached. It will inhabit its host until it wastes away, and will then look for a new home.[3] The Brainleaf can be removed from a host, though it is incredibly dangerous to the host. If the host isn't killed by the agonizing procedure, they will suffer permanent nerve damage.[2]
The brainleaf has also been seen appearing on planets such as Necromunda through the ill-fated Cartels Mortifoli who trafficked the horrifying brainleaf. It was seen at the hands of individuals such as spire nobles and crime lords seeking a memorable punishment for failed underlings to the operators of fighting pits and blood dens of the underhive where the sight of fighters going toe-to-toe with the infected drew massive crowds, these spectacles were quickly shut down by Palanite Enforcers patrol H-Lambda-Red in a massive crackdown with full mobilisation as with no alternatives left the Enforcers drove the audience and their hosts into the pit to battle amongst themselves before finally executing the last standing victor to make sure no trace of the infection spread, as even one escaped brainleaf zombie could cause huge damage to the production quotas, such was the case in 879.M39 where entire sectors of Hive Temenos had to be locked down and purged, resulting in catastrophic delay of searchlamp shipments.[5]
There is another variant of Brainleaf that appears as a grey, hairy vine wrapped around a tall object. When prey gets too close to the vine, it will reach down and attach a leaf to the back of the creature's neck. The fibers in the leaf then quickly burrow into the spinal chord of the victim, reducing a victim to a brainleaf thrall. [2]
Members of Catachan Astra Militarum regiments race through brainleaf groves as a rite of passage.[3]
Origins
Some Xenobiologists hold that, alongside the Catachan Devil, Krakens, and all known verdant Death Worlds, the Brainleaf is a descendant of a Tyranid bioform disconnected from The Hive Mind and forced to adapt to hostile conditions. In this case it is speculated to be related to the mind-controlling Cortex Leech.[4]
See Also
Sources
- 1: Warhammer 40,000: Rogue Trader
- 2: Dark Heresy Core Rulebook, pgs. 346, 347
- 3: Liber Xenologis, pg. 62
- 4: Codex: Tyranids (4th Edition), pg. 24
- 5: Necromunda: Bastions of Law, pg. 31