#briarpatch

[thecreaturecodex]

Briarpatch

"Rose" © Sandra Duchiewicz, accessed at her deviantArt here

[It's been a long while since I posted a unique monster intended for the Age of Monsters campaign. And clearly there's still interest--my precis for that campaign, and the article about how the Mythos deities fit into it, are still getting likes.

Briarpatch is a character whose seeds (hah) have been planted in several other entries, such as Dr. Shiny and the Vermilion Mother. My inspirations came from all over the place. The sexy, spooky plant girl art of Sandra Duchiewicz was always something I wanted to incorporate. There's a growing idea in ecological and archeological circles that plants domesticated humans as much as the other way around. And I wanted to make a version of Poison Ivy who is genuinely evil.]

Briarpatch CR 27 NE Plant

This woman is beautiful, but alien, with chlorotic skin like the surface of a diseased leaf, and flower petals in place of hair. A collar of brambles grows from her neck and extends into long, thorny vines. She has piercing yellow eyes and an appraising expression.

The Elder Goddess Shub-Nugganoth has many epithets, but her most famous is “Black Goat with a Thousand Young”. In truth, her spawn number far more than one thousand. The creatures known simply as dark young are the most common of her progeny, but unique individuals are her offspring as well. One of these is Briarpatch, a green woman laden with occult intelligence and a profound disgust for urbanization. It is Briarpatch’s goal to see cities crumble and mortal civilizations reduced to decentralized subsistence farming once more, and she is going to use plants as her tools to achieve this.

Unlike many evil creatures of a druidic nature, Briarpatch does not disdain farming. Far from it; she believes humanity exists to serve plants, and that by distancing themselves from the soil, they have betrayed their roots. As such, she both exalts farming and farmers while simultaneously using domestic plants as weapons. Sometimes this is as elaborate as encouraging farmers to plant crops that will use more water and resources than the environment can support, forcing governments into subsidies and increasingly desperate acts to avoid famine. Sometimes this is as simple as distributing seeds of man-eating plants mixed in with garden plants or birdseed. Briarpatch’s cult includes a number of neutral farm-folk, who see her as salvation to their local communities, even as the nation-states that collect their taxes suffer as a body with a parasite does. Her cult often refers to her as the Pale Lady, especially among outsiders.

Briarpatch’s domain is the Forest of Veils in eastern Ustalav, and she communes and coordinates with the mythos horrors that live there. She is allied with the Vermillion Mother and Diceid as a coven of divinities obsessed with invasive species and reshaping ecosystems. She and the Vermillion Mother have a sexual relationship, and treat Diceid as something like a nephew or son. Briarpatch has an entitled personality and considers herself Shub-Nugganoth’s favorite child. She is convinced that if she does enough to deform society in the Inner Sea region, her mother will favor her with a promotion and transform her into an emissary Great Old One, similar to the relationship between Yog Sothoth and Tamir at’umr. Whether this ambition is achievable or is merely one of the Pale Lady’s delusions is hard to say.

Briarpatch rarely participates directly in combat, but when she does, she is a terror to behold. Due to her occult origins, she has access to a wider array of spells than a typical green man. She uses these to inflict overwhelming euphoria or grotesque physical transformations. Sometimes both simultaneously. If she actually wants to kill, rather than toy with her victims, she combines powerful area of effect spells with her tendrils and thorns. Briarpatch is acutely aware that she can still be slain permanently, and will retreat from a battle that turns against her to recuperate and plan revenge.

Briarpatch CR 27 Variant eruphyte green man XP 3,276,800 NE Medium plant (augmented, shapechanger) Init +16; Senses darkvision 60 ft., greensight 60 ft., lifesense 60 ft, low-light vision, Perception +30, thoughtsense 60 ft.

Defense AC 54, touch 36, flat-footed 41 (+12 Dex, +1 dodge, +13 insight, +12 natural, +6 armor) hp 663 (34d8+510); regeneration 20 (deific or mythic) Fort +34, Ref +23, Will +24 Defensive Abilities wilderness insight; DR 15/epic and slashing; Immune ability damage, ability drain, daze, electricity, petrification, plant traits, stagger; SR 37 Offense Speed 40 ft., climb 40 ft. Melee 2 slams +46 (1d8+21/19–20 plus 1d6 acid and absorb magic), 6 vines +46 (2d6+21 plus grab) Ranged 6 thorns +41 (2d6+21/19-20) Space 5 ft., Reach 5 ft. (30 ft. with vines) Special Attacks absorb magic, constrict (2d6+15), grab (Colossal), thoughtspear (17d8, DC 39) Spell-Like Abilities (CL 26th; concentration +37) Constant—pass without trace, speak with plants At will—plant growth, transport via plants 3/day—summon plants 1/day—awaken Druid Spells Prepared (CL 20th; concentration +33) 9th—antipathy (DC 32), extended control plants (DC 32), foresight, greater siege of trees, rival’s weald (DC 33), telekinetic storm (DC 32) 8th—euphoric tranquility (DC 31), horrid wilting (DC 31), mass cure serious wounds, stormbolts (DC 31), sunburst (DC 31) , vinetrap (DC 31) 7th—quickened cure moderate wounds, heal (DC 30), greater scrying, transmute metal to wood, waves of ecstasy (DC 30), waves of exhaustion 6th—antilife shell, greater dispel magic, green caress (x2, DC 30), mass inflict pain (DC 29), primal regression (DC 29) 5th—baleful polymorph (DC 29), cure critical wounds (DC 28), death ward, quickened ray of enfeeblement (DC 24), synapse overload (DC 28), extended thorn body, wall of thorns 4th—arboreal hammer, command plants (DC 27), confusion (DC 27), dispel magic, explosion of rot (DC 27), freedom of movement, strong jaw 3rd—cure moderate wounds (DC 26), excruciating deformation (DC 27), protection from energy, quench (DC 26), spike growth (DC 26), thorny entanglement (DC 27), vampiric touch 2nd—alter self, barkskin, fog cloud, harvest season, resist energy, warp wood (DC 26), wilderness soldiers 1st—cure light wounds (DC 24), entangle (2, DC 25), faerie fire, longstrider, snowball (x2), touch of the sea 0—create water, detect magic, guidance, light

Statistics Str 44, Dex 35, Con 40, Int 35, Wis 36, Cha 33 Base Atk +25; CMB +42 (+46 grapple, +44 sunder); CMD 85 (87 vs. sunder) Feats Combat Reflexes, Craft Staff, Craft Wondrous Item, Defensive Combat Training, Diehard, Dodge, Endurance, Extend Spell, Greater Spell Penetration, Improved Critical (slam), Improved Initiative, Improved Sunder, Power Attack, Psychic Sensitivity (B), Quicken Spell, Spell Focus (transmutation), Spell Penetration, Stand Still Skills Acrobatics +44 (+48 jumping), Appraise +26, Bluff +40, Climb +54, Disguise +40, Diplomacy +40, Fly +30, Intimidate +43, Knowledge (arcana) +46, Knowledge (geography, history, religion) +41, Knowledge (nature) +46, Linguistics +19, Perception +30, Sense Motive +42, Spellcraft +46, Stealth +44, Survival +42, Swim +35, Use Magic Device +44 Languages Abyssal, Aklo, Common, Daemonic, Druidic, Infernal, Mi-Go, Sylvan, Zern, telepathy 100 ft.; speak with plants SQ bardic knowledge +29, change shape (Colossal or smaller tree [tree shape]), deific, green empathy +45, occult gifts

Ecology Environment any forests Organization unique Treasure staff of heaven and earth, belt of physical perfection +4, headband of mental superiority +4 (Knowledge [arcana], Use Magic Device], amulet of mighty fists +4, wings of flying, bracers of armor +6, ring of the ecclesiarch, ring of mind shielding, rod of empowered spell (normal), deliquescent gloves, 11,000 gp worth of material components and miscellaneous treasure

Special Abilities Absorb Magic (Ex) When Briarpatch strikes a creature with her slam attack, she immediately attempts to absorb one magical effect from the target. Treat this as a targeted dispel magic (CL 20th), with Briarpatch preferring to target effects that prevent his vines’ grapple attempts, like freedom of movement. When Briarpatch absorbs magic in this way, she regains a number of hit points equal to double the level of the spell effect she absorbed. Deific Briarpatch grants divine spells to worshipers. This does not require any specific action on her behalf. Briarpatch grants access to the domains of Evil, Plant, Strength, and Weather and to the subdomains of Decay, Growth, Resolve, and Seasons. Her favored weapon is the sickle. If a druid worshiping Briarpatch chooses to take a domain, the druid must choose the Plant domain, regardless of alignment. Her holy symbol is that of a feminine face made of leaves and rose petals, facing to the left. Green Empathy (Ex) This ability functions as the druid’s wild empathy, save that the green man can only use this ability on plant creatures. A green man’s green empathy check bonus is equal to his HD plus his Charisma modifier (+43 for the typical green man). Occult Gifts (Ex) As the daughter of Shub Nugganoth, Briarpatch has abilities of an occult nature, and blurs the line between plant and aberration. She has the class skills of an aberration, although her total skill ranks are still those of a plant. He gains Psychic Sensitivity as a bonus feat, and adds psychic spells from the Abomination, Pain and Psychedelia psychic disciplines to the list of druid spells she can prepare. Lastly, she gains the benefits of her wilderness insight ability in any environment not subject to a dimensional lock effect, as alien spirits whisper these insights to her as much as natural plant life. In exchange, Briarpatch does not have the green caress aura of a typical green man. Spells Briarpatch can cast spells as a level 20 druid. She does not gain a domain, or other druid abilities such as an animal companion, unless she takes levels in the druid class. Summon Plants (Sp) Three times per day as a swift action, Briarpatch can summon any combination of plant creatures whose total combined CR is 20 or lower. This otherwise works like the summon universal monster rule with a 100% chance of success and counts as a 9th-level spell effect. Thorns (Su) Briarpatch’s thorns are ranged touch attacks with a range increment of 120 feet. A creature damaged by her thorn moves at half speed and can’t take 5-foot steps, fly, or use air walk, either naturally or magically, until the target or another creature pulls out the thorn as a full round action that provokes attacks of opportunity. Thoughtspear (Su) Once per hour as a standard action, Briarpatch can direct a blast of disorienting mental energy at a creature within 120 feet. This attack deals 17d8 points of damage, and the target cannot attempt Knowledge skill checks for 1 minute afterwards. A target that succeeds a DC 39 Will save reduces the damage by half and negates the skill disruption. This is a mind-affecting effect and the save DC is Intelligence based. Vines (Ex) Briarpatch can extend up to six thorny vines from her body to attack foes. These act as primary natural melee attacks that deal bludgeoning and piercing damage and have a reach of 30 feet. Wilderness Insight (Ex) Briarpatch gains an insight bonus to her AC and CMD equal to her Wisdom bonus.

[nellarw95]

Happy Birthday Rosario 🥳🎂🎈🎁🎉

Rosario Isabel Dawson

May 9,1979

Buon Compleanno 🥳🎂🎈🎁🎉

9 Maggio 1979

[raurquiz]

#happybirthday #davidpaymer #actor #moritzbenayoun #startrekpicard #mapsandlegends #nightofthecreeps #stateandmain #getshorty #theamericanpresident #ingoodcompany #carpool #oceansthirteen #dragmetohell #HorseGirl #Briarpatch #BadTherapy #dave #TheMarvelousMrsMaisel #minx

[pauliecstuff]

Brer Rabbit thanks Ron DeSantis for keeping Splash Mountain going! @rondesantisfl @waltdisneyworld @disneyparks @disney @disneyanimation @disneyland @tokyodisneyresort_official @disneycaliforniaadventures @disneylandparis @hkdisneyland @shanghaidisneyresort #Briarpatch #brerrabbit #rondesantis #disney #waltdisneyworld #disneyworld #splashmountain #tianasbayouadventure #princessandthefrogride #art #cartoon #caricature #exaggeration #satire #lively #animated #savesplashmountain #dontsavesplashmountain #disneyride #disneyart #disneycartoon #disneyanimation #cause #roughsketch #ruffsketch #message #thanks #webelieveinyou #brers #longlivethebrers https://www.instagram.com/p/Cn_TDldMoQJ/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mitchellkriegman]

Requiem for a Rabbit Despite what you’ve heard - it’s tragic. With the end of Splash Mountain at Disney World, the last popular iteration of Bre’r Rabbit has been been vanquished to the cultural dumpster. The original versions of the Bre’r Rabbit tales came to America from Africa. Bre’r Rabbit was the first truly collective creation of Africans in American. These classic stories are as compelling as “Winnie the Pooh” or Kipling’s “Jungle Book,” or “Aesop’s Fables” with a really important distinction - the Bre’r Rabbit stories are American. Africans have always used stories to inspire young people, to entertain and teach social and moral values. As families were tragically split apart, the tales provided a comforting world of characters as well as an entire African Cosmology that children encountered wherever they ended up, regardless of their dire circumstance providing the spirit of their elders, their culture. Besides being smart-ass clever and funny, Bre’r Rabbit is like Charlie Chaplin and other classic scamps and tricksters. Where do you think Bugs Bunny comes from? Is there any better story than the one about Bre’r Rabbit and the Briar Patch? It’s about turning the table on your oppressors to get the advantage and gain freedom. I know what you’re thinking... what about Uncle Remus — isn’t he synonymous with “Uncle Tom?” s never part of the Bre’r Rabbit stories. In 1880 a white journalist, Joel Chandler Harris created the fictitious slave character of Uncle Remus, to put the stories in a colonial frame. Despite being painted with a racist brush, the stories triumph offering models for succeeding over adversity and oppression. Br’er Rabbit still has true smarts. In the words of Zora Neale Hurston, he could “hit a straight lick with a crooked stick,” he could “make a way out of no way.” Why can’t our culture treat this subversively original, vibrant, snappy-ass character with respect? Drawing by the great @mulliganjimmy #splashmountain #brerrabbit #zoranealehurston #hitastraightlickwithacrookedstick #disneyworld #briarpatch #africancosmology https://www.instagram.com/p/Comyd0buBIx/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[yarnsofyore]

Briarpatch Magazine | Feb 2000 | Canada

[snekdood]

anyways,

i only brought that vegan thing up bc thats usually what makes ppl dismiss my opinions on animals on here.👍

im sorry that i and many other people will likely never not see equipment as a descriptor for just inanimate objects.

[grymmdark]

Actually, the Pittsburgh potty is about sewer lines as well as containing mining messes! Sewer lines back up into the lowest fixture in the house, so having a basement toilet means that it'll back up in the dirty basement rather than your nice clean house. I have one in my basement all the way out in idaho because our house is old.

It's pretty smart!

oooooh that makes a lotta sense. i guess if you spend all day in the mines/steel mill with probably no bathroom to use let alone bathroom breaks you'd probably be backin that thing up on the regular lmao

[not-quite-wild]

[id: 6 panel comic

1st panel: creature (looks sort of dog-like) holding a plant pot thinking "grow grow grow grow grow"

2nd panel: creature misting plant pot with a handheld mister thinking "growing the plants are growing"

3rd panel: close-up of creature's face, while it stares at the plant pot. it's thinking "plants in the dirt (yes) and they are growing in the dirt little seeds put in the dirt to grow"

4th panel: slightly zoomed out picture of the creature looking sideways at the plant pot

5th panel: a little more zoomed out, this time the creature is looking at its watch

6th panel: creature peering over the surface on which the plant pot is sitting. the creature is thinking "little plant dirt growing right now (yes)"

/id]

patience

[jazzrj]

A thought provoking moment.

[flowercrowncrip]

I don't really care about anti-aging or anything like that either, but @briarpatch-kids is completely right that putting goop on your face can be a lot of fun

[raurquiz]

#happybirthday #davidpaymer #actor #moritzbenayoun #startrekpicard #mapsandlegends #nightofthecreeps #stateandmain #getshorty #theamericanpresident #ingoodcompany #carpool #oceansthirteen #dragmetohell #HorseGirl #Briarpatch #BadTherapy #dave #TheMarvelousMrsMaisel #minx #startrek56

[crippled-peeper]

@briarpatch-kids

[mitchellkriegman]

Requiem for a Rabbit Despite what you’ve heard - it’s tragic. With the end of Splash Mountain at Disney World, the last popular iteration of Bre’r Rabbit has been been vanquished to the cultural dumpster. The original versions of the Bre’r Rabbit tales came to America from Africa. Bre’r Rabbit was the first truly collective creation of Africans in American. These classic stories are as compelling as “Winnie the Pooh” or Kipling’s “Jungle Book,” or “Aesop’s Fables” with a really important distinction - the Bre’r Rabbit stories are American. Africans have always used stories to inspire young people, to entertain and teach social and moral values. As families were tragically split apart, the tales provided a comforting world of characters as well as an entire African Cosmology that children encountered wherever they ended up, regardless of their dire circumstance providing the spirit of their elders, their culture. Besides being smart-ass clever and funny, Bre’r Rabbit is like Charlie Chaplin and other classic scamps and tricksters. Where do you think Bugs Bunny comes from? Is there any better story than the one about Bre’r Rabbit and the Briar Patch? It’s about turning the table on your oppressors to get the advantage and gain freedom. I know what you’re thinking... what about Uncle Remus — isn’t he synonymous with “Uncle Tom?” s never part of the Bre’r Rabbit stories. In 1880 a white journalist, Joel Chandler Harris created the fictitious slave character of Uncle Remus, to put the stories in a colonial frame. Despite being painted with a racist brush, the stories triumph offering models for succeeding over adversity and oppression. Br’er Rabbit still has true smarts. In the words of Zora Neale Hurston, he could “hit a straight lick with a crooked stick,” he could “make a way out of no way.” Why can’t our culture treat this subversively original, vibrant, snappy-ass character with respect? Drawing by the great @mulliganjimmy #splashmountain #brerrabbit #zoranealehurston #hitastraightlickwithacrookedstick #disneyworld #briarpatch #africancosmology https://www.instagram.com/p/ComYOlFOqb6/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[five-thousand-loaves-of-bread]

sugar apple / custard apple / sweetsop / whatever it called in english

it sweet & taste very good n when ripe it taste a bit sandy near skin (but like good way. idk how describe) but also somewhat soft/juicy? like not dry. but not dripping w juice. when unripe it taste like mildly like black pepper lol

@briarpatch-kids cool fruit alert!!!!!!!

[id: picture of fruit named above in pink dish. it halved, with green lumpy skin & other half show white flesh with black seeds. end id]

[sad-bl0b]

It’s probably not the exact same, but I notice with symptoms other than pain too. POTS in my case, and that fear of provoking symptoms creeps up on you.

Getting a wheelchair helped immensely, just like yourself it enables me to go out and be active without fear or flare ups and I can reconnect with my body in a positive way. Controlled exercise is so key in maintaining/rebuilding that trust.

Just in case nobody's heard of this before... this is the pain cycle. The idea is that chronic pain feeds on itself and starts a vicious cycle.

You hurt, and it's distressing and scary and you want to avoid hurting yourself more, so you take it easy for a while until you feel better, but during that time alarm bells are still going off and your body is screaming at you something wrong and you're losing strength and flexibility, so you get more nervous and more injury prone and eventually you fall or something and hurt yourself more. Which causes more pain and more anxiety because what you feared was true, you got hurt again and your body is screaming at you that something is wrong, so you decide to rest and take it easy until you're feeling better...

The way I work on keeping myself out of that cycle is trying to give myself other feelings beyond just pain and try to reconnect to my body in a positive way. But you have to start slow, I started exercise just doing a loop around my house and took at least 6 months to take it to three miles. Now I can casually run 3 or 4 miles in my chair, and I get to feel the sun on my face and wind in my hair and my arm muscles working hard to move me.