It might be hard to imagine a plant as a soul. But Patho-Gen has found that indeed, there's life thrumming in the hearts of trees and flowers—and what if they could harness their greatest attributes to bolster humanity? Cue the Terra-types.

Terra-types are Natural Souls sourced from plantlife. Think the Plantae kingdom; this does not include fungi (but stay tuned). Primarily photosynthetic, these souls bring about much curiosity. They are tenacious; they are regenerative. They're capable of thriving in environments that are unforgiving to most, even though these souls are derived from something so sensitive that scientists can use their cells to determine ambient toxicity. Terra-types have proven to be both healers and just as capable of vicious venom, able to bring down opponents in the long haul.

When Shifted, Terra-types may frighten average citizens terribly, as their body's engulfed by bark, stalks, vegetation, flowers and leaves. The change from their corrupted forms to their Shifted forms is stark, as these individuals may grow or shrink, may become rooted to the spot or otherwise slow in their movements. But they are hardy and while in the sun, Terra-types are infinitely capable of regeneration. Truly, they're an opponent who is just waiting for your inevitable downfall.

• Plant cells. On a cellular level, Terra-types take on the structure of plants, making their transformative process more severe than most. Plants are... somewhat different from the meat, bones, and cartilage of most other organic life, and players are encouraged to take full advantage of those contrasts. These changes should take place in isolated spots throughout their body, especially where any visible changes have taken place—but please, be our guest and have this extend to the organs and whatnot.
• And on the note of plant cells, green patches along the body or an otherwise greenish cast. If taking from a plant that isn't green, you may alter these colors. When Shifted, these patches will spread further and can even engulf the body.
• Terra-types often smell very good. They may be floral, sweet, musky, or downright indescribable... and frankly, some may not smell good. But they often have A Smell.
• Regenerative abilities. Severed limbs can be regrown in whole or in part, allowing characters to survive a catastrophic amount of damage—so long as their Augmenter remains intact and attached to their consciousness.
  • Even plants can take some time to regrow, however, and Terra-types have an answer to that too, as while they are in the midst of physical trauma, their foliage may immediately become harder, more thorny, or poisonous. If someone is determined to hurt a Terra-type, they will suffer for it.
  • Having such regenerative abilities also means that yes, Terra-types may be viewed as a source of food: their leaves, nuts, berries, stems, and even bark can be harvested. How the individual Terra-type feels about this is up to them, whether they embrace that they can offer sustenance to others, or whether they resent it.
• Plant manipulation! Terra-types can manipulate other plants: they can force their growth, distortion, and even movement. When connected, Terra-types can use other plants even as an extension of their will.
• Can choose to forgo mobility for a time in order to root themselves to the ground. While rooted, Terra-types are able to 'see' at a distance anything impacting or embedded in the earth, able to sense the ley of the land. This includes other lifeforms, as well as magical signatures. Unrooting too quickly can be painful though, so be careful!
• While most of their energy can be supplied through sunlight, Terras will feel the need to occasionally partially root themselves to draw energy from the earth as well. Latching onto a Golem-type will restore them faster than usual—to the Golem's detriment.
  • Whether your Terra remains at all capable of digesting matter normally is left up to the player. Predatory plants do exist, and if you'd like to take that trait for yours, regardless of origin species, you're welcome to. Trap your enemies in vines and slowly dissolve them, feasting on that nutrient-rich slurry!
• Photosynthetic energy. With few exceptions, Terra-types are stronger in sunlight and weaker when the sun sets. Not only are their other abilities enhanced, but they will feel energized, and recover from injury faster. And when deprived of sunlight for too long Terras will wither away, becoming more susceptible to disease and illness, and will lose the energy to Full-Shift.
  • When conditions are particularly poor Terra-types may go dormant, reducing their energy consumption to almost nothing. Emotional stress and upsets can trigger unintended bouts of dormancy, as instinct calls them to go quiet and still, waiting out their troubles.
• Think of Terra-types as a support unit, or a unit who does passive damage. Plants have SO many different effects! To simplify things, Terra-types have been slotted into four neat categories by Patho-Gen to determine their predominant abilities, but know that you have wiggle room and can do a bit of mixing and matching (i.e. a Healer may also have some Psychoactive abilities). All Terra-types will have one major focus from the following list:
  1. Healer. Healing, "medicinal" Terra-types may have mild, regenerative healing powers that they can apply to other people. Their body fluids may be soothing or healing, capable of purifying infection, curing illness, or helping to mend flesh. Many of these healing powers should be sourced from the plants that grow on their bodies or the fluid that comes from them, but Terra-types may be capable of some magical healing abilities, particularly if the Terra-type is healthy. A Terra-type with healing abilities may also become immune to illness, if well-cared for.
  2. Toxic. These Terra-types have poisonous attributes. If some part of them is consumed or come into direct contact with (via thorns, body fluids, flowerings, or the like) it can range from mildly toxic, to fatal. Terra-types are often able to curate how poisonous they are if they lean in that direction by altering their diet or choosing the right areas to root themselves. These Terra-types are often also immune to being poisoned, and have a very high alcohol and substance tolerance. Toxic Terra-types, when healthy, are also capable of imbuing liquids with their toxins with a magical touch. This can mean that they can poison the blood of others with just a touch!
  3. Psychoactive. Some Terra-types have psychoactive properties, ranging from stimulating to sedating. To properly take effect on others, they may require some part of them to be ingested, but a particularly healthy Terra-type with this leaning may be capable of magically inducing a psychoactive state in others. The precise way others respond to these psychoactive effects is beyond a Terra-type's control: for example, they can cause hallucinations, but they cannot control what others hallucinate. These Terra-types may be immune to not only psychoactive effects themselves, but glamours, such as the ones cast by Spectral-types.
  4. Parasitic. Many Terra-types have at least some of this particular ability, to a degree. But the most Parasitic are the most adaptable sorts of Terra-types. These Terra-types grow, grow, grow; they can overtake an environment, and even exhibit some parasitic attributes, able to leave growths upon most all Augmented Ones to sap their energy. Parasitic Terra-types are often always healthy, resilient and able to sap up energy from just about anywhere at the expense of others around them. These Terra-types aren't poisonous or healing if eaten, but they may want to take a bite right back.
• When Shifted, Terra-types are... something else. Whatever traits they have from sampled plants should swallow them, overcoming their body: their hair, their skin, their organs, everything. In ways, they should appear as the most monstrous of all types, given how distorted their frame should become. Just how they change, however, is dependent on the source of inspiration drawn from: some Terra-types may become tall and spindly, tree-like and stiff, while others may become coated in thickets and vines. They are slow, but they don't require speed, as any of their combative abilities can be performed via the earth or water. What's worse for opponents is how unpredictable and vast the powers of Terra-types can be. Get creative!

• A tendency to hold grudges when hurt, and is not wont to let go of them without immense payback or apology.
• An increased desire to forego clothing, and loss of inhibition when it comes to nudity.
• Terras may find themselves particularly influenced by the change in seasons, turning sluggish and depressed during Winter, and particularly energized and frisky during Spring and Summer.
• The development of a more alien way of viewing time, and a greater indifference to the troubles of others. Why not sleep for years at a time, if things are rough? Why does it matter if your arm is broken, just grow another? Despite the character (probably) coming from a background where these concerns make sense, becoming a Terra-type invites detachment and callousness. They will endure, where the Carnivoras will starve, and the Reptilians will freeze, and isn't that what's important?
• Like the Aves, Terra-types impart a feeling of timelessness, a truly ancient aura. Terra-types may expect awe and reverence from others, and may become vindictive if they aren't treated with what they view as respect.
• Terra-types may become ridiculously sensitive to their environment, to the point of getting agitated if the overhead light isn't just the right brightness/dimness, the humidity isn't just so, the temperature is just a bit too warm... Their needs may change at any given moment, and so too may their sensitivity.
• A distrust of Ruminants and Glire-types, given their inclinations towards eating Terras....
• Terra-types aren't particularly possessive like some other Natural Souls. However, when they do exert any claiming behaviors, it may manifest in outright rooting upon the bodies of others: Terra-types are capable of leaving plant matter to grow upon another host, though it's often benign, even if it demands a bit of that character's energy. If a Terra-type grows roses, for example, she may leave some of those roses to take root on someone she deeply cares about! How sweet, and thorny.

• ✦NSFW✦ — pollen season...? This is totally optional, but your character can have a cycle or breeding habit appropriate for the plant they're based on.
• ✦NSFW✦ — as is true for all soul types, you may choose to develop your character's sex characteristics based on their soul type of choice. Y... Yes. You can.