Strangle-Vine

Strangle-Vine
The Strangle-Vine is a semi-sentient and highly aggressive plant that inhabit the middle layers of The Shrouded Boughs. These vines are thick and muscular, capable of moving with surprising speed when they detect a potential meal. They primarily feed on birds, giant insects, and the occasional Muridae who is foolish enough to climb without a weapon.
Strangle-Vines are often found near sources of aetheric energy, which they use to accelerate their growth. They are a constant hazard for the Acorn Guard, who must frequently clear the vines from the city’s suspension bridges and lookout towers.
Secret Motivation: The vines are actually an overgrowth of the Mother-Tree’s own immune system. They are designed to trap and consume anything that the tree perceives as a parasite or a threat to its health.
Adventure Hook: A particularly large and ancient Strangle-Vine has begun to grow around the main trunk of the Mother-Tree, choking off the flow of sap to The Crown City of Ardor. Elder Thorne hires the party to descend into the middle canopy and "prune" the vine without damaging the tree’s bark.