Root-Parasite

Root-Parasite
The Root-Parasite is a predatory and highly adaptive ooze that inhabit the submerged and humid root-labyrinth of The Shrouded Boughs. These creatures appear to be masses of thick, greyish-green slime that move with a slow, pulsating rhythm. They are not natural organisms of the forest, but rather a mutated form of waste-slime that has been infused with aetheric runoff from the Mother-Tree’s sap.
Root-Parasites are a major threat to the health of the forest. They attach themselves to the mangrove roots and slowly drain the aetheric energy, causing the wood to become brittle and eventual rot. They are also a hazard for Mist-Whisker sailors and scavengers, as their corrosive body-mass can quickly dissolve the hulls of driftwood skiffs and the metal of scavenged artifacts.
Secret Motivation: The parasites are instinctively drawn to "Pure Energy." They seek to find and consume the Mother-Tree's Heart, believing that its concentrated aetheric resonance will allow them to evolve into a more powerful and permanent form.
Adventure Hook: A large Root-Parasite has become wedged in the primary sap-flow artery of a major iron-wood tree in The Iron-Wood Grove. The tree is starting to wither, and the Acorn Guard needs a team to descend into the artery and clear the parasite without damaging the internal wood.