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Amber Snapper — Description

Many know well the Humors of man and beast. The Four Humors are the obvious of the bunch, but even then there are the likes of Milk and Tears. Some of these "false" Humors have gained attention from certain groups, and even show up in day-to-day life. Yet, there is another amongst their like that is a bit different, one that often is forgotten despite its uses. The orange, sticky liquid known as Amber does not commonly come to mind, even when people may be staring directly at objects derived from it. For Amber is the fluid of plants, found within stalk, tree and flower. Man and beast have no ties to it, as it does not naturally occur within our bodies. Only plants and those aligned with them can produce it, thus it is not commonly wielded for magic or acknowledged by the Church. But that isn't to say it is useless to us. Far from it!
Amber is harvested for its special properties, namely its sticky nature and ability to harden. The fluid is often used as an adhesive, and resins derived from it are used to coat many things. Folks should know well about "lacquerware." as it refers to containers, tableware, trinkets and even furniture that has been coated and sealed with Amber lacquer. This is not to be confused with "resinware" which are objects made entirely out of Amber resin. Both of these groups combine to cover a large amount of household items, as it makes objects more resilient, easy to clean and rather pretty. A simple wooden table or bone utensils can really be fancied up with a shiny coating! It also is used for sealing ship hulls, patching holes and even creating the clear panes for windows. Amber is used so much as material in industry, that most folk lump it in with the likes of bone, wax, silk and keratin. Just another resource that is harvested and used. But for other beings in this world, Amber is much more.
For plants and other similar creatures, Amber is their divine Humor. It is just as important as Blood or Phlegm to them! It is what makes their bodies function and they call upon it when in need. Just like species tied to one of the Four Humors, it is utilized to aid in things like hunting. Civilized folk may be taken a bit aback by this, as since when do plants hunt? For those who live in the wilds, or read a ton of pulpy adventure novels, the answer is: since forever. Indeed, a majority of plants and trees remain still and peaceful, but there are quite a few that have more "energetic" lifestyles. Then you factor in the creatures that sit on the border between "plant" and "animal," and you get woody beasts and slithering vines that move and hunger. The Amber Snapper is one good example of this.
It is a creature that is lumped under the unofficial name of "planimal," a rather broad and confusing group of species that defies clear identification. The Amber Snapper has the body like a lizard, complete with limbs, eyes and maybe a head or tail, yet they do not have the typical organs of a reptile. Frankly, their organs are lacking entirely, as they are comprised of wooden flesh and filled to bursting with Amber. Their body is a bit of an enigma, as it is hard to tell which end is which. Some think that one end is the actual head with orange eyes, while the other is a deceptive tail to trick predators. However, Amber Snappers have been observed moving in ways that make it feel that both are the head of the beast. Some at the Academy say it is a "palindromic" body plan, where the creature is arranged the same no matter which end you pick. Having two heads is a boon for the Amber Snapper, as it allows them to spot both predator and prey from all sides.
Amber Snappers are predators, though their hunting style is more akin to a plant. They do not chase or spring into action, rather, they let their dripping Amber do most of the work. These creatures will climb up into the branches and wait above an area that is tempting for prey. They will have their Amber drip down in thick ropes, hanging there like sticky tendrils. Unmoving, they blend in with their environment, and wandering creatures think little of the strands. Small insects may get stuck in the goo, and the Amber Snapper eats those, but they want something a bit meatier. A wandering critter that gets too close will find the tendrils suddenly whip forward, nabbing them in the sticky gunk. The adhesive nature of Amber makes it a gooey trap, and weaker creatures will struggle to escape the glue. When prey is snared, the tendril is pulled upward towards its gooey underbody, which is covered in clumps of Amber. These act as digestive chambers, pulling food inside, smothering it and then slowly breaking it down over time. But some prey remains feisty and thrashing, which means that this creature needs to live up to its name. When the victim is pulled close enough to its body, its two "heads" will actually swing downward like a pair of jaws and "snap" onto prey. The slamming force combined with the choking Amber is enough to bring an end to its meal. It will trap the remains in its Amber orbs and digest the food, all while more tendrils slowly drip downward in search of more.
Thankfully, Amber Snappers are typically too small to be a threat to humans, but that doesn't mean they won't try. The end result is stolen hats and gunked up hair, as the creature tries to reel in something far too big. However, that doesn't mean there aren't others that can do the job. In some of the deeper forests and wilds, larger specimens have been found that can feed on man. It is also said that the Rhizakardi people that hide in the heart of the woods have trained Amber Snappers to serve as lookouts and guards, living traps to ensnare invaders. And as the war consumes more resources, and factions look to resupply their efforts, it seems that these far off forests see more trespassers and threats than ever before. What will be the fate for the Amber Snappers, and those who call these places home?