Alias: None
Origin: Saethera (warmlight forests, canopy zones)
The Palmstrider is a long-limbed arboreal omnivore native to Saethera’s humid canopy regions, measuring 1.5–2.5 meters in length and weighing 50–80 kilograms. Its narrow frame and extended limbs enable silent navigation through dense branches, while its porous, segmented hide mimics bark and lichen with near-perfect accuracy. Nearly motionless for long periods, it moves with slow, deliberate precision, feeding on canopy growths and small fauna within the upper foliage.
The porous composition of its body allows roots and small plants to grow directly upon its surface, forming a symbiotic relationship in which the creature’s metabolism feeds the vegetation, and the vegetation returns trace nutrients to its tissues. This living growth enhances its camouflage, making it indistinguishable from the surrounding canopy.
Palmstriders exhibit unusual behavior toward humans: they occasionally latch onto individuals for extended periods, remaining completely still and causing no physical harm. Though harmless, the experience is profoundly unsettling. However, if attacked or injured while attached, the creature reacts with overwhelming force, crushing the host instantly before releasing the body and retreating into the foliage.