Roots of Communication

Roots of Communication (Major) by Stone Gargoyle

"Do you mind? I am talking on the, um, turnip."

The hero has the ability to alter plants so that they conduct radio signals. They must be of an appropriate shape to do so but can be used for a variety of effects.

1.Bugs in the Grass: Grass and weeds, as well as flowers, can be used to listen to the conversations of those standing on or near them within 3 feet. The sound can be carried through the connected roots for a distance up to the hero's ME number in miles, though he must touch the area of grass or the plant to sensitize it to be receptive to the sounds. To receive the sounds, he must touch a flower or knot in a tree, causing it to become an echo chamber to interpret the sound vibrations. The root system must be continuous for this to work, as in a forest, so the power becomes severely limited in urban environments. Using flowers rather than just grass increases the sound clarity and range by a foot.

2.Plant Cels: The hero can also use vegetable type plants having a long root, such as an onion, turnip, beet or carrot, as phone which he can use to tap into existing phone lines. This cannot be used to dial a specific number but can act as a way of phoning for help in the case of an emergency. Range is the hero's ME in miles, plus one mile per level.

3.Branch Reception: The hero can also use trees as antennas to intercept radio transmissions, able to tune in police bands and emergenc channels as well as commercial bandwidths, for a range of his ME number in miles. As with Bugs in the Grass, a knot in the tree used will act as an echo chamber for the sound received. This only works while the hero is touching the tree and will not work in adverse weather or high wind, as these conditions hamper reception.

4.Other Abilities and Bonuses:

+1d4 ME

+10% to Preserve Food skill as it pertains to vegetables

+5% to other Wilderness skills