Vine Consensus

The Vine Consensus are one of the Aliens in The Long Journey Home.

Description
The Vine Consensus is a plant-based species. Both their bodies, as well as their spacecrafts and stations seem to be made up of branches and leaves. Upon making first contact, the player receives a branch that connects them with the Vine Consensus, making communication possible.

The Vine Consensus follows a series of seasons, which change their behaviour. Notable are the Season of Bloom (during which they are at their strongest) and the Season of Thorns (during which they are at their weakest). These seasons are visible in their ship design and com appearance, as well as by monitoring the Yggdrasil Branch given to the player.

Gossip by a Vine garden reveals that the colour of the Vine's flowers may vary from season to season.

Interactions
Active weapons will decrease the respect. Asking, praising, insulting decreases respect during the Season of Thorns, once the plant is annoyed. Planets give an Yggdrasil Branch during the first conversation. During the Season of Thorns planets are sometimes guarded by Avatars of Thorns. They will attack the player after a first warning, but it is possible to convince them of the players good intentions by either praising the Vine, or showing a plant.

All listed interactions are only available during the Season of Bloom.

Ask
Work (starport/gate/planet) - The player will be offered an Yggdrasil Collector, which starts the Pollen Count quest, once installed in the lander.

Work (in Thorns) - the planetbase will flood your lander with resin which other bases like to drink. The resin becomes solid amber in the cargo bay pretty fast and blocks the inventory slots until the player manages it to remove the amber. (Logos hint to heat)

Talk
Mizzurani - Adds evidence during the Chemtrails in the Sky quest.

Show
Animal (planet) - Exchanged for a Grateful Sprout (also during the Season of Thorns)

Arecibo Beacon - Increases respect

Dreg (starport) - Exchanged for increased respect and 100

Dreg (planet) - Exchanged for a Grateful Sprout (also during the Season of Thorns)

Nakrafus - Exchanged for 2x increase in respect

Targetes Latifolius - Exchanged for a Grateful Sprout (also during the Season of Thorns)

Thomp Meat - Decreases respect

Totem of Pestilence - Decreases respect

Vine Resin (starport/gate) - Exchanged for 30 per container

Xaquindi Silk - Decreases respect

Xaquindi Cocoon - Exchanged for increase in respect and a Distress Beacon

Trade
The Vine Consensus pays differently for resources depending on the seasons. Gates always pay the same price.

The only items actually sold and bought by the Vine Consensus are the Berry, the Flower, and the Fruit of the Vine. They only pay 50% for them in their Gardens.

All purchases have an increased price of 10% so that each decision counts and reselling in the same system comes at a loss.

Whenever they make a first offer they will always offer 80% of the real price.

Starports and ships
The appearance and functionality of all Vine Consensus planets, gardens, and gates changes with the seasons. The City, the Garden, and the Gate have to be visited during both seasons for the ""PORTS OF CALL"" achievement.

City
Cities on Vine Consensus planets provide the player with a merchant and the lander can be refueled and repaired. During the Season of Bloom, they additionally offer to heal all injuries of the lander pilot for 100. The shop is also only available during the Season of Bloom and only offers the Berry, the Flower, and the Fruit of the Vine.

Garden
Gardens are the hospitals of the Vine Consensus. They are equipped with a merchant and a restock and repair facility. During the Season of Bloom, the hospital offers to heal all injuries of a crew member for 100. A shop sells the Berry, the Flower, and the Fruit of the Vine during the Season of Bloom.

Gate
Vine Consensus gates compared to other gates only offer the restock and repair facilities and a merchant. The merchant only pays 75% of the usual prices. Gate travels cost twice as much for enemies (max 300) and only half the price for friends (min 25).

Avatar of Bloom
The Vine Consensus Avatar of Bloom is the only non-quest-related ship of the Vine Consensus during the Season of Bloom.

It will try to flee, when attacked, and has no weapons or shields.

Avatar of Thorn
The Vine Consensus Avatar of Thorn is the only non-quest-related ship of the Vine Consensus during the Season of Thorn. It often guards their planets and will attack the humans, if they are not their friends. Showing them a plant, or praising them, will calm them down.

The Avatar of Thorn is larger than the Avatar of Bloom and will defend himself, if attacked. The ship is equipped with 6 static cannon on each side dealing hull damage, and a short range cannon at the front and rear side. There are no shields.

Diplomacy
Friends: Cueddhaest, Ilitza, Logos, Meorcl, Wolphax, Subbeq

Enemies: Glukkt, K'schar, Raxact, %$^£

Friends might receive Alien Herbs as a token of friendship.

Assessment of the Entrope
(only accessible with Admin-Device on Entrope Stations)

Intruding force. Inconsistent methodology. Observation engaged. Drone Cluster ZV444 prepared for uprooting actions.