#19 - Ballooners

Fortunately for us all, there isn’t a biome in the universe that can be exclusively hostile, predatory and carnivorous - it is simply not sustainable in the long run. And so, when magic, insanity and technology left their stamps on the now quite whimsically erratic evolution of Posterran critters, we’ve got plenty of docile, minding their own business beings that just wanted what we all do - to survive, eat and bang every now and then. Balooners are one of the cannier ones, with their unique method of transportation and defence. Long ago this tiny, spindly critter that feed mostly on nuts and seeds found they can attach themselves to Bauble Ivy - a dreadfully nasty piece of a plant with potent paralysing gas, that was also lighter than air. Somehow down the line the gas didn’t work on the little buggers, but they sure did notice that it scares most predators away with its fumes. And once the bauble is free of the vine, it just floats away! No one knows how they grow their flesh tendrils to attach to freed baubles, but with them on their back they can reach for the stars! Or at least treetops where there is food aplenty... And if any predator eyes them for a snack, the spewing fumes can quickly topple even the biggest, nastiest beasts out there. Simple and elegant - as long as you don’t try to mess with the little buggers.