Plants
Spoiler: Millet
Physical Description: A pillar of white, pearl-shaped grains topping a leafy stalk.
The primary crop of Amstaad, millet was introduced by the Passani and retained for its hardiness. The grains are either roasted for cereals, or ground to a flour used for all types of breads and pastries. Millet is also used for brewing Amstaad's famed beers and ales.
The primary crop of Amstaad, millet was introduced by the Passani and retained for its hardiness. The grains are either roasted for cereals, or ground to a flour used for all types of breads and pastries. Millet is also used for brewing Amstaad's famed beers and ales.
Spoiler: Sharnaal Tree (passive, carnivorous)
Physical description: 90 ft. tall fully grown, on average. Thick trunk. Bark has deep, reddish-brown grooves. Trunk is branchless until about 30 feet up, at which point many long, thin, leafy branches appear. Leaves are arrow-shaped and dark green, and have a dark red border on the fringe of the leaf. Thousands of thin vines with thorny ends descend from the branches all the way to the forest floor, forming a cascade of vines that fill the area underneath the branches.
The vines are coated in a neurotoxin that quickly paralyzes any creature that touches them (within 20 seconds). When the vines are disturbed, thousands of them begin to entwine the helpless victim, raising them up into the branches and using their thorny ends to pierce the victim's body. The blood flows down the grooves in the bark and into the soil around the trunk, where it is absorbed by the roots. The bloodless bodies of the tree's victims eventually become skeletons which stay among the branches, impaled by branches and riddled with vines. These trees are rare, but are often called Bone Trees by young children, as the occasional skull can be seen peering out from behind the thick leaves.
The vines are coated in a neurotoxin that quickly paralyzes any creature that touches them (within 20 seconds). When the vines are disturbed, thousands of them begin to entwine the helpless victim, raising them up into the branches and using their thorny ends to pierce the victim's body. The blood flows down the grooves in the bark and into the soil around the trunk, where it is absorbed by the roots. The bloodless bodies of the tree's victims eventually become skeletons which stay among the branches, impaled by branches and riddled with vines. These trees are rare, but are often called Bone Trees by young children, as the occasional skull can be seen peering out from behind the thick leaves.
Spoiler: Sahti Pepper (extremely hot pepper)
Physical Description: Hot pepper that ripens to a clean white colour. Sahtis grow to a length of 3 inches and a diameter of 1 inch.
The Sahti's oil is so hot that it is flammable when exposed (in purified form) to sufficient heat. For this reason, Sahti peppers are processed to produce oil for both household and military use.
Boiling the Sahti pepper causes a chemical reaction that negates its more dangerous properties. The flesh can then by used to flavour dishes. Due to the extreme heat of the Sahti, the flesh is normally ground and sold as a sauce. Minuscule portions of hot sauce are sufficient to make even large portions quite spicy.
The Sahti's oil is so hot that it is flammable when exposed (in purified form) to sufficient heat. For this reason, Sahti peppers are processed to produce oil for both household and military use.
Boiling the Sahti pepper causes a chemical reaction that negates its more dangerous properties. The flesh can then by used to flavour dishes. Due to the extreme heat of the Sahti, the flesh is normally ground and sold as a sauce. Minuscule portions of hot sauce are sufficient to make even large portions quite spicy.
Spoiler: Chamidis (orchid potpourri)
Physical Description: Annual flowering plant, averaging 1 ft. in height. Has light green leaves in bunches of 3 all over the stalk of the plant. Flower resembles an orchid, and is typically a deep rose color, with spots of lighter yellow. The subtle, relaxing scent of this flower means that it is often grown inside homes to relieve stress.
Spoiler: Gurdak Vine
This small, thin vine grows exponentially quickly as it gets taller and taller, but once it hits twenty feet it is unable to support itself and dies quickly, laying its seeds on the ground. The stalk is thin and the leaves are relatively large. This vine can reclaim a run-down, uninhabited building in a bout a week, and it can also be a nuisance to inhabited buildings. It takes quite a bit of work to uproot a gurdak infestation in your home.
Rumor has it "Gurdak" comes from an ancient dwarven profanity.
Rumor has it "Gurdak" comes from an ancient dwarven profanity.
Spoiler: Urdiss Fern (decomposer)
Physical Description: Plant with feathery, green leaves with a rust underside. Seeds grow in dead bodies (buried or not), and the plant nourishes itself with protein from the corpse. Colloquially known as "Tombstone Ferns".
Spoiler: Jungo Berry
Physical Decription: A thorny vine with a somewhat tart berry. The berries can be eaten raw, or cooked into a sumptious jam. The taste is a close to a cross between lime and raspberry.
Spoiler: Rollep (lush grass)
Rollep is a plant that looks similar to wild grass (although it's a bit larger). The root is edible, and although tasteless, can provide sustenance in a pinch. Rollep can only flourish in water-dense areas, so exceptionally large patches of rollep are good indications of an underground spring or otherwise concealed body of water.
Spoiler: Linfal Tree (panpipe tree)
Tall deciduous tree with clusters of small leaves that turn bright red in autumn. It's known for the unique structure of its twigs, which are hollow and open at the end. When the wind blows through the branches of a Linfal, the twigs act like panpipes, creating music.
Spoiler: Crabapple Tree
Yep more flora, and more stuff to make jelly out of.
Spoiler: Lotus Tree
Grows to an average height of 8-10 feet tall, with deep emerald leaves. Produces clusters of small, pure white lotus flowers, which later form sweet white berries which are considered a gourmet item. The trees are notoriously vulnerable for the first two years of life, which contributes to their rarity.
Spoiler: Pristek (carnivorous)
This organism resembles a bush from a distance, but upon closer examination, its outer shell of leaves serve only as protection for an inner eyestalk and a strange tube-like appendage capable of shooting an acidic mixture. It often suprise-attacks its prey, spraying acid and then moving to reside on top of its target's old body, which then provides its nourishment. Amount and strength of acid produced varies based on the age of the creature. It moves at about 10 feet per hour - negligible to any combat.
Spoiler: Shadow Root (radish)
A black raddish that grows solely in the wild. General Consensus believes that this is a cursed plant, poisonous for consumption and just generally cursed. Certain cultures have complicated rituals to purify a field tained by Shadow Root. General Consensus is in fact horribly wrong; with proper preparation Shadow Root makes a good stew, although it must be cooked (as it is quite bitter when eaten raw).
Spoiler: Oranges
Not native to the area (wrong cliamte), but they are a frequent import. (Some small groves do exist). Oranges are round, orange, and prevent scurvy.
Spoiler: Dandelions
We all know what this is. Comes in many varieties, such as the large Flying Dander and the blood-drinking Carnivorous Weed.
(1/2 laziness + 1/2 tiredness + 1/2 silliness = inspired!)
(1/2 laziness + 1/2 tiredness + 1/2 silliness = inspired!)
Spoiler: Larna Casova (white flower)
A small white flower (imagine a white rose) which is considered a symbol of purity and faithfulness by several cultures. Frequently seen in churches, at weddings, and often given as a present to one's true love.
The seedier side of town will see Larna Casova potions sold as aphrodesiacs. In reality, such a potion is worthless snake oil (although not actually harmful).
The seedier side of town will see Larna Casova potions sold as aphrodesiacs. In reality, such a potion is worthless snake oil (although not actually harmful).
Spoiler: Gungarra Elm
Physical Description: A smallish tree (typically reaches at most 5 feet tall at maturity), whose leaves have been used for centuries as dressings for wounds by the Tiktuk tribe. Will blossom with a relatively drab blue flower.
Spoiler: Kathari Herb
A plant use for medicinal purposes with a bitter taste. Can be brewed to make potions, or smoked and inhaled.
Spoiler: Avaslihna Tree (aphrodisiac)
incredibly rare, found only where nothing could possibly grow, its pollen induces a lovesick feeling in those who inhale it that causes them to fall deeply in love with the first person they see. Effects last for about 1 to 2 weeks depending on how much pollen is inhaled.
Spoiler: Rainbrush (baobab-like shrub)
Scraggly, low plant that grows in the summer. The roots of this plant extend aboveground and are very adept at absorbing vitals, especially water. After rain, children will go find rainbrush and pick these roots - they turn from fibrous to quite bulbous, and are sweet tasting.
Spoiler: Arana (nut-producing)
Medium-size deciduous bush with characteristic long, sapphire-coloured leaves. These are cultivated for the arana fruit, which are iridescent red and grow from similar-colour flowers. The fruit itself is quite inedible, but the nut inside is delicious -- a subtle blend of sweetness and bitterness that is eaten raw, used in dishes, or pounded into a paste for use as a condiment.
Spoiler: Summer Snow (white clover)
white clover (in the seven-leafed variety for extra-special luck!) that grows like wildfire in the summertime, mainly located south of the docks.
Spoiler: Strangleweed (carnivorous seaweed)
An aquatic, kelp-like plant that grows only in deep saltwater, this is only distinguishable from other plants of its type by its slight red tinge. When touched, it instantly contracts and folds around the point of disturbance until the creature has suffocated. Small tubes protruding from the face of the plant then enter the creature and rapidly suck the nutrients out for about 5 minutes, at which point the creature is released.
People who have been poisoned can subject themselves to Strangleweed attack as a primitive form of antedote, provided they can prevent themselves from drowning.
Strangleweeds cannot realistically pull a standing human underwater, but they can make things very difficult for an average swimmer and they can easily drown a weak one.
People who have been poisoned can subject themselves to Strangleweed attack as a primitive form of antedote, provided they can prevent themselves from drowning.
Strangleweeds cannot realistically pull a standing human underwater, but they can make things very difficult for an average swimmer and they can easily drown a weak one.
Spoiler: Preffa (edible flower)
A small, bright blue flower that grows in hilly areas. Its pollen tastes like a spicy kind of saffron (redundancy acknowledged), and is used as a flavoring for foods. A bit on the expensive side, but some countrymen make their living by picking, grinding, and selling these flowers.
Spoiler: Ythen (anaesthetic flower)
Prolific creeping plant distinguished by trefoil, bright red flowers. The flowers have anaesthetic properties.
Spoiler: Giant Iridis (hallucinogenic flower)
Comes in a variety of colors but can be primarily found in purple and pink,
Wild flower rarely seen in the mountains, extremely difficult to find and even more difficult to grow for an industry, extremely valuable as its roots can be crushed into a powder that has powerful hallucenogenic effects. Often used by mountain shamans in religious rituals and unscrupulous characters as a method of exchange. Recent government crackdown on the distribution of Iridis powder has caused the street price to move from its already high levels to one that makes the underground drug trade extremely lucrative.
Wild flower rarely seen in the mountains, extremely difficult to find and even more difficult to grow for an industry, extremely valuable as its roots can be crushed into a powder that has powerful hallucenogenic effects. Often used by mountain shamans in religious rituals and unscrupulous characters as a method of exchange. Recent government crackdown on the distribution of Iridis powder has caused the street price to move from its already high levels to one that makes the underground drug trade extremely lucrative.
This is lalaladucks entry gained from the method I used in the post below.
Spoiler: singing tree
grows songs