Swamplands

Dreaded Ruinflower

One would expect a flower with such a name to be highly undesirable, but its allure still manages to captivate some ill-intent hearts. Dreaded Ruinflower grows in groups of three to four, and uses bioluminescent light to attract fireflies for pollination. Folklore from the village Lach calls them “Devil’s Flowers”, because of their terrifying self-defence mechanism that makes them true freaks of nature. Dreaded Ruinflowers exude a peculiar green aura that is described as headache-inducing and disorienting for both humans and animals. Only Wispwings, the flower’s sole pollinator, seem to avoid trance; then again, even they sometimes fail entrapment. Dreaded Ruinflowers are mana-unstable, meaning handling them requires extreme caution to avoid risking exposure to Manacra. In history, there have been times when these flowers would grow in fields, although these have been few and far between. A field of Dreaded Ruinflowers is called a Ruined Bog, an extremely dangerous tract of land that everyone best avoid. There, the flowers seem to come together like a hivemind, linked by their roots, and exude the same aforementioned peculiar green aura on a larger, more menacing scale. This advanced variant of their defence mechanism causes disorientation for all creatures, making it extremely easy to get pulled in. The hyperconcentration of mana poisons the brain with mana sickness, while death becomes certain for those careless enough to wander too close to the flower. 

Stonehusk Maize

This vegetable grows on the rugged cliffsides where the Swamplands meet the cliffs of the Three Kings. While other crops may wither from wind and wear in the rocky soil, the Stonehusk prevails. Its name originates from the hard, stony shell that encases each cob, which has to be cracked by weather, erosion, or flame before revealing the kernels within. Harvesters often wait for the first autumn storm to split the husks naturally, which makes it a rare item and therefore, expensive. Inside, the kernels are small, glossy, red, bursting with a syrupy sweetness. Swamp-dwellers pound the kernels with warm milk and tree resin from the Crimson Aódhan Willow, to form a mash warming compress used to soothe joint stiffness and fatigue in older folk and overworked labourers. When boiled for hours on end, the stony shell softens considerably, allowing it to be worked into strips that somewhat mimic the strength and durability of leather armour. In contrast, stonehusk leather is much better at repelling stabs and thrusts compared to standard leather, but it is weaker to slashes. 

Ockerina Blossom

For many alchemists, Ockerina Blossom is considered an odd flower to find which scarcely grows in Tykonia, let alone the swamplands. It’s said that the Ockerina was first planted in the Boglands some two hundred years ago by trolls. Ockerina is characterised by its blue petals that contrast starkly with the Swampland’s dark nature, and by its strange leaves that grow with beautiful, swirled veins. Its blossoms boast peculiar etheric properties and are cut to brew regenerative teas. Old Man’s Ether is a tea of strained Redcap mushrooms, Kelevan Jatropha curcas, and pressed Ockerina blossoms, which aids in a slow but steady mana regeneration. Mages who return from battle or periods of exertion find the infusion especially revitalising in recovery. The tea’s effects require a calm heart rate to work, meaning mana regeneration amidst conflict is not viable. 

Nuslet Cotton

Nuslet is an endangered and scarce breed of perennial wildflower that is endemic to the Boglands of West Tykonia. Nuslets grow to be around 70 cm. (~27 in.) tall, and possess distinct leaves that open up to reveal a secondary stalk that opens to a boll. When Nuslet bolls open just after the midsummer festivals, they burst to reveal a fibrous cotton that alchemists prize in the spinning of Nuslet thread. Spindleworkers—before the art died out—took Nuslet thread to looms to weave Nuslet fabric. These weaves, those that still exist, can filter and thus neutralise the mana-related effects of ingredients related to an alchemical reaction. This makes Nuslet fabric masks and gloves highly sought after, ludicrously expensive, but worth every penny because they mitigate an artificer’s exposure to Manacra better than anything else on the continent. 

Ruava Pitcher

The Ruava Pitcher is a herbaceous carnivorous plant that is characterised by its bulbous, checkered flower, which opens to waxy, shapely green leaves. Ruava Pitchers grow to be around 20 cm. (~8 in.) tall, supplement their nutrients by trapping and digesting prey—usually insects and bugs. Still, it’s not unheard of for the pitcher plant to ensnare mice or smaller rodents. Its pitfall trap is filled with curling, sensitive fibres that catch prey and strangle it to consume via caustic digestive liquids. Ruava Acid is a rarely gathered alchemical ingredient, collected from the pitcher plant’s interior digestive tract and used in the brewing of toxins, acids, and other corrosive substances. On its own, it causes only mild skin irritation. However, when refined or combined with other reagents, it becomes a potent base for alchemical acids, prized for its reactivity and mana-weaponising properties. 

Witch’s Nose

A long cylindrical gourd akin to a cucumber with bumpy green skin and a yellowish brown interior. The vegetable grows on long, thick, creeping vines in the swamplands, and while some domesticated varieties exist, Witch’s Nose generally grows wild. They have the innate property of fluid retention, added to draughts or salves to prolong a concoction’s effects, at the cost of decreased potency. Witch’s Nose grows via parthenocarpy. 

Redcap 

Being one of the most prolific mushrooms found in the swamplands, Redcap is used in cooking, medicine, and alchemy alike. Naturally, its name pops up in many cookbook recipes for stews and sauces, cherished for its hearty nature and subtle warmth. Redcaps can be found shipped across Tykonia in abundance, dried, pickled, or salted. In settlements closer to the Swamplands, Redcaps are cooked fresh. In alchemy, Redcaps are noted for their neutralisation properties, frequently infused in potions with other fungal bases, especially those concerning vitality or poison resistance. Redcaps have a characteristic meaty taste. 

Frassula Mushroom

The ancient precursor to Redcap mushrooms, the Frassula Mushroom was once a common sight in the Boglands, now relegated to a lesser position behind the Redcap. Frassula mushrooms are recognisable by their light blue caps and gills, growing in tufts along the swamp’s floor. Alchemists commonly collect them for their blood-thinning property and because they also promote increased blood circulation. Frassulas grow all across the Swampland’s floor, and when eaten raw, taste very bitter. 

Sarimony 

Considered to be one of the most mana-stable plants in all of West Tykonia. It manages to garner the attention of many artificers interested in harnessing its property as a stabiliser for their work. Sarimony petals are either red or light blue with yellow pistils, and grow in aerated soil with Horse Fern mulch. Some scholars argue that their colouration is not a mistake, but representative of mana’s binding (red) force, and dispersing (blue) ones. Of course, this is just a theory. Sarimony’s stabilising properties are one of the first topics a fledgling alchemist will cover, especially since alchemy demands mana balance. 

Purging Stalk

Nearly all healers throughout the Tykon peninsula are familiar with Purging Stalk, a common sight in apothecaries. Purging Stalk grows to be around 35 cm. (~13 in.) in height, with a large leaf and a central stalk that is crowned by little pink flowers. urging Stalk has long been used to purge poison, toxin, venom, or otherwise draw out foreign substances from the body. When its stalks are crushed, they produce a juice; when drunk, the plant’s juice induces the effects mentioned before. Purging Stalk is almost exclusively cultivated in greenhouses, with very few wild breeds remaining. These wild breeds, uncommon as they are, are also significantly more overpowering upon consumption and induce violent retching, disgorging and sharp stomach pain. 

Wriorola 

A purple stringy, sinewy plant that was first domesticated on Tykonia’s northern shore by Helivian refugees originating from the Ashlands. Wriorola is a plant cultivated for utility purposes, where its fibrous and twine-like leaves were twisted and braided into strands, and then laid on ropewalks to form cordages of surprising durability. While primarily used in traditional rigging, binding, and construction, physicians and surgeons alike have found Wriorola able to join disparate materials and sew sutures. In combination with other remedies, Wirorola sutures have proven to have mild but stable binding agents employed where integration, rather than adhesion, is necessary. Hence its usage in surgery.