Flora of the Flat Lands (part two)

CREOSOTE (#26/31, #357/365) [TTHA] 

Appearance: This is a large evergreen shrub, with small dark green oval-shaped leaves and five-pointed yellow flowers. It produces a smokey, wood-sap type of odor.

Distribution: Creosote is found in dry and arid plains and hills across Titan.

 

Effects: The leaves of the Creosote can be used to make a healing poultice. This allows a healer to deduct 1 from the dice roll when testing their Healing Special Skill. In addition, the sap from the leaves and branches can be used to create a Vial of Glue, for use in the Sorcery GUM spell.

 

Cost: City 6gp, Town 8gp, Village 10gp (per bunch)

 

Availability: Common 

 

CHANGE PLANT (#27/31, #358/365) [TTHA] 

"The Land of Changes is the dividing line between summer and winter - perpetual autumn. But leaves cannot fall forever - they must also grow, and disquieting tales are told of their growing. It is said that the plants are different here; that they can bud, blossom, seed and die in a few short hours, and that the wind can play their growing as a bard plays their lyre. The warm winds from summer cause all to bloom and grow, but in the chill of winter they fall, or cower back in their buds. And when the wind gusts and swirls, ah!, then the whole wood ripples and writhes with the coruscating iridescence of flowers and foliage opening and closing, swelling and shrinking. It is called 'The Changing', and is greatly feared. When it happens no traveller is safe - and if there should come a storm..."

- The Land of Changes, R. Pracy, (Warlock #11, Aug/Sep 1986, p. 28)

Appearance: This is a strange plant of any sort from herb to tree, caught in a perpetual time-loop; growing, blooming, dying and then growing again, all in the space of a few hours.

Distribution: Chaos wastelands, jungles and forests across Titan.

 

Effects: The sight of one Change Plant is uncomfortable and mildly nauseating. To be trapped in a grove of them is to be so revolted and sickened by the mutating fertility all around that the victim must lose 1 SKILL and 1-3 STAMINA points. Worse, eating Provisions in such an environment will make the victim even physically sicker, losing a further 1-6 STAMINA points. Finally, anyone foolish enough to rest must Test for Luck. If they fail, they never awaken, and simply waste away to nothing among the changing foliage. If they are Lucky, they must Test for Luck again; if they are Lucky a second time, then they are fully conscious but lost another 1-3 STAMINA points as they attempt to exit the grove. If they are Unlucky this time, they are confined to an illusory world where all appears well in the grove, but actually they are walking into a deadly trap, such as into quicksand, off a cliff, towards a pit, etc.

Cost: Not available for sale.

 

Availability: Very Rare

 

Further Notes: The Change Plant is thought to be related to both Chance Plants and Chaos Plants (see The Titan Herbal, pp. 25-27).

HEART'S BLOOD TREE (#28/31, #359/365) [TTHA] 

Appearance: This is appears as ancient type of Elder tree that is so gnarled and twisted it seems almost human. A keen observer will notice something sparkling and glinting within a hollow in the tree. Burning in its depths will be a ruby as red as fresh blood!

Distribution: Only found in the centre of a Brownie village.

 

Effects: If the ruby is removed from its cavity within a Heart's Blood Tree, shudders will run through the tree, and there will be keening wail of agony that echoes away on the breeze. The taker of the ruby has murdered the tree's inhabitant - a guardian tree spirit is known as the Green Lady by the Brownies of the village where the tree grows. Brownies will hunt down and kill anyone who steals the ruby from their Heart's Blood Tree. Conversely, anyone who prays to Galana in front of the tree will be rewarded when the tree shimmers and changes into a tall, green-skinned woman with a merry face - the Green Lady - who will smile and kiss the supplicant once on each cheek, Blessing them.

 

Cost: City 20-120gp, Town 20-120gp, Village 20-120gp (per ruby)

 

Availability: Very Rare

 

ICE FLOWER (#29/31, #360/365) [TTHA] 

Appearance: This is a strange crystal-like flower, usually a translucent blue, pink or purple in colour, with glassy leaves and a short clear stem.

Distribution: Mountainous and polar ice areas across Titan and crystal fields on other Magical Planes.

 

Effects: The Ice Flower produces tinkling joyous music when gently shaken, that charms anyone who hears it. They must make a Test for Luck or be charmed by the bearer of the flower as per a Command spell. This will last for as long as the Ice Flower is shaken, up to a maximum of 60 minutes. Ice Flowers are extremely delicate however, and will break on a 1-5 on a D6 after their bearer or carrier undertakes intense physical activity such as fighting or falling down a pit. They also have to be kept in a cold environment or will melt away to nothing but a damp puddle in 1-6 hours.

 

Cost: City 75gp, Town 85gp, Village 100gp (per flower)

 

Availability: Very Rare

 

Further Notes: The Ice Sprites of the far north are known to tend to fields of Ice Flowers on the snowy polar plains.

SLIMEWEED (#30/31, #361/365) [TTHA] 

Appearance: This is a strange, faintly-phosphorescent weed that grows from walls, ceilings and floors. Gobbets of vile-smelling slime drip from its green and purple foliage, and bulbous sacs attached to the fleshy tendrils squelch and burst underfoot, giving off a foetid odour.

Distribution: Caves, dungeons and ruins across Titan.

 

Effects: Despite the appearance, Slimeweed is harmless if touched, and is grown as a decorative plant, luxuriantly in glowing masses of slimey nauseously-smelling tendrils, by underground races such as Gremlins, Troglodytes, Dark Goblins and the like. It is, however, poisonous, and anyone foolish enough to consume Slimeweed must lose 1-3 STAMINA as they copiously and violently retch it all out!

 

Cost: Not available for sale

 

Availability: Common

 

SWEETWOOD TREE (#31/31, #362-5/365) [TTHA] 

Appearance: This is a small tree with feathery light green leaves, rough light-brown bark, and large pale yellow-orange flowers.

Distribution: Jungles, plains and hills in warmer areas across Titan.

 

Effects: The bark of the Sweetwood Tree can be scraped off and the shavings used as incense, either to be burnt or crushed and made into perfume. Its delicate odor is much valued by nobles in court.

 

Cost: City 10-60gp, Town 10-60gp, Village 10-60gp (per vial)

 

Availability: Uncommon