🌿 Flora & Resources of Aethoria

Description White Snowdrops are delicate yet resilient herbs found primarily in the high-altitude regions near the summits of mountain ranges across the Mosaics and in the northern Saviours of the Ironroot Bastion. Their related flowers are Frostdrops, which grow in lower altitudes. Their small bell-shaped blossoms resemble drops of snow clinging to thin green stems.

Appearance Snowdrops and Frostdrops are characterised by slender green stems reaching up to five centimetres high. Each plant produces three to five pure white flowers that hang downward like frozen droplets suspended in the air.

Habitat These herbs thrive in cold, rocky terrain in the upper mountain regions where temperatures remain cool and moisture gathers in mossy stone outcrops. They are commonly found along high trails and among the rock-clinging brush near Fool’s Gap in the Afladin Mountains.

Medicinal Properties The petals may be brewed into tea that alleviates altitude sickness. The roots can be ground into a paste used to soothe frostbite and other cold-related injuries.

Magical Properties Snowdrops are believed to contain elemental resistance to freezing. Mages frequently include them in potions requiring frost or cold components.

Collection Harvesting Snowdrops requires careful handling as the petals bruise easily. They are best collected in the early morning while frost still coats the flowers, preserving their potency.

Uses Potion Crafting • Cold-resistance enchantments • Healing salves for frostbite • Alchemical enhancements for frost weapons.

Cultural Significance In regions surrounding Mt. Peak, Snowdrops symbolise resilience and purity. Warriors once carried them as protective talismans during mountain campaigns.

Warnings Overconsumption of Snowdrop tea may lead to symptoms similar to hypothermia. Improper handling of the roots may cause skin irritation.

Recent Discovery At the Stepstones, the Pathway of the Gods, a rare yellow variant of the Snowdrop grows hidden deep within moss-covered stones. This variant appears to possess strong warming properties useful for surviving extreme cold.

Description The Forestine Fruit grows on trees within the Whispering Woods of Pyprast Bastion. The fruit is deep green with a tough, leather-like skin and grows a tuft of purple fur that forms natural burrs used for propagation.

Season The fruit ripens in late summer with peak harvest from mid-August to early September.

Uses Climbing Aid Fruit Burrs provide exceptional grip. Climbers often wrap dried skins around their hands to help maintain a hold on icy cliffs and steep rock faces. Crafting Material The durable fruit skin can be processed into leather-like materials used for clothing, containers, and tool handles. Medicinal Properties The pulp inside the fruit is nutrient-rich and provides energy and stamina for travellers moving through the dense Whispering Woods. Binding Agent The adhesive burrs can bind materials together and are used by artisans for intricate designs.

Lore Legend claims the Forestine Fruit was gifted by forest spirits to help the people of Ironroot survive and explore the Whispering Woods. Its burrs symbolise resilience and adaptability.

Regional Significance Within the Auric Exchange territories the interaction between flora, fauna, and the ocean winds has produced many unique species. Guardians of the Exchange train against these creatures in traditional coming-of-age trials.

Description The Nongnut Tree is a large riverbank species found throughout the warmer regions of the Solaryn Reliquary. Its unusual form combines a broad, water-storing trunk with a crown of long, palm-like leaves. Mature trees produce heavy nuts prized for their nutritious kernels and distinctive salty malt flavour.

Appearance A mature Nongnut Tree has an immense, swollen trunk covered in pale grey or sandy-brown bark. Thick roots spread through the riverbank, anchoring the tree against floods and erosion. Sturdy branches rise from the upper trunk and support a crown of long, arching fronds.

Fruit Nongnuts are larger than coconuts and grow in small clusters beneath the tree’s crown. Each nut develops inside a thick, reddish-brown outer skin. When the fruit ripens, this skin dries and peels away in broad curling strips, revealing a hard tan shell beneath.

Habitat Nongnut Trees grow along the Losden River and its tributaries, particularly where fertile riverbanks meet the dry, yellow grasslands of central and southern Solaryn. Their swollen trunks store water during dry periods, while their extensive roots draw moisture from deep beneath the riverbank.

River Dispersal Unopened Nongnuts are buoyant. When a mature nut falls into the river, its sealed outer covering allows it to float downstream without spoiling. The current may carry it for many leagues before it becomes lodged in mud, reeds, or a quiet bend. Once the outer skin breaks down, the nut can take root and establish a new tree.

Food Value Inside the shell is a dense, cream-coloured kernel with a firm, cashew-like bite and a naturally salty malt flavour. Nongnuts are rich in energy and remain edible for long periods while sealed inside their shells, making them valuable provisions for travellers, river crews, and caravans.

Uses Travel provisions • Ground meal • Thickening for stews • Pressed cooking oil • Roasted snacks • Animal feed • Carved bowls and containers

Harvesting Ripe Nongnuts are normally collected after their reddish-brown skin begins to peel. Harvesters use hooked poles to bring down mature clusters or gather fallen nuts from river shallows. Attempting to climb an old tree is discouraged, as its smooth upper trunk and heavy fruit make the activity an excellent way to advance the study of falling.

Cultural Significance Solaryn river communities regard the Nongnut Tree as a symbol of useful knowledge spreading beyond its place of origin. Scholars sometimes compare its floating nuts to ideas: both may travel far from their source before finding suitable ground in which to grow.

Trade Roasted Nongnuts are sold in markets throughout Helion and carried north along the Losden toward Bymotha. Solaryn academies also purchase Nongnut oil for kitchens, lamps, and alchemical experiments. Whether all three uses should involve the same barrel remains a subject of surprisingly heated scholarly debate.

Warnings Newly fallen nuts are extremely heavy and can cause serious injury. Travellers are advised not to rest beneath fruit-bearing branches during harvest season. Nuts recovered from stagnant water should also be inspected for cracks before being eaten.

Description Seen above in a basket with Forestine Fruit the Tree Turnips are a nourishing green and purple vegetable that is valued for its flavour and medicinal properties.

Appearance Tree Turnips are green vegetable with a purple hue up to the stem. They are round and solid with a firm light green flesh.

Habitat These vegetables grow on trees high in the canopy of the moist forests in Whispering Woods. They grow quickly in the water laden air of that region. Their production of ripe turnips at height is the only protection making them inaccessible to most creatures. The forest is an excellent source of tree turnips, a sought-after plant that flourishes in the cool, mist-laden environment.

Medicinal Properties The flesh may be boiled into softer mash that alleviates provides an immunity boost.

Collection Harvesting Tree Turnips is a dangerous affair and it requires experienced foresters with climbing equipment to work quickly in the harvest season. They are ripe in late summer and can be stored for the winter months.