Ashvine Bloom
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Ashvine Bloom is a hardy climbing plant that thrives in volcanic soil and ash-laden slopes. Its vines are thick, charcoal-black, and faintly warm to the touch when newly grown, with a surface that flakes slightly like cooled slag. From these vines grow heavy blossoms of deep crimson and dark violet, their petals edged with grey ash that never quite falls away. When crushed, the flowers release a sharp, smoky scent mixed with resin and sulphur.
The plant grows along the lower slopes of volcanoes, lava fields old enough to cool but still warm beneath the surface, and in valleys where ash has settled for generations. It does not grow in fresh lava flows or fully cold stone. Successful foragers look for slopes where ash has compacted into firm layers and where other plants didn't find a grip yet. Ashvine Bloom anchors itself into cracks and feeds on residual heat. If the ground cools completely, the plant withers within weeks.
Ashvine Bloom attracts very little wildlife. Grazing animals avoid it, likely due to the bitter sap contained in the stems. Small ash lizards are sometimes found sheltering beneath the vines, using the retained warmth, but they do not feed on the plant. Elven wardens note that areas thick with Ashvine Bloom tend to have fewer burrowing creatures, as the roots harden the ground and make tunnelling difficult.
Beyond its primary symbolic and alchemical uses, Ashvine Bloom has several practical applications. The dried petals are ground into powders used to steady the nerves during intense heat or underground work. Woven into talismans or stitched into travel gear, the vines help retain body warmth without trapping moisture. In ritual contexts, the blooms are burned slowly to mark endurance rites, mourning ceremonies, or vows tied to hardship and survival. Alchemists also use refined ashvine extracts to stabilise volatile compounds, especially those involving fire or transformation.
Improper handling reduces its value. If harvested before the bloom fully opens, the petals crumble into useless dust. If left too long after blooming, the plant loses its heat-retentive properties. Cutting the vine too close to the root kills the entire growth, which has led to strict harvesting customs in many regions. Some elven communities limit collection to specific seasons and require ceremonial permission before any vine is cut.
Primary Use: Carrying Ashvine Bloom grants +10 to Cool Tests when underground or near open flame.
Secondary Use: When used as an alchemical stabiliser, grants +10 to one Trade (Alchemy) Test involving fire or transformation.
Harvest: Average (+20) Outdoor Survival or Trade (Herbalist). Failure produces brittle petals with no effect.
Price: Dried bloom bundle: 2–3 gc, Refined ashvine powder: 4–6 gc
Primary Use: Grants +1 Armour against heat and fire damage for one hour.
Secondary Use: Provides an asset on one task involving endurance, heat exposure, or volatile crafting.
Harvest Difficulty: 4
Price: Raw bloom: 60–90 shins, Refined extract: 120–180 shins
The plant grows along the lower slopes of volcanoes, lava fields old enough to cool but still warm beneath the surface, and in valleys where ash has settled for generations. It does not grow in fresh lava flows or fully cold stone. Successful foragers look for slopes where ash has compacted into firm layers and where other plants didn't find a grip yet. Ashvine Bloom anchors itself into cracks and feeds on residual heat. If the ground cools completely, the plant withers within weeks.
Ashvine Bloom attracts very little wildlife. Grazing animals avoid it, likely due to the bitter sap contained in the stems. Small ash lizards are sometimes found sheltering beneath the vines, using the retained warmth, but they do not feed on the plant. Elven wardens note that areas thick with Ashvine Bloom tend to have fewer burrowing creatures, as the roots harden the ground and make tunnelling difficult.
Beyond its primary symbolic and alchemical uses, Ashvine Bloom has several practical applications. The dried petals are ground into powders used to steady the nerves during intense heat or underground work. Woven into talismans or stitched into travel gear, the vines help retain body warmth without trapping moisture. In ritual contexts, the blooms are burned slowly to mark endurance rites, mourning ceremonies, or vows tied to hardship and survival. Alchemists also use refined ashvine extracts to stabilise volatile compounds, especially those involving fire or transformation.
Improper handling reduces its value. If harvested before the bloom fully opens, the petals crumble into useless dust. If left too long after blooming, the plant loses its heat-retentive properties. Cutting the vine too close to the root kills the entire growth, which has led to strict harvesting customs in many regions. Some elven communities limit collection to specific seasons and require ceremonial permission before any vine is cut.
Ashvine Bloom
Type: Herb (Uncommon)Primary Use: Carrying Ashvine Bloom grants +10 to Cool Tests when underground or near open flame.
Secondary Use: When used as an alchemical stabiliser, grants +10 to one Trade (Alchemy) Test involving fire or transformation.
Harvest: Average (+20) Outdoor Survival or Trade (Herbalist). Failure produces brittle petals with no effect.
Price: Dried bloom bundle: 2–3 gc, Refined ashvine powder: 4–6 gc
Ashvine Bloom
Type: Consumable or crafting materialPrimary Use: Grants +1 Armour against heat and fire damage for one hour.
Secondary Use: Provides an asset on one task involving endurance, heat exposure, or volatile crafting.
Harvest Difficulty: 4
Price: Raw bloom: 60–90 shins, Refined extract: 120–180 shins
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