Hellbore
From Changeling Venue
Contents |
Physical Description
Hellbore is known to have a flowering period in winter and early spring and is surprisingly frost-resistant and evergreen. When found blooming in enough quantity, it is even capable of staving off the winter’s cold by producing enough heat to actually thaw snowfall in its immediate vicinity. This species has flowers that run from dark red to deep maroon and black. The flowers have five petals surrounding a ring of small, cup-like nectaries (petals modified to hold nectar). The nectaries do not fall as petals would, but remain on the plant, sometimes for many months. Recent research suggests that the persistent calyx contributes to the development of the seeds, which grow at the base of calyx.
A robust plant with dark green, diamond shaped leaves, sometimes edged with additional color. The inner surface of each sepal may be marked with veins, or dotted and blotched with dark red or purple. The flowers, whose dark colored sepals have narrow margins of a darker color, are much sought-after, as are those with dark nectaries which contrast with the outer sepals.
Cultivation and Propagation
The blossoms and picked just underneath the bloom. Once separated from the plant, the flowers begin to emit a low amount of heat that seems to pulse and emanate from the severed base of the bloom. The seeds of the plant can also be harvested for ingestion.
Properties of the Plant
Physical and Medical Properties
The heat emitted from the Hellbore blossom seems to gather in intensity based on the proximity to of the blossoms to one another. The plant can be placed directly on a patient to resist the effects of a cold, or those suffering from a chill.
The seeds of a Hellbore plant induce sweating when ingested and those ingesting even but one seed will feel warm to the touch for a brief period of time but will warm the person to the core and likewise ease the effects of a cold.
Mystical Properties
To be determined by the powers that be in my adored venue.
Rumors About Hellbore
Hellbore can be used to repel the undead.
Hellbore reacts violently when placed in contact with fresh blood.
Hellbore actually feeds off the fresh blood of those unfortunate enough to get caught in its vines.
Hellbore can be used to summon and contain a Demon with a ring made from the blossoms of this plant.
~Free to add additional rumors here~
OOC Information
Hellbore is a Goblin Fruit that I have created for inclusion in my venue's Changeling event. White Wolf's Changeling: The Lost book sums it up best by stating on page 223, "Storytellers and even players should feel encouraged to create their own varieties of goblin fruits, as the contents of the Hedge are surely as wide and varied as anything we mere mortals can dream up." Hellbore is based on our Hellebore and the flavored text above I included based on the information we have about the real plant.
