Dream Druid's Guide On Herbaric and Alchemic Flora

---Mundane Flora---
 
Archibald's Peppermint: Cultivated by and named after a peculiar Firbolg druid with a knack for popping up in the strangest places, this is no simple mint leaf. This peppermint is much stronger than ordinary mint and makes excellent tea. This herb's scent is so strong in fact, smaller creature like insects, squirrels and rats vehemently refuse to go near it making it an excellent way to protect your garden.
 
Blood Marc: This gothic flower is in many ways the inverse of the Wukan Bell Flower. Rather than the Bell Flower's numerous small white blooms, this plant sports solitary flowers with broad, blood red petals, the base of which are looped in black speckled rings. The nectar from this flower gives off a very unique musky scent, with a slight hint of what smells like red wine. Strangely enough, this nectar is actually used to make the richest wine on the continent of Ruinfell, Vyscarian Wine.
 
Juneberries: These blue, purple and red wildberries grow in dense clusters on their shoulder high bushes. They have a rather tart flavor when first eaten but after a moment they have a deeply sweet after taste and are excellent in pies, juices, jellies and even several kinds of alcohol. Thought it should be noted, the smaller unripe berries tend to be fairly sour, though that may have its uses as well.
 
Mint:
 
Rose:
 
Sunflower:
 
---Magical Flora---
 
Dancing Dandelion:
 
Peeping Pine:
 
Razorleaf Vine:
 
Whistling Nettle:
 
---Herbalistic Flora---
 
Black Rose:
 
Blood Lotus:
 
Blue Tongue Lily: Snow white petals with bright blue stamen and pistils will make this flower stand out in any garden, as well as earn it its name. Vyscaria has a long tradition of using this plant to fight off illnesses, and rightfully so. By either eating the flower raw or by steeping into a tea, it can be used to suppress the symptoms of many illnesses, allowing the body to better fight off the disease naturally. Additionally, Vyscarian healers have figured out that by combining this with Tundra Thistles into an edible herbal blend, you create a curative for a common seasonal respiratory disease known as Winter's Kiss. Though do be warned, due to the pigments in both the flower itself and its nectar, eating it or drinking its tea tends to stain the mouth blue.
 
Chauntea's Blossom:
 
Death Blossom: This dark black, ominous flower is by no exaggeration one of the most poisonous plants I have ever had the chance to work with. Found growing only in soil where the decomposition of flesh is readily available and death holds dominion, such as the aftermath of a grim battle or a great beast's fetid bone pit, great caution should be taken in the handling of this deadly plant. The roots of this flower are unimaginably toxic, placing even the heartiest and most robust creatures on the brink of death upon ingestion. The smell of this flower's nectar closely resembles the stench of rot and decay and exposure to this miasma for more than a moment will inevitably bring about delirium and disorientation as well as maddening hallucinations. I have found that this effect seems to dissipate around five feet away from the flower. I give warning that only the most experienced Herbalist even attempt to work with this dangerous flower and even then, insist they take the greatest measures of preparation before laying hand on its form. A strange point of interest with this flower is that it does not behave as such. Despite my best efforts, utilizing every druidic technique at my disposal including no small amount of magic, both fundamental and tiered, the bloom simply refuses to bear seed or respond to my guidance in any meaningful way. After reviewing what sparse accounts were available from individuals that have worked with this flower in times past, I have but one notable theory. The Death Blossom is not actually a flower, not in the usually sense at least. It is understood that when any living creature dies and their spirit passes from this realm, an essence is left in it's wake which is neither body nor soul, rather the life energy that binds those two together temporarily altered, the very same energy used in many necromantic magics, such as the creation of mindless undead. It is possible, that in a place of great death and tragedy, the concentration of this essence can grow so dense, that it begins to bleed into the land itself. As the land and the energy it holds is in constant change, nurturing life, driving growth forward, this essence cannot stay there, so it is filtered through the land like light through a lens, taking the form of the Death Blossom. I believe that the Death Blossom is not a flower, rather, it is a physical manifestation of the cessation of life, the final step in nature's cycle given form, it is not a blossom, it is death itself. The question this now poses, if such energy can manifest physically in high enough concentrations, could the same occur for raw life energy?
 
Dragonlily: This beautiful orange, red and golden flower is a blessing for any Herbalist or Healer to have in their garden. While rare, if cultivated properly and tended to regularly, a patch of these will provide you with a near never ending supply of powerful healing ingredients. The flower naturally secretes a fire retardant nectar which can be used in the creation of sun burn gel and fire resistant salve as well as treating burn wounds when applied to the skin. The roots of this flower can be ground into a orangish paste for use in Healing Potions and Potions of Poison Resistance, among other powerful restorative agents. Even the stalk and leaves are saturated with heavy smelling oils that are excellent in soaps, moisturizers and perfumes. Stepping into the field of Herbalism, you will find yourself constantly wishing you had more of this amazing herb.
 
Dragon’s Blood Tree:
 
Dragon Scale Lavender: This flower, as its name implies, bares a striking resemblance to mundane lavender flowers though rather than the recognizable light purple of its namesake, these blooms are hued a rich burgundy and have a more staggered and layered pattern, not unlike the pattern of dragon scales. Care should be taken when seeking out this flower as they primarily grow around dragon lairs and other sites that have been touched by the primordial magic that suffuses such creatures and as such holds high favor amongst Kobold shamans and Dragonborn seers. Ironically, the very same plant that thrives on draconic energy is adept at nullifying the effects of such elemental magics. When prepared correctly, burns, poisons, frostbite and paralysis can be treated with near any part of the herb, it can even be used to neutralize acid. One of its most important properties however, is its inherent ability to fend off destructive elemental energies. When appropriately concentrated, the extract from these plants can serve as a potent base in the creation of Potions of Resistance, around twenty flowers should yield enough extract for such a mixture.
 
Elder Tree:
 
Ember Horn: Unseelie Feydark.
 
Hanging Moss: Reagent used in Potion of Climbing
 
Heaven’s Poppy: These bright orange and gold poppies create a nectar with incredible restorative properties. The flower alone is enough to create magical ointments that mend wounds, heal scars and even alleviate negative ailments such as poison or diseases in a similar manner to the spell Lesser Restoration. This ointment is commonly known as Restorative Ointment, though it also goes by Keoghtom's Ointment, named after its original creator long ago. Interestingly enough, this flower also has uses in combating the curse of Lycanthropy. The seeds from this flower can used to create an antidote to the poison known as Blood of the Lycanthrope, cleansing the poison and its effects from the body. These seeds can also be used with a solvent made from Wolf's Bane to suppress the effects of the curse from other sources as well. A creature given a dose of this theriac will not transform come the next full moon. If the creature has not transformed before, this will also prevent the curse from fully taking hold, as it is the first transformation that anchors the curse and makes it more difficult to cure. This will give you time to seek out a remedy, which conveniently can be made from this very same suppressant, albeit with a great deal more complex preparation.
 
June Rose:
 
Kelar's Rose: These imposing looking vines bear intense red flowers and produce long hard thorns tinted with the same vibrant red. Beauty aside, within these menacing thorn lies a powerful irritant which the plant uses to defend itself, when harvested however, it has amazing qualities. Once prepared properly, this irritant can be turned into a potent anti-toxin with a range of uses I have only begun to explore, its most striking use however, is its key role in the creation of a curative for the Skin Rot caused by the poison of the Plum Forest Dart Frog.
 
Lemillis Mushroom:
 
Lissie's Lily:
 
Maeve’s Thistle: This ceremonial herb can be used as a substitute for Holy Water when mixed with fresh spring water for the purposes of rituals and spellcasting. Additionally, it is frequently used as incense in sacred ceremonies and rituals as a way of invoking blessings and protection. This herb can be most commonly found throughout Valheim.
 
Moonshroom: These curious mushrooms can be found in large clusters and identified by their pale white coloration which almost seems to glow in moonlight. This elusive fungus only sprouts when the moon is bright to spread their spores then wither back into the earth so you will have to be quick to find and collect them. Once harvested, they have a key role in the creation of Potions of Night Vision.
 
Mottled Mistress: This dense climbing vine sports small, white, cup shaped flowers and renown for ensnaring unwary travelers. My people know this plant as Chain Vine, while ours is much less aggressive in both its growth and grabbing habits, it is much larger and stronger than this plum forest native. There are frequent stories of travelers passing through the plum forest, wandering off trail, either to camp or perhaps look for a shorter route only to end up hopelessly tangled by these vines. It is incredibly difficult to move through them as they tug and cling at you, seeking purchase and they are also rather dangerous in gardens as well, as they have a habit of clinging to other plants for support to grow upwards, only to gradually choke the life from them. While I personally have yet to find an herbalistic use for this plant, the Vyscarian Woodland Rangers have discovered that by enriching a clump of these vines with growth stimulants, nutrients and simple nature magic after sealing it in a flask, you can create what they call an Entangling Flask. When next the vines are exposed to soil, most commonly by shattering the flask on the ground, the vines erupt outwards in a frenzied growth, snaring anything too slow to get out of the way, nearly identically to the spell Entangle.
 
Mugwort: This oddly named plant is a powerful and versatile witches herb. It can be worked into a healing balm to reduce the difficulty of tending to and treating open wounds and severe injuries by a factor of 5. It is a key ingredient in the creation of Restorative Ointment as well as being useful in the sanctification and facilitation of dream. When burned as incense, it enhances an individual’s ability to control and manipulate dreams as well as protecting against nightmares. Additionally, when made into an oil and spread on the forehead and temple, it fends off unwelcome mental influences at rest, such as the Dream spell and wards against possession. It can be found most commonly in the North-Eastern region of Syl’thenal and scattered across Valheim’s forests.
 
Musk: Universal aphrodisiac component, male counterpart to Sune Daisy.
 
Nettle Leaf: These prickly stalked plants grow in dense patches all across Ruinfell, sprouting clustered purple flowers very similar in appearance to common lavender and is one of my personal favorites. Small, semi-rigid pointed structures grow along its form, the word my people use for these most closely translates to quills, as they are neither thorns nor spines. These quills contain a mild irritant that cause a somewhat uncomfortable stinging sensation so the first step to preparing this plant after harvesting should be to blanch them in boiling water for a couple of seconds, this causes the quills to rupture and fall off. The leaves and flowers of Nettle Leaf are both rich in oils that have a list of uses in relaxation, a resource which you may discover can come in short supply as a herbalistic healer. When used in incense and tea, it is very effective in combating anxiety, panic and stress, calming the mind and heart. Both of these creations also work to facilitate deep, restful sleep. The aforementioned sleep inducing qualities are so pronounced in fact, that a solvent created from these oils can be used to create a decoction that behaves near identically to a potion commonly known in alchemic circles as the Potion of Watchful Rest, allowing the imbiber to stay awake and alert while still retaining the effects a full night's rest. When mashed into a paste and eaten, Nettle Leaf can be used to cure indigestion and stomach discomfort. This very same paste, if correctly strained, can be used along side Mugwort to create a Balm of Wound Closure, for dealing with severe injury and scaring. I've also found that by taking an incense made from June Rose and a few other basic ingredients and impregnating it with this oil, the resulting product elicits an effect in creatures that can smell it which is very similar to the spell Calm Emotions. From one Herbalist to another, if you are going to be dealing with the injured, the sick, or the stupid, I heavily recommend you have a large supply of this herb readily available, you will thank me later.
 
Nightshade: This flower has many names, Belladonna, Beautiful Death, Devil's Cherries, or most commonly, the Deadly Nightshade. My people know this flower as Fàrsanach Bàs which roughly translates to rambling death, as the most pronounced symptoms of Nightshade poisoning are delirium, hallucinations, slurred speech, convulsions, and eventually, heart failure. This has been incorrectly interpreted as madness in the past, as victims are usually seen sweating profusely, panicking, and babbling incoherently. Highly toxic flowers can be used to increase the potency of most poisons by a factor of 2.
 
Olympiaed Wildflower:
 
Orris Root: Advantage on concentration check when burned as incense.
 
Plum Forest Dragonlily: This strikingly ornate magenta and white speckled flower is endemic to the Vyscarian Plum Forest. Similarly to its sister flower, the common Dragonlily, this lily has a number of uses with the elements and in healing. Nearly any part of the flower itself, save the seeds can be used as a stabilizing reagent in a Dragonscale Lavender solvent for the creation of Potions of Resistance. I recommend you include this step when creating such a potion, as elemental energies are notoriously volatile and while not likely, there is a small chance an unstabilized elemental solvent will spontaneously attune to one element and burst into flame or dissolve through your equipment. The petals can be used as a catalyst to create a brew that mimics the breath of dragons, though ingredients will be needed for each element, alchemist know this potion, rather unsurprisingly, as the Potion of Dragon's Breath. Lastly the nectar has vast healing properties much like the common Dragonlily. This nectar, along with the plants roots, can be worked into a cream that heals and sooths cuts, bruises and burns, even reducing the severity of scaring. This cream can then be used to amplify the potency of healing potions, compounding their effects into their more advanced versions.
 
Plum Poppy: This beautiful red and purple flower is fairly unassuming to those who don't know what they're looking at. An iconic flower to those in and around the Plum Forest, its seed pods contain an extremely powerful opioid which can be harvested to create painkillers ranging from basic pain relief all the way to medical anesthetics and powerful sedatives. If you are going to be dealing with the wounded, it will become necessary to have a supply of this flower readily available. It is also worth noting that it is the primary ingredient in the highly addictive Vyscarian narcotic, Popeye. Due to the extremely addictive and illegal nature of this substance, a recipe for its creation will not be included in this book as there are much better, far less addictive substitutes listed here.
 
Poet’s Rose: Powerful oil promotes beauty, creativity and balance.
 
Primrose: These beautiful and delicate flowers come in a array of vibrant colors from a soft eggshell white to rich purple or pink, some more intricate patterns exist as well, whorls, striped and splotches not being uncommon. All these varying colors are likely due to the fact that these flowers are extremely easy to breed together and create new color variations. All parts of the plant work to counteract the effects of venoms and poisons, as such this flower has a fundamental role in the creation of general antitoxins, standing in as the most common source of a base solvent. It is also an excellent help in the process of creating more specific antidotes and should be able to aid in countering most any toxic malady.
 
Purple Lady Orchid: A curiously named orchid, though admittedly, aptly so as the flowers on this plant bare no small resemblance to a white and purple spotted ball gown. Unlike so many other orchids, fragile and difficult to care for, this flower is impressively resilient, which may have something to do with its herbaric properties. The stem and the leaves of this plant contain a yellowish, slippery sap that when correctly concentrated can be used to create a stimulant that bolsters the body, very similarly to the spell False Life. The flower's nectar also has use as a general painkiller, dulling ones feeling of pain and calming the mind.
 
Ruby Coast Belladonna:
 
Ruthless Vine:
 
Starlight Dandelion: When blown on, twinkling stars seem to float off, primary ingredient for Faerie Fire Oil.
 
Sune Daisy: Named for the goddess of beauty and love, this pink and maroon daisy lives up to its name. Well known for its alluring smell, this flowers nectar and petals contain a powerful aphrodisiac, which when prepared, serve as an excellent reagent for charming and enchantment based concoctions, as well as anything meant to aid in seduction. The Philter of Love, Autumn Haze and the Potion of Animal Friendship all make use of this bloom. The Sune Daisy is often viewed as the female counterpart to the Musk plant, commonly associated with femininity and womanhood. I would recommend nose plugs and gloves when working with this flower as, while not necessarily dangerous in any way, working with these ingredient unprotected can very quickly become, distracting, to say the least.
 
Tundra Thistle:
 
Wolfsbane: This unassuming purple flower has a repulsive smell to creatures subject to lycanthropy (as well as lycan kin) and can be used to create substances to combat said creatures. The flowers from this plant can be used to create a suppressant against the progression of lycanthropy. This suppressant can then in turn be used as a solvent to create an alchemic curative for the curse. Additionally, an oil made from these flowers can be used to coat a blade and overcome the inherent tolerance lycanthropes have to unsilvered weapons.
 
Wukan Bell Flower: Naturally found exclusively in Vyscaria's Wukan Jungle, this arboreal vining plant sprouts hanging tendrils of densely clustered, bell shaped white flowers. A healthy patch of these can make any surface they grow from look like a mass of soft white clouds, making it a favorite at weddings and galas. Beauty aside, these small white flower have another use, they innately accelerate the natural healing process and when eaten while resting, they allow an individual to recover more effectively from injury at least until they can get some proper sleep.
 
Preparation And Procedure
 
Autumn Haze: Sune Daisy petals and nectar, Musk shoot.
 
Restorative Ointment: 6 Mugwort Oil, 1 Kelar Rose, 3 Nettlebane mush, Antitoxin, Potion of Healing, and spell concentration of Protection from Poison and Cure Wounds. Dwarven recipe.