Ethry - Plant

- In rural villages and suburban towns -  Ethry is a calm grass that seeds several times in one year. This short, brown grass grows up to 18 inches (46 cm) tall. The very thick leaves grow in small clumps that are rigid. When mature, a teardrop-shaped flower head grows at the end of a long stem, eventually opening up to reveal dozens of tiny grey tails. During the early winter, it produces a fair amount of fruity-smelling pollen that can cause allergic reactions, and after flowering, it is left with excessive amounts of grains. The grains have medicinal properties and can be used to make numerous baked goods.
Facts

It can survive a long time without water.

It takes nutrients from ice and frost in winter.

The grass can grow almost anywhere but is more commonly found in forests and fields.

Ethry was discovered by Jonas Etffries and named after his daughter Ethie. 

The liquid that the stem leaks is toxic to humans and is used in several poisons.

Culture

The plant is often used for making string as the stem is highly fibrous. 

During spring farmers collect as much Ethry grass as possible because when sheep and cows get sick the grass makes them better. 

On New Years (3rd of the 2nd month) people collect it, dry it out and use it for town decorations. 

Dangers

POISON - 

The sticky sap that escapes through pores in the stem is dangerous when mixed with a common type water tree algae. It is easy to get hold of. It breaks down easily and is difficult to trace. It can be concentrated into a tacky  that is difficult to detect within other substances. If hands and utensils are not washed thoroughly, it can contaminate foods and liquids and be ingested; it only takes tiny amounts to be effective.  It kills quickly. It mainly weakens the liver. Additional effects include hypersensitivity, difficulty swallowing, temporary hearing loss, and eventually anosmia (smell blindness).

WEAPON -

The bow is made from excellent quality bamboo (light weight and high tensile) and Ethry string with a steel grip, and has runes engraved on it. The looped string is incredibly flexible. The arrows are made from hazel (a wood also used in the making of coracles), each tipped with a copper alloy arrowhead and fletched with goose feathers. If used in a battle or duel the tip of the copper will be lowered into Ethry poison. The quiver is made of deerskin and tin buckles.