Nightsbane

Nightsbane is a rare flower found in the Forest of Secrets, a vast and wild expanse of trees and foliage that create a natural labyrinth jealously guarding its treasures within. There are only a handful of used roads through the forest, and there are no traces of civilization between. Further adding to the problems in trying to procure the flower is that it only appears after midnight during a full moon, severely limiting the timeframe for one to harvest it. Once located, the leaves and the stem are covered with needle like thorns, and the flower bud is fragile making it almost impossible to handle. Its scarcity make it a sought after commodity. 
It is known for its beautiful moon shape and color. The flower never blooms, but gives off a soft faint glow, much like the moon does. A popular children’s bedtime story describes the flower gathering moonlight, said to contain the essence of the Moon Goddess, Lisandria, and this divine essence is stored within the bulb causing it to glow. These perceived ties to the Goddess Lisandria make it a common tribute in her temples, as offerings to her during her festival, and even as decoration to commemorate the dead.
Due to its magical properties Nightsbane is used to assist in sleep, preventing nightmares, and even helping prolong the natural progress of vision loss. Nightsbane is often prepared as a tea, to help dilute its potency because large concentrations of the flower can lead to a comatose state or even blindness. For this reason, Nightsbane is only handled by the most trained herbalist, physicians, and priests.

Basic Information

Ecology and Habitats

• Nightsbane thrives in cool spaces with enough clearing to be able to extract moonlight. 

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Forest of Secrets

Civilization and Culture

Common Taboos

• Never step on a Nightsbane flower, it is a sign of disrespect to the Goddess Lisandria

Common Myths and Legends

A popular children’s bedtime story describes the an insignificant tiny plant that hid during the day. At night when the towering trees and the other flamboyant flowers had gone to bed, the plant had gathered moonlight which was said to contain the essence of the Moon Goddess, Lisandria. This divine essence is stored within the bulb causing it to glow.
Parents and scholars use this story to draw parallels of those plants to the people of Iberrios, and a lifetime of worship of Lisandria has led to the devouted being able to of one's full potential.

Lifespan

10 years

Conservation Status

Nightsbane is not under any special type of protection. There have been attempt to try and cultivate the flower in different part's of the continent however, have proved largely fruitless. The elves of Faerun are said to have collected seeds and have stored a supply. It is also unfounded, but stories say that the Elves have a few Nightsbane garden orchards.

Average Height

6in (from stem to tip of the flower bulb)

Average Weight

1lb

Geographic Distribution

• Forest of Secrets