Gloomspine

The Gloomspine is a resilient, eerie plant that thrives in the haunting wasteland of the Scar. Its long, dark, thorny vines coil upward, seeking out faint sources of ambient energy, which it absorbs through spiny, claw-like leaves that appear to move in response to nearby magic. The leaves emit a faint, ethereal glow, illuminating the area with an unsettling, sickly green hue. The plant is known for secreting a viscous sap, called Shadow Ichor, prized by alchemists for its rare properties in enhancing spells tied to darkness or fear.

Basic Information

Growth Rate & Stages

The Gloomspine is a slow-growing plant that typically takes several years to reach full maturity. It begins as a small, creeping vine with thorny tendrils and gradually spirals upward, anchoring itself to nearby surfaces or other plants. Its initial growth phase (up to two years) focuses on establishing root systems deep within the Scar's nutrient-poor soil. After this, it enters a “siphoning” stage, where its leaves develop the ability to absorb ambient magical energy. Mature Gloomspines are rare, towering up to six feet, with fully developed leaves that emit a steady, ghostly glow.

Ecology and Habitats

Found exclusively in the Scar, the Gloomspine has adapted to the harsh, barren terrain. It prefers the magical voids and shadowed areas, where it can absorb the energy that naturally coalesces in dark places. The plant’s unique ability to tap into leftover magic or necrotic energy allows it to flourish where other plants fail, creating dense patches in shadowy areas that amplify the unsettling atmosphere of the Scar.

Biological Cycle

The Gloomspine follows a nocturnal cycle, opening its leaves fully under the night sky to maximize energy absorption. In rare events, it blooms during eclipses or periods of magical surge, releasing spores that seem to float unnaturally, with a luminous quality that mirrors the plant’s eerie glow. These spores are theorized to spread its growth, though they are often absorbed by the Scar’s twisted environment, limiting the plant’s spread.