Alastriona's Orchid (Ah-ˌLa-Stree-ˈOn-Ah)
Somewhere on Winderlis Mountain in the Shaurams, far up the massive slope, lies a secret grove where a ring of mushroom stands. In the center of the ring blooms the most perfect flower Iea ever invented. It is an orchid, the leaves whole and perfectly shaped spears, the beautiful purple flowers as fresh as if they had just opened, and the stamens inside the central horn as if made of pure gold.
There are myriads of legends swirling around this flower. Some say that it is protected by the gods, so it can never be found or touched, or that the ring of mushrooms will only allow the most worthy across. Others say you can only find the glade by wishing hard enough, or traveling blindfolded. Still more say only those who need to find the flower will succeed. They are probably closest to the truth.
Many powers are ascribed to the blossom, that it can heal the sick, raise the dead, even brew a potion that could kill a god. No one knows what its exact powers are, and no one, to date, has found it, at least no record exists. But the monastery outside of Fairmouth devoted to Dhurros has unearthed a manuscript that tells a tale older than any legend regarding the flower.
The tales tell of a young Elven couple, newlyweds, who were picnicking at the base of the mountain, back when the world was new. They went exploring, and stumbled across a small grove of these orchids. The young woman, Alastriona, was enthralled, and began gathering them into her basket. When she reached for the last stem and plucked it, the Elven Goddess Lealra appeared in a fury.
"You wicked, greedy child!" She thundered with rage, "You have killed all of that plant that there was. For this, you must redress the balance," and with that, Alastriona vanished and a new flower appeared, just like the ones she had been picking, only this made the others look pale and flawed."
"Where did she go?" The young man asked, "And what is this beautiful flower?"
"That orchid is Alastriona. Justice had been served," Lealra proclaimed, and then vanished. The young man was distraught, and fell on his knees before the flower, praying to Lealra, to any god that would listen. But no one came. Day after day, he prayed, and guarded the flower, for what if it were plucked? Would Alastriona die?
Finally, Arolas, the Elven God of Arolan, got tired of the man's pleas. He came to the grove where the young man knelt, prayed, and guarded the flower. "I cannot undo what Lealra has done, but I can tell you this: She will never wither, or die, unless the stem is severed by someone as greedy for flowers as she was. And I will do this," and he waved his hand and a perfect ring of mushrooms sprang up around the flower. "This will guard her from all but the most determined. Now, cease your endless petitions and return to your home!"
The young man did as he was bade, reluctantly leaving his true love behind. Alastriona stayed behind in the clearing, the last orchid of her kind.
Scientific Name
Orchidaceae Orchis Alastria
Origin/Ancestry
Orchidaceae Orchis
Average Height
can reach 6-7 feet
Average Length
5-6 in. flowers
Geographic Distribution
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