Crysannia (Kris-Awn-Eah)
Cirrisian Sphere: Botanical Entry
In the Hynierian Forest deep in the Cirrisian Sphere lives the Crysannia. A unique sentient flower from which multiple trades rely on.
Crysannia In History:
The first recordings of Crysannia are in the Alchemical tables of one Master Morina Julael in the year 574. In her tables exist notations which detail a new accidental discovery of a fascinating new plant she had discovered in her travels and her wishes to study it for Alchemical properties. It is later noted in a somewhat more scrawled hand that further experimentation would have to be halted as the initial team were all dead. A more interesting point is that it is the only botanical entry which boasts every danger symbol in the Alchemical Dictiona and a few in Morina's own secret shorthand.Ecology and Habitat:
No one is really sure if Crysannia can grow in any other region than the deep forest of the Cirrisian region only that they don't. It is speculated that there is some special nutrient that only exists there, but perhaps it is only a taste preference. Only the Cryssania know and they aren't telling. What is known that they have a preference for a particular forest deep inside the Cirrisian region. They seem to have no desire to leave and have never been found anywhere else. This one forest is where the entirety of the species live. The thriving production towns which process the nectar of the Crysannia have sprung up completely around the forest, but not one foot inside the borderReproductive Stages:
The Gestational period is the single most important time for both the Crysannia and the people who make their living from it. For a period of three weeks in the early Spring of the year the Crysannia germinate. The Crysannia heavily depend on others to help them procreate, without this help the entire species would go extinct. They reproduce in a highly complex way, the specifics of which are known only by the Fychirra and the few Duella Harvesters brave enough to take on the job.Germination
The signs that the Crysannia are about to start germinating The normal wildlife of the forest have evolved around the Crysannia and either sense germination and leave in mass droves to come back when mating season is over, or have developed their own defenses against the Crysannia and have adapted around them to hibernate during this time. Not long after, the female Crysannia start pulsating a bright purple. Once the Fychirra give the signal the Duella enter the forest. Dressed in fully insulated gear, faces covered in a special cloth made by the Fychirra to try to shield them should things go wrong they carry their heavy packs and tightly bundled hoses into the different sectors of the forest. *Note: Even though there are competing Merchant Guilds and Factions with their own self interest, every guild and merchant understands that if mistakes are made or fights break out then everyone suffers, especially the bottom line. See:Merchant Guilds of Cirrise
Crsyssania Nectar by Freja by Midjourney
Seduction
Once the Fychirra and the Duella reach the flowers the real work begins. Each mating pair is approached with the utmost caution, the Duella performing a greeting to the female and awaits for the pulses to slow in acceptance before they turn to the males. Then the Courting begins. This is the most dangerous part of the ritual. If the Duella does not perform the Syana perfectly and angers the male Crysannia, the female will respond by opening up their blooms and Spraying a massive amount of their pollen into the air.Harvesting
Each male Crysannia will produce up to 2 gallons of nectar throughout a mating day cycle before needing a four hour rest. Then the whole ritual begins again. The first quart of the nectar is harvested in a special container, one half to be given to the Fychirra and one half to immediately be taken to the female and delicately poured over the newly opened Stigma. Once this is done, the work of the Duella begins in earnest. A special basin is fitted around the base of the male flower to keep from losing as much nectar as possible The specialty hoses are then attached to the basin where the nectar begins its long journey back to the massive vats that wait for it. The Duella then pack up their gear and move on to the next Crysannia pair ready to start again. During the three week Crysannia mating cycle the Duella sleep for an average of two hours every three days. When the mating Cycle has ended the Duella remove all the basins and hoses and make their way back to the towns. They will not be needed back until the seeds are ready to be planted in the late summer.Implantation
Females produce at most two viable seeds during a given year. When the late summer arrives and they are ready to drop their seeds the Duella once more enter the forest. This time however, they are merely there to help support the Fychirra in carefully removing the seed from the mother Crysannia. If the seed drops before it can be gathered it will immeditely bond with its mother's roots and strangle the food source of the parent plant, killing it. Once they are gathered, the Duella and Fychirra take the seeds to the middle of the forest where all the other Fychirra gather together with their own seeds. The seeds are separated into the female and male counterparts and quickly gathered back up again to be planted in pairs. Each pair will be planted at certain nexus points within the root system of the forest floor.
Scientific Name
Crysannia Spiritalis
Lifespan
6-8 Seasons
Conservation Status
While many have tried over the years to remove the Cryssania by force or persuasion so far there is no known attempt to have succeeded. Every attempt has ended in death. These delicate blooms may not have the power of speech, but they make their wishes unmistakably clear. As a species that produces so many rare and highly sought after products it is surprising that there is no barricade or force in place to guard the forest of the Crysannia. Between their own formidable defenses and their friendly neighbor Fychirra keeping an eye on them, the Cryssania live quite comfortably in their own little kingdom. The Cirrisia may rule the land, but the forest belongs to the Cryssania.
Average Height
4-6Ft
Average Length
2.5-4ft in length
Body Tint, Colouring and Marking
Crysannia grow in varying petal arrangements according to their sex. Between the differing petals and distinctive colors it is easy to identify them from each other. The females have longer, more quill-like petals, while the males have a rounder more pompom-like appearance. The blossoms also have varying hues, from light yellows and pinks to deep blues and purples.
Geographic Distribution
Related Organizations
Related Ethnicities
Discovered by
Grooming
During implantation season, after the seeds have been removed a small number of the females that have reached the end of their gestational capabilities will shed all of their thorns and their color will change to a more muted tone. They won't produce any more offspring in their lifespan, but they will still enjoy a few more seasons before the end of their lifecycle. The number of seasons a female will be fertile is not exact and so there is no real way to know how many females will stop producing viable offspring. The Gathering of the thorns is a much different affair as the Fychirra take charge and the Duella accompany them around holding reinforced sacks. The Fychirra carefully place each thorn within the sack wearing specially designed gloves to keep from accidentally being pricked. Once all of the thorns are gathered the Fychirra will approach the female with a small vial and a small toothed board. Each open wound where the thorn detached will be gently squeezed for the last bits of its deadly liquid coaxed into the vial and then very carefully sanded down so that it can heal.Alchemical Dictiona:
Botanical Entry
Cryssania Botanical Diagram by Freja by Midjourney
What an interesting plant that seems to have a mind of its own. I particularly like how you described the 'harvest' of nectar and seeds and the diverse products and connection to culture through the inspirations for organisations-names. Well done.
Thank you!