The Judas Yew

This tree grows up out of the walls of the desert Hedge. Be they the hard rock walls of a deep gully or a tangle of brittlebush, the Judas Yew grows in, around and all over the wall. Its berries are red, each no bigger than a thumb, and grow at about the 10-yard mark and above. The berries are a mixed blessing: consuming one is poisonous, doing one point of lethal damage to the changeling who eats the berry (this is unavoidable regardless of Merits or Stamina that the changeling possesses). And yet, the consumption of a single berry allows the changeling to go three times the normal length without food or drink. For obvious reasons, the berry is quite popular among the local Hedge denizens — all manner of strange birds, reptiles and insects come to the tree to take a taste. Of course, opportunistic predators are rarely far behind…

Habitat

The world is home to many deserts: some composed of little more than hills and valleys of golden sand, others offering craggy rocks and smooth-walled canyons. The Judas Yew can be found digging its roots into the walls of these rocky, desolate areas.

Growing

The Judas Yew needs little to survive. It will become sodden and decline if it has too much water, preferring well-drained, sandy and rocky soils. It requires little in the way of soil, drawing most of it's nutrient contents from the minerals of the land around it. If one wished to cultivate a Judas Yew, they could expect minimal fruits to be harvestable in the first year of growth. The subsequent years will provide a better harvest.