Verbenus
Blessed by Lamos with analgesic properties, the verbenus doth hold many leaves, most large and of a pale silvery-green, which to the touch are like soft felt. These leaves do encompass a stalk, thick and tapering, that doth bear an abundance of flowers, both large and beset with lesser leaves. And which in height doth grow to four or six feet. By Ouranic tradition of most ancient, this noble spike of flowers is oft dipped in suet, and then set aflame to serve as a ceremonial candle placed on Lamos's altar as an offering for the smoke from such a candle doth carryeth blessings and chaseth away evil humours. The flowers themselves are of a bright yellow, each one bearing five petals, and doeth resemble the Sun captured in miniature. Verbenus hath a long root, white and of a woody strength, that delveth deep into the ground, a testament to the plant's power and perseverance.
Basic Information
Ecology and Habitats
Verbenus doth favour those places of sun-baked stone and weathered earth, shunning the cool embrace of deep shade. It thrives in ground of rock or clay, and oft may be found upon sunny slopes, where it doth drink in the full force of Aelos's light. The face of a cliff, weathered and worn, provides another suitable habitat for this hardy plant. Likewise, such broken terrain as one findeth near a quarry of stone, with its jumbled heaps of rock and scant soil, holds no fear for the verbenus. It will even, on occasion, take root by the wayside, gracing the dusty verge of a road with its bright blooms, a testament to its tenacity and ability to thrive in unexpected places.
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
For those beset by pain and wounded in battle or by misfortune's cruel hand, the verbenus doth offer a cunning remedy. The living blossoms, not those dried and brittle with age, must be gathered with haste. Crush them with mortar and pestle, extracting their lifeblood in the form of a verdant pulp. With this potent essence, one hath two choices. Water, clear and pure, may act as a carrier, though some swear by wine, for its potency rivals the summer sun. Anoint the wound, fresh and gaping, with this poultice, and verily, the verbenus shall work its magic. The pain, a serpent coiling around the limb, shall loosen its grip, its venomous fangs rendered dull. For two hours the sufferer findeth solace, a blessed respite from the body's outcry. Let it be known, however, that the cunning physician adviseth caution. Verbenus is a gift of Lamos, so respect ye its power! Overuse by those not learned in its properties, may cause irritation and hinder the body's natural healing process. Seek ye guidance from a healer of repute before employing this potent remedy.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Lo! It is writ in the Mythoi that Lamos, in his infinite beneficence, did grace each and every land of Tel with the bountiful herb verbenus. Thus, all the nations of Men, from sun-kissed Aerisca Borealis where palms sway gently in the breeze to the windswept northern lands haunted by the giants, might find solace in its leaves. A respite it doth offer from the dolorous pangs of sickness, whether it be the griping fever that sweeps through crowded cities or the gnawing cough that descends upon one during the harsh winter. The grievous wounds wrought by war or misfortune too find succour in verbenus. Where a blade hath pierced flesh or a fall hath cracked bone, poultices of crushed leaves can be applied to lessen the pain and promote healing. A gift from Ourana, it is said, a symbol of Maya's compassion for her children, for it offers comfort in the throes of suffering and hope for a swift recovery.
Game Effect: A potent analgesic, 1 dose of verbenus will provide an injured character with 1d4 temporary hit points for 2 hours. This effect is not cumulative by dose and the effect of verbenus can only be applied once every 2 hours in game.
Characters who engage in combat or other strenuious activities while under the pain-deadening effects of verbenus will lose an additional 1d4 actual hit points once its effects wear off due to aggravation of existing injuries.
