THE
WIZARDLEAF |
Wizardleaf is a small, even unconspicious looking plant featuring four jagged leaves around a violet blossom, and is often seen growing near places related to magic, be it a grave of a magician, deep down in elven forests or a battle field where sorcerers fought centuries ago. Wizardleaf can be used in various ways by a capable magician, be it for mixing potions or as a reagent to cast powerful spells.
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Appearance.
Wizardleaf is not particularly interesting to look at, little more than four
jagged leaves arranged around a violet blossom. However, when the plant is
subjected to magical scrutiny, it tells a very different story. Each of the four
leaves draws nutrients directly from the surrounding elements, and they change
color depending on the nearest element.
Territory.
Wizardleaf
grows wherever an element or magical power is particularly present. It has been
known to grow in the deepest caves, in the driest deserts, on uncharted islands,
and in some of the elven
forests, most notably the
Thaelon - the ground
of great parts of the forest is covered with a carpet of this most
intriguing plant. Wizardleaves are also known for marking
the graves of wizards; the more powerful the wizard, the longer
the energies left on this mortal coil sustain the plants.
Usages. Wizardleaf has
two distinct magical uses. When the leaves are burnt, the resulting
sweet-smelling smoke can be manipulated to perform one of the most powerful
gifts of the magi: Transmutation. The smoke, if properly
manipulated, can be made solid, into blades or tools of
the element the Wizardleaf last absorbed. When the blossom is crushed, the
resulting powder can absorb or twist magical energies. The sorcerous
discipline of Illusionism is very dependend
on Wizardleaf as a source of power, and as such vast tracts
of the leaf are believed tended by the Illusionists.
Myth/Lore. The leaf
is believed created by the rare team of the Birni Redbark
Greenflower and one of the Founding Magi of Ximax, Dornaj the Enchanter. How
these two met, the histories do not say. However,
Dornaj and Greenflower both recognized the lack of ingredients for a wizard in
the wild, or indeed any fusions of life and "New" magic, as Greenflower so aptly
put it. Seeing both a challenge and a need to help their brethren, the two
decided on their ambitious course: To create the fusion of magic and
plant, capable of survival unassisted, and with sorcerous energies
fueling it. After a toil of several years, they suceeded, and this staple of the
magical community was created. Popular lore also has it that Greenflower placed
her own soul into the final effort, and that if the smoke
is inhaled you may taste of her wisdom and knowledge. The Ximaxian Conclave has ruled inhalation of
the smoke to be "non-threatening, but not an approved action."
[1]
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Footnotes
[1] The chronicler here notes that the
Conclave speaks very vaguely, being very conscious of the
consequences of speaking wrongly. As a result, they end up saying nothing.
Roughly translated, it means that since the smoke's inhalation may be arvious
but not harmful, they do not approve. Meaning that they will crack down on any
major illicit use of the plant, but they will usually do no more than cut off
the mage in question's supply. [return]
Information
provided by
Xarl
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