THE ALTH'TIERT
("YELLOW
PLANT")
APPEARANCE - TERRITORY - USAGES - REPRODUCTION -
MYTH/LORE
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THE ALTH'TIERT
("YELLOW
PLANT") |
The Alth’tiert is
a large plant commonly found around the vents of volcanoes in the Celeste Mountains. The name
Alth’tiert, Kuglimz'seitre for "Yellow
Plant," derives from the colour of the leaves and the
dye they produce. The Alth’tiert is notable for its reproductive cycle.
This plant does not fertilize through insects like the malise that carry pollen from plant to plant;
instead, the mature Alth'tiert bursts open when a nearby vent becomes too hot,
releasing the pollen into the air to float to other plants. It is used for trade
and dye by the Fird’gormz, a
human
Kuglimz tribe residing in the
mountains in Northern Sarvonia.
Appearance. The Alth’tiert
grows to a height and width of about half a
ped. It has a shallow
root system that spreads out in a circle. This allows it to get as much
nutrition from the topsoil as possible in its harsh environment. It has long
leaves that are a finger’s length at their widest, and a usually a
fore long.
The plant’s appearance give it its name, the Yellow Plant, the leaves have dark
yellow streaks throughout, with a darker stripe of yellow running down the
middle of its long leaves. The unique colouring is thought to arise from
the plants constant exposure to the brimstone reek wafting out from the
volcanoes. The leaves are actually very thick, so as to give it a natural
protection from any foraging animals. There is no observable stalk for the
leaves to attach themselves to; rather they all tend to come together in a
massed jumble at the base of the plant. The plant lacks any flowers, and only
the leaves grow from the base.
Territory. Alth’tiert plants
are found in volcanic areas, especially in the Celeste Mountains at the southwest of
Northern Sarvonia. They do not
grow in masses, but seem to cluster around vents leading directly to the heart
of the volcanoes.
Usages. The
Alth’tiert is a main trade item of the Fird’gormz, who trade it to the Helvet’ine. The Helvet’ine use the leaves of
this plant to make a yellow dye for clothing and rugs. Special Helvet’ine Dyers begin by
soaking the leaves in water for a few hours,
and boiling the enlarged leaf with a small amount of water, the yellow juices of the plant are boiled
out. When egg yolk is added, it will give the mixture a little more hold. It is
then set out for several hours, and a rich golden dye is thus formed from it.
There are no other known uses for the plant.
Reproduction. The reproduction process differs
from other plants. As these plants grow near volcanic vents, they are constantly
subject to sudden fluctuations in heat. When the heat reaches certain
temperatures, older plants (which are not as resistant to these temperature
changes) will burst open. Pollen is stored at the base of the plant, so when it
explodes, this pollen is released and drifts over the volcano to other plants.
In order for a new plant to form, the ground must be heated more or less
constantly, which is why most of these plants are found around vents of
volcanoes. The Alth’tiert plants usually live up to a year.
The Alth’tiert
will reproduce three out of the four seasons. Most of the plants survive the
bitter cold of the North
Sarvonian winter. The Alth’tiert will force itself into a hibernation,
a type of sleep, where it will produce no pollen, but has a higher chance of
surviving than normal in the harsh winter. During summer, the reproduction
rates of the plants nearly double compared to the fall or spring, the higher
temperature weakening the resistance of the base of the plant and allowing for
lower temperatures from the vents to force the Alth’tiert to
erupt.
Myth/Lore. In the Kuglimz tradition, the colour yellow (or gold) is
dedicated to Sur’tyan, the
All-Father. By dyeing patterns in their clothes, the Helvet’ine men show their
respect to All-Father. The women usually do not dye their clothes with the
gold dye, although there is no law or rule prohibiting it, but it is more
socially acceptable to display the colours of the All-Mother. The
Helvet’ine men wear the
gold colour proudly, showing
their love and honour for Sur’tyan.
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