Botanica Baliancia: Volume I

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𑁍 ALEGRIA I UNITAT  𑁍

𑁍 JOY & UNITY  𑁍

ISSUED BY

⚜ His Highness Lothar Casimir and Her Ladyship Isidora Basrid ⚜

IN THE YEAR OF date B.A.

 

THE NATION OF BALIAN IS BLESSED TO BE SETTLED along the fertile southern coasts. Beaches line the roads which connect nation to nation, framing them for all who walk, run or ride along them. Portoregne, the crowning city of the Balianese, equally revels in the bounty these coasts bring. Connected by a singular bridge, the city sits atop its own personal island and is encased in its own coastline.

 

OVERLOOKING THE CITY IN ALL OF ITS VIBRANT GLORY is the flora; vegetation, flowers and trees which fill the field and plain, growing in abundance to decorate the mountainside and to feed both the wildlife, and the people who live off of their gifts.

 

OVER TIME, THE BALIANESE PEOPLE HAVE PLACED MEANING AND PURPOSE on these various plants found amongst their land. Some significant for their meaning, or some for their value in food and drink and medicine. They have cultivated and developed an abundance of uses for the plantlife, and it is uncommon to find a household without some variation of significant flowers within.

 

AVE 

 Her Royal Majesty, KATHRYN OF RHEN; Head of La Cort de la Taronja 

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THE EVLAVEIA BLOOM

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A colored sketch of a growing bunch of Evlaveia from a Herbology book.

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WILD GROWN AND SCATTERED WITHIN THE WOODLAND, which surround the city of Portoregne, these blooms  are used as a symbol of dedication, and were given between friends and lovers as a sign of a promise. A small bunch of these could be rather insulting, insinuating that the giver of the arrangement did not invest enough time into their harvest. A large and blossoming assortment, however, could symbolize a deep reference for the giftee.

 

The Evlaveia Bloom grows in various neutral tones of white, yellow and orange, but it is not uncommon to find dyed versions sold within the local florists.

 

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THE LUMINES LOULOUDI

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A cartoonish depiction of a Lumine Garu amongst a bush of blue blossoms.

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A FLOWER LOVED BY THE LUMINE GARU, hence its name. It is known to grow within bushes that surround homes and buildings. Its seeds are scattered by the Garu as it flies about in the early morning, to sing its waking song. This resulted in the flower having no one particular place of growth. They blossom in the late spring and early summer, and with so many petals on each bud, were a vibrant reminder that the comforting heat of the summer was closing in.

 

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THE RUBECIA ROOT

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A farmers depiction of the Rubecia Root growing alongside his crops.

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A FLOWER AND ROOT DUO WHICH COULD BE FOUND FARMED AMONGST A CROP of root vegetables. Capable of growing woven in a feel of potatoes, carrots and so on, this flower was a hardy delicacy enjoyed by the Balianese both visually, and through eating or drinking. Its blossomed flower made it easy to identify amongst the crops, with its stem topped with what appear to be red berry-like buds which never truly bloom. These themselves could be used as a garnish to a dish and are known to be fairly sweet.

 

The root of the plant grows rather thick, akin to ginger in its shape. It can be chopped and used in replacement of a vegetable or stewed in water to create a sweet syrup.

 

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THE CAVALLIS BLOOM

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Depiction of a knight’s favour prepared to be handed out

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KNOWN IN COMMON AS THE KNIGHT’S FAVOR, This simple, pure white flower is commonly handed out by Knights and Dames as a token favour at jousts and other noble games. With six large and slightly curled petals, several of them in a bunch create a voluminous and striking arrangement on their own. Their stems are often kept long to add to the image of grandeur. A bunch of all opened blossoms signified an appreciation for the individual that was public and known, whilst one that was scattered with buds still to come to bloom eluded to something that still needed more time.  

 

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THE ACULEATA FLOWER

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The portrait of the thorny flower upon a citizen’s balcony

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A THORNY THING OF A FLOWER THAT IS FOUND GROWING AMONGST THE ROADSIDE  bushes that border the southern beaches. It is assumed that these flowers once began their days within the desert of Balian’s founding land, and over time, they adapted to the danger that came within the heated, tropical sands.

 

The plant grows in abundance, but its buds and leaves are extremely small. Thorns ward away hungry predators- which ensures the plant has the best possible chance or survival where vegetation was once scarce.

 

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THE ORANGE TREE

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Branches of an orange tree found draped within the gardens of the Palace of Monterosa

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THE ORANGE TREE, A POPULAR CITRUS FOUND GROWING WITHIN, noble gardens and greenhouses as well as the Palace of Portoregne’s courtyard. It is said that the Queen Consort, Her Majesty Kathryn of Rhen, favors the fruit to a point where whole festivals are themed around them. The Orange Tree thrives in the southern heat, and is characterized by its delicate white flowers which grow amongst the oranges themselves.

 

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THE SOLVIS TREE

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An artist's depiction of a pair of Lumine Garnu’s enjoying an olive treat

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A TREE AS OLD AS BALIAN ITSELF, the solivs, known also as an oliver tree is both a staple and testament to both the Balianese landscape and culture itself. With short-twisted branches and short leaves can be found upon the rolling plains to even the estates of the peerage and royalty alike. With gnarled, twisting trunks and leaves coloured of silvery-green, the tree, mighty and gentle, is a known source for the shade amongst the Balianese. Furthermore, the smalle, golden-hued fruits borne by the branches of the tree itself yields rich flavours and oil, seeing its use in nearly most if not all Balianese meals.

 

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THE MOONFIG TREE

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A TREE OF MYSTERY AND SUBTLE REVERENCE, the Moonfig has come to be known as a staple for Balianese gardens and orchards alike, with pale silver leaves in colour that rustle amongst the warm coastal winds. Unlike most if not many fruit-carrying trees in the lands, harvesting from the moonfig tree comes beneath the moon as opposed to the sun. Delicate, this purple-skinned fruit is known to ripen only in the depths of night when the sun has passed. The uniqueness of this fig has thus attracted an almost mythical and folklore status on its origins. The Moonfig’s fruit is delicate, soft to the touch and enjoyed fresh, dried or fermented into wine. Due to its sweetness, the fruit is known to provide a fair and good taste, fermentation into wine offers a distinct taste from grapes. Saps of the moonfig is known to be turned into balms and paste, often to treat dry skin from the Balianese heat.

 

Yet, the mystery of the tree does not conclude in its origins. Introduced by Cardinal Ivan Lotharia, the Moonfig holds significant cultural importance. It is said that those in courtship who share a Moonfig fruit beneath its branches under a full moon will find their hearts forever entwined. Moonfig saplings are often blessed by priests of cannondom, believed to bring wisdom and prosperity to the land they occupy. In some archipelagos, its twisted and gnarled wood is carved into charms, thought to ward off restless spirits and guide dreamers toward good fortune.

 

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THE BALIANESE CONSIDER THEMSELVES BLESSED FOR THE ABUNDANCE OF plant life that they are able to live from. They have seen their home change and mould through desert to lush and tropical sun, and so did the vegetation they lived alongside. Now, in Aevos, there is never a lack of something growing around and within the city. Homes are decorated with flower boxes outside each window, fruit trees thrive along roadside and in gardens.

 

FOR JOY, FOR UNITY

Per Alegria, Per Unitat

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Her Royal Majesty, KATHRYN OF RHEN,

Queen-Consort of Balian, Princess of Providence, Duchess-Consort of Helena, Lorraine, and Reutov, Countess-Consort of Pompourelia, Viscountess-Consort of Eflen, Anatis, and Valio, Baroness-Consort of Renzfeld, Brucca, Valens, Malenos, Montcoure and Ciavola, Lady of Portoregne, Atrus, and Monterosa, etcetera.

 

Her Excellency, CALLIOPE NOVELLEN-TUVIA, 

Baroness of Tuvia, Palatadoria of La Cort de la Trajona

 

His Royal Highness, LOTHAR CASIMIR JAMES NOVELLEN,

Prince of Monterosa, Duke of Atrus

 

Her Ladyship, ISIDORA JAHANA BASRID,

Ward to Her Majesty the Queen

 

Spoiler

Credit to @Lirinyafor co-writing and for @bluestbudgie and @MapleSunflower for looking over it!