Title (Reagent Name): Westerlandic Winter Roses; commonly, the Winter Rose
Origins:
Unlike most flora used in alchemical studies, the Westerlandic Winter Rose was originally bred to be a hardy, garden variety flower. Originating in the royal gardens of the city of Bastion, located in the frigid north-western wastes of Tahn on the now lost continent Axios, the flowers started as imports from more temperate climates. At the hand and direction of the first Queen of the Westerlands, Annabelle of Leone, the roses were bred meticulously by adamant gardeners to withstand the freezing temperatures and biting winds of the tundra. By using local flora, as well as other exotic specimens who possessed desirable traits, the breed was formed over several decades. Prior to the fall of the ill-fated kingdom, some successful specimens were transplanted out of the royal gardens and taken elsewhere across the continent, as well as some patches managing to grow wild in the surrounding areas. Since those days, the unique variety has continued to grow and thrive in cold weather gardens, making its way to new continents via the hands of dedicated gardeners and botanists alike.
Sign(s): Fire
Symbol(s):
Growth x2
Endurance x3
Heat x2
Light x1
Appearance:
A rosebush with bright red flowers. Petals appear akin to a succulent leaf, being thick with liquid.
Location:
Commonly found in gardens in colder regions, it can escape and begin to grow wild, acting much like a weed. It can be transplanted to gardens in temperate or hot climates, though it may have some trouble thriving.
Harvesting:
Aside from sharp thorns, the physical nature of the Winter Rose is docile. The blooms are what contains the desirable symbols, and 3 blooms constitute one full measure. The rest of the plant offers no beneficial reagents.
The bush is in bloom all throughout the year. At any given time, despite the size of the bush, the maximum number of blooms per bush is 6. Upon harvesting a bloom, the end of the stem will automatically begin the process of regrowing a bud, which will eventually bloom. This growth process takes 3 OOC days from harvesting to fully bloomed once more. Each bloom contains at maximum of 20 fully grown petals.
The plant can grow wild or be kept in gardens. Plants kept in gardens must be meticulously maintained to prevent them from taking over a garden, and a maximum of two harvestable bushes can be maintained before the bush becomes unmanageable if other plants and herbs are present. More than two bushes may be grown only if no other plants or herbs are present in the garden or greenhouse. In order to bloom, the bush must have access to direct, natural sunlight. Gardeners may use either a rosebush item or a spruce leaf block with a red carpet on top, depending on the height desired, to represent the plant.
Raw Effect(s):
The only raw use of the plant lies in its petals. Upon plucking a petal from a bloom, the end which was connected to the bud will drip a thick, clear liquid. Ingestion of this liquid, which is achieved during chewing of the petal, will cause one’s body temperature to regulate much more efficiently.
Redlines:
- All Reagents must be gathered through RP and represented by ST approved items.
- When processed for it’s Symbols, this Reagent will lose all of its raw effects and harvesting capabilities.
- Bushes can contain a maximum of 6 blooms. Blooms take 3 OOC days to regrow. Blooms may contain a maximum of 20 petals.
- For item harvesting purposes, a maximum of two bushes can be kept in a multi-plant garden. All bushes must have access to direct, natural sunlight.
- The petal’s effect is only sustained while the petal is being chewed. One petal can be chewed for up to one narrative hour before the petal loses its effect. In this regard, swallowing the petal by consuming other foods or potions would cause it’s effects to be wasted.
- The effects will ward off climate based ailments such as hypothermia, frostbite, heatstroke and heat exhaustion without factoring in additional protection from other sources (e.g. protective clothing). These petals would be effective up to the extreme points of -50F(-45.5C) and 125F(51.6C)
- The effects can lower body temperature due to fever for the duration of the petal being chewed, but will not cure the cause of the fever.
- The effects will not protect you from physical burns, via heat or cold. The main effect of this reagent is to keep the body and it’s internal organs at a stable temperature.