Underdark Campaign Setting – Lake of Spires: Flora

Underdark Campaign Setting – Lake of Spires: Flora

While the underdark exists in an environment completely alien in nature compared to the surface world, it is not devoid of its own strange ecosystem of flora.  For those brave enough to venture into the underdark would find much of the plants in existence odd or at worse disgusting to those who have lived their entire life there it is as normal as waking up and seeing a natural cavern roof rather than the blue sky and sun.  The people that call the underdark home have learned over generations how to utilize the flora ecosystem to their benefit and have made it a critical part of their survival and day to day life.  In the underdark alchemists have long enjoyed the odd properties of the system of flora that exists and have created many concoctions seldom heard of on the surface world.

Bloodmoss

This red moss has nothing to do with actual blood except for the color of it is a deep dark red like blood and if the moss is soaked with water it will appear as if the rocks it is growing on is bleeding.  It typically grows in areas that are dry and according to some dwarven artisans it is a sure sign of rubies are embedded in the rocks in that area.  It is not sure if this is a proven fact or just another tale told by dwarves after too much ale.  Bloodmoss is complete safe to eat and is commonly used as a spice in foods to add some heat to a dish.  Some drow children it is raw and is referred too as blood candy in drow cities.

Crimson rose or Death blossom

These small flowers with crimson colored pedals are found only growing out of the sockets of corpses about a week after death.  It is not understood exactly how or why they grow, most believe it is just one of the many strange things about the underdark.  What is known is the high price drow nobles are willing to pay for the pedals, which are used for making tea and is viewed as one of the more luxurious drinks of the underdark.  If someone is looking to impress a drow guest and wants to have a good first impression, this is the drink to serve.

Fork weed

Fork weed grows on the banks of nearly every major lake in the underdark and is so named because the part of the weed that grows above the water line forks into several like sized shafts until it reaches 5 to 6 feet above water.  The weed serves as a natural filtration system and when the hollow section of the weed is opened, the water can be safely ingested even if the water around it has been poisoned.  Fork weed is the staple for many subterranean omnivores and herbivores, in addition it is used as a vegetable for stews by many of the cultures.  This plant is also used to make a special type of papyrus that won’t allow the ink to run when doused with water for those that know how to make it and can also be used to make normal papyrus as well.

Gickamoor

These huge mushroom like plants can grow to a size equal to a small house, some claim to have seen gickamoor plants over 20 feet tall and 30 feet in diameter.  They come in varies shades of brown ranging from a light beige to a deep dark brown.  The outer skin of the gickamoor is often used to create parchment and vellum by those skilled in the craft, for this reason it can often be told in underdark cities, mage guilds and temples.  The inner core of the plant or often referred to as gickamoor meat is used as a source of food in the underdark, it can be prepared and cooked like most animal meats.  These plants can be found anywhere in the underdark, locations with less traffic tend to have the larger specimens.  It is not unusual to find someone growing a few plants for their own personal need and consumption.

Kak weed

This plant is not a week but actually a purple alga found growing in underdark lakes, it is easily found and very common in all parts of the underdark.  It is a food staple for most creatures of the underdark and rich in nutrients and vitamins.  While it can be served in many ways it is most commonly found dried and offered in sticks at most markets, it can last for years in this state which makes it sought after by those that explore the deeper reaches of the underdark.

Shimmoss

This grey like moss can be found growing anywhere in the underdark, though not very common it does not seem to care where it grows.  It seems to have no favorite growing locations and can be located in the darkest of regions or areas with light sources, from the driest to rocks coming out from water, it grows rather quickly and can cover a few feet of rock in just a few days.  It usually grows until it covers about 8 to 10 square feet of area and then slowly vanishes in a 2 to 4 weeks.  Alchemist have been known to pay anywhere from 50 to as much as 100 gold per harvested square foot of the moss.

This document is constantly being updated

Written by David Jones Sunday, 15 January 2012 19:18