PLANTS

Acid Rose

Much in the manner of birthstones, the Tahtltiki tribe has assigned a flower to each day of the year. These flowers are beautiful, but often without great purpose. An individual may wear one around their wrist when it is their birthday, or atop their head fixed to a thread. Kayle, with some amusement, discovers that his birth-flower is the acid rose—a deep mauve flower with poisonous nectar that ensures a slow death.

Black Orchid

A great many flowers grow in the jungle of the Tahtltiki tribe, and the tribe has discovered a purpose or symbolic meaning for each and every one. The black orchid represents death. When someone of import and influence in the tribe has passed away, the tribe mourns for a period of time and wears leis made of these dark blooms. Despite its name, this flower is not exactly black. Its petals are of a deep, intense indigo and the stamen are a brilliant red in color.

Brother’s Hand Carnation

Oil from the petals, when applied to weapons, dulls the edge of the blade so that it cannot cause harm, making it useful for training bouts. Although it is quite common and easy enough to tend to, a lot of oil must be pressed from the petals to render a blade harmless, and so vials of the oil are considered priceless. Unique, earthy tones line the edges of the petals, and the flower bears a pumpkin-esque aroma.

Cure-All

Also known as the Itti-i, the cure-all is a flower often mistaken for a weed. About the size of a small pea, it grows in clusters and bears around eight, triangular, lime-green petals. The most important part of the flower is its bright yellow center. If you were to peel the film from the flower’s disk, you would find that it is sticky. Tribe members suffering from small but deep lacerations will often stuff the wound with several of these small blooms and the sticky residue from the centers reacts to the blood. The flowers dissolve, cleansing and healing the injury and leaving behind a pale, star-shaped scar, within a few weeks!

Sun Coral

Mottled white and yellow. This is an extremely rare, pliable form of coral that is said to grow in mermaid gardens deep below the sea. Rumor has it that if one were to consume sun coral they would be cleansed of all spiritual impurities, but sun coral is tough and fibrous. Those who have tried to cook it in order to render it consumable have been sorely disappointed, for at the touch of freshwater or flame, sun coral turns instantly to a glittering golden powder unfit for human consumption.

Victory Lily

This proud flower is large and gold in color with darker, honey-colored speckles. The petals are long and end in spirals. As the name suggests, this flower is displayed to mark a great triumph, such as a successful battle or a new chieftain ruling the tribe. The citrusy scent that they give off attracts local hummingbirds—if you’re holding a bouquet of victory lilies or wearing them about your neck, these small, adorable birds will fly right up to you to imbibe in some nectar!