Fire Nettles

Found all throughout Útgarðar is the bane of travelers, Fire Nettles. They are a small, arrow leafed, weed, covered in small thorns. They have a potent defensive measure against anyone who touches them. When a Fire Nettle thorn touches a persons skin the area will become inflamed and feel like it is right next to a fire. Any touching of this spot will cause it to only feel hotter. Most thick furs can protect from it but some still get through necessitating their removal. This is disastrous in the cold wilderness of Útgarðar as removing your furs and cloak is a death sentence. This leads to travelers freezing to death while felling like they are burning.

The nettle hairs are occasionally applied to blades in battle to distract opponents but are never used to poison someone. This is due to the fact that the plant is so hated that a number of antidotes and remedies to its poison have been invented. The best cure is a numbing cream applied to the spot, if you can't feel your leg it can't hurt. If the poison is ingested, then doses of concentrated mint will be able to remove the burning sensation for a while. The effect goes away after a few hours but can become unbearable in that time.

In Game Stats
Environmental Hazard
DC 13 Perception to spot on the ground
DC 12 Nature check to identify
DC 14 Medicine check to mitigate symptoms, Lesser Restoration removes effect
When someone brushes up against the plant they must roll a DC 16 CON save or be poisoned for one hour, in addition they feel as if they are on fire the entire time they are affected by the condition. They have -3 to all rolls while the inflamed area is in contact with something, inducing clothing.

Trivia

• Used occasionally by the dwarves of Hammerdeep to flavor food, they can resist the effects due to their resistance to poison. This use is rare and generally only used in foods meant to clear the bowels.
• The plant is found primarily in forests but large fields of it have been spotted in the interior woods of Viddleland. No one has investigated these claims because no one wants to risk it.
• Patches of Fire Nettles are planted as a defensive measures at the edge of Hollow Oak, they are meant to diswade hunters and other folk from entering.

"Such a cruel plant, what conditions must have necessitated this defense."