Black Mire Sap

A tar-like substance found in certain trees. It is used in dark alchemy, known for enhancing necromantic magic and preserving flesh indefinitely.

While Black Mire Sap is a powerful and coveted material, it is not without consequence. Its use often comes with unforeseen side effects, leading many to question whether it is truly a gift—or a slow-acting curse from the heart of the Black Bog itself.

Properties

Material Characteristics

Black Mire Sap is a thick, tar-like substance that seeps from the gnarled, ancient trees of the Black Bog. It is viscous, nearly pitch-black, and highly adhesive, clinging to anything it touches. When exposed to open air, it emits a faint, eerie purple or green iridescence, especially under moonlight.

• Texture – Sticky and resinous, similar to tar but heavier.
• Scent – Carries a faintly sweet but sickly undertone, like rotting flowers mixed with burnt wood.
• Taste – Bitter and acrid, leaving a numbing sensation on the tongue.
• Solubility – Can be dissolved in rare alchemical solutions, but resists most conventional methods of extraction.

Origin & Source

Legends & Superstitions

• The Curse of the Mire – It is said that those who steal too much of the sap become part of the swamp, their bodies sinking into the bog, only to rise again as mindless husks.
• The Whispering Trees – Some scholars believe the sap contains memories from ancient beings trapped within the Black Bog, and those who consume it may hear fragments of forgotten knowledge.
• The Eternal Slumber – Certain cults perform ritualistic embalming with the sap, claiming it allows the body to remain preserved for centuries, awaiting resurrection.

History & Usage

Everyday use

Black Mire Sap is one of the most coveted alchemical substances in dark magic and forbidden crafts. Despite the dangers of harvesting it, various factions seek it for different purposes:

1. Necromantic Enhancements
2. When used in rituals, the sap enhances the longevity and resilience of undead creatures, preventing their bodies from decaying.
3. Mixed with bone dust and blood, it can create unholy wards that repel weaker divine magics.
4. Preservation & Immortality
5. Some nobles and warlocks pay extreme sums for elixirs containing Black Mire Sap, as it is said to preserve flesh indefinitely.
6. However, prolonged use can lead to physical corruption, turning flesh gray and leathery while linking the user’s essence to the swamp.
7. Weaponry & Curses
8. Applied to weapons, the sap causes wounds that do not heal naturally, festering until they become fatal.
9. Some assassins mix it with poison to create venoms that slowly drain vitality over weeks.
10. Dark Alchemy & Rituals
11. The sap is a key ingredient in forbidden spells, particularly those dealing with binding spirits, shadow magic, and soul preservation.
12. Cults and dark alchemists use it to craft living effigies, merging plant matter with trapped souls.

Refinement

Extracting Black Mire Sap is dangerous and costly due to the nature of the Black Bog. The trees that produce it are often twisted and partially sentient, reacting violently to intruders.

• Harvesters report whispers emanating from the trees as they bleed the sap.
• Prolonged exposure to the sap can cause hallucinations, necrotic poisoning, or an unnatural pull toward the swamp’s depths.
• Some believe that the sap itself holds remnants of ancient spirits, binding their will to those who use it in rituals.

Type

Biomaterial

Related Locations

• The Black Bog