Frostmoss
This hardy moss covers large areas of the glacier, thriving in the coldest of conditions. It is magically imbued, helping to insulate the land from further freezing.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Frostmoss is a low-growing, velvety moss with a muted bluish-green hue that seems to shimmer faintly in moonlight or magical auras. Despite the intense cold of its environment, the moss remains pliable and soft to the touch, emanating a subtle inner warmth.
Its roots thread through cracked ice and frozen stone, absorbing ambient magical essence and the faint traces of geothermal or spiritual energy. Clumps of Frostmoss often spread in starburst patterns, forming natural insulation mats across the glacier.
Frostmoss is imbued with ancient ice magic, likely tied to the glacier's leylines or long-forgotten rituals. It has the ability to:
- Insulate land and structures from worsening cold, effectively acting as a magical barrier against deeper freeze
- Regulate temperature in glacial settlements, allowing small life to survive
- Absorb ambient magical energy, especially necrotic or elemental cold, which it uses to sustain itself
Ecology and Habitats
- Stabilizer of the Iceshard Glacier: Prevents magical over-freezing and sudden shifts in ice-magic surges
- Habitat: Microfauna such as glacial insects and frost sprites make their homes among its strands
- Spiritual Significance: Many glacier tribes believe Frostmoss to be the breath of ancient winter spirits, and some weave it into protective talismans
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
- Construction Material: Used by Frost Dwarves and glacier-dwelling peoples to line homes, tunnels, and storage vaults.
- Alchemy: When boiled or ground, Frostmoss can be made into:
- Salves to protect against frostbite
- Poultices that reduce the effects of magical cold
- Elixirs that temporarily grant resistance to cold-based spells
- Enchantment: Mages may use dried Frostmoss in runes or charms that protect against freezing or help stabilize cold-based enchantments
Civilization and Culture
Culture and Cultural Heritage
- In Frost Dwarf lore, Frostmoss was the first living thing to grow after the ancient Icefall, a gift from the elemental frost god to prevent total stillness.
- The witches of Castle Emberfrost use Frostmoss in grounding rituals, believing it absorbs soul-fracture energy and anchors a body or spirit to the material plane.
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