Stormvein Moss

Local myths tell of a legendary variant of Windroot Moss known as Stormvein Moss, which glows with trapped lightning and is said to guide lost souls through the Everstorm. Those who consume it in a sacred ritual are rumored to gain brief visions of the storm’s future course, allowing them to predict where the Everstorm will strike next.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Stormvein Moss resembles its Windroot ancestor but is unmistakably unique:

• Vivid emerald green in base coloration, but threaded with shifting veins of pale blue and silver that pulse rhythmically, as though in sync with distant thunder.
• In darkness, it emits a soft bioluminescent glow, like lightning trapped beneath translucent skin.
• The moss occasionally crackles with static when disturbed, and touching it can result in mild electrical shocks.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

• Soul-Guidance: Said to guide lost souls through the Everstorm, allowing those who are dying or spiritually unmoored to find rest or purpose.
• Storm-Prescience: In sacred rituals, if consumed correctly, Stormvein Moss induces brief visions of the Everstorm’s movements—moments of prophetic clarity where the storm's path, intensity, or hidden heart is revealed.
• Lightning Binding: Small fragments are used by Stormbinders to anchor storm energy in artifacts, robes, and weapons—particularly in the crafting of Storm-Fury Blades.
• The Skyseer Rite: Windcloaks and Stormbinders perform this ritual by mixing Stormvein Moss with stormwater and consuming it in complete silence atop high peaks. The vision that follows is considered sacred and often shapes weather-watching strategy or military deployments.
• Funeral Incantations: In ancient skyburials, Stormvein Moss is woven into the wrappings of the dead to help their spirit ascend and not be lost in the Everstorm.

Cultivation and Harvesting:

• Cannot be grown—must form naturally when Windroot Moss is struck repeatedly by natural or magical lightning during a high storm cycle.
• Harvesting requires protective gauntlets and storm-insulated tools. Improper handling can result in burns or lightning discharges.
• Some say Stormvein will wither to dust if harvested by those with ill intent or without reverence.

Civilization and Culture

Common Myths and Legends

• Some stories claim that Stormvein Moss was the last gift of the First Stormwright to the Windcloaks—a symbol of balance between nature and storm.
• Others say it is alive, aware, and growing only where souls have been lost in the storm.

Genetic Ancestor(s)

• Windroot Moss

Origin/Ancestry

Legendary variant of Windroot Moss

Geographic Distribution

• Everstorm Cliffs

Related Ethnicities

• Stormborn Tribes