Stormvine Sap

Stormvine Sap is a rare and potent substance secreted by the Stormvine, a plant known to bloom only during the violent surges of tempests. This viscous, electric-blue fluid hums faintly when exposed to air and carries a volatile electrical charge, making it both revered and feared in equal measure.

Stormvine Sap is a dangerous gift from the sky—part medicine, part lightning, part sacrament. It is the breath of the storm made liquid, and only those who understand its pulse can wield its power.

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Properties

Material Characteristics

• Color: Vibrant electric blue or violet, with silver streaks that flicker like internal lightning.
• Texture: Thick and sticky, similar to tree resin but with a faint vibrational hum.
• Scent: Ozone-laced with a hint of sharp citrus and burnt herbs.
• Taste (caution): Acrid and numbing—known to cause momentary tingling on the tongue or a jolt through the nervous system.
• Volatility: Highly reactive. If not stored in insulated, rune-sealed containers, it can arc, crackle, or ignite alchemical components.

History & Usage

Everyday use

• Combat Elixirs:
  Small, carefully distilled doses are used in rare battle tonics, granting heightened reflexes, quicker reaction time, and sharpened focus for a limited duration. However, overdosing may lead to muscular spasms, headaches, or nervous exhaustion.
• Toxin Purge:
  In diluted form, Stormvine Sap is a potent detoxifier, used in rituals to cleanse the body of poisons and spiritual corruption. It’s sometimes combined with ghost lily elixir for purging possession or curses linked to the mind or nerves.
• Mental Stimulant:
  Certain arcane scholars and warlocks use it in microdoses to stimulate the mind, boost concentration, or accelerate magical attunement. Overuse leads to “spark-burn,” a condition of mental fatigue and twitching digits.
• Spell Components:
  The sap is used as a reactive catalyst in storm-based enchantments and alchemy involving motion, speed, or nervous response. Some enchanted weapons are treated with Stormvine Sap to enhance shock damage or reaction speed.

Cultural Significance and Usage

• Among Stormborn tribes, the sap is revered as the lifeblood of the storm, and is used in coming-of-age rites where young warriors apply small amounts to their skin before battle. This ritual, while painful, is believed to bring divine clarity and awaken their inner storm.
• It is also a component in certain prophetic rituals, inducing lightning-fueled visions of past or future omens.

Hazards

• Unstable Charge: Improper containment can lead to electrical discharge or even spontaneous ignition in humid conditions. Alchemists must wear insulated gloves and grounding charms when extracting or refining it.
• Nerve Overload: Prolonged exposure or ingestion can cause severe tremors, seizures, or unconsciousness. It is never administered without training—or reckless desperation.

Distribution

Storage

To retain potency, Stormvine Sap must be sealed in obsidian flasks etched with grounding runes, or glass vials wrapped in stormsteel wire. Exposure to air beyond a few hours causes it to lose conductivity, becoming inert and brittle.

Type

Organic

Related Species

• Stormvine