Wraithroot
A root that only grows where spirits manifest. It is used in potions to enhance dream magic and is a key ingredient in necromantic rituals.
Wraithroot is a dark and mysterious plant, intimately tied to death, spirits, and necromantic forces. Whether used as a tool for communion, a weapon of the occult, or a gateway to lost knowledge, its presence remains a harbinger of the unknown, drawing those who seek power—and those who would stop them.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Size: Grows underground, with twisting, pale gray roots reaching up to six feet long
Appearance: Blackened, gnarled roots with faintly glowing white veins, often coiling around graves, ancient ruins, or haunted sites
Geology & Geography
- Wraithroot thrives exclusively in areas of strong spiritual energy, growing only where spirits frequently manifest.
- It is most commonly found wrapped around submerged bones, forgotten tombs, or drowned bodies, as if feeding on the essence of the dead.
- Unlike normal plants, Wraithroot does not need sunlight, instead drawing nourishment from the latent energies of restless spirits.
- It is often accompanied by Will-o’-the-Wisps, further reinforcing the connection between the plant and the spirit world.
Life & Expiration
- Wraithroot grows slowly, often taking years or even decades to fully mature.
- The stronger the spiritual presence in an area, the more potent and larger the root network becomes.
- When spirits are exorcised, banished, or put to rest, the Wraithroot in the area begins to wither and die.
- Some necromancers and cultists deliberately plant Wraithroot at sites of death, nurturing it with rituals and sacrifices to enhance its potency.
History & Usage
Everyday use
Wraithroot is a rare and highly sought-after component for alchemists, necromancers, and spiritualists due to its potent connection to the spirit realm.
1. Dream Magic & Divination
- When ground into a fine powder and steeped in Moonbloom Vine extract, Wraithroot can be used in elixirs that enhance dream magic, allowing users to commune with spirits or experience prophetic visions.
- Some shamans chew on small portions of dried Wraithroot to enter trances, making it a valuable tool for seers.
2. Necromantic Rituals & Soulbinding Magic
- Wraithroot is a key ingredient in necromantic spells, used to bind spirits to objects or undead bodies.
- It can be burned as incense to attract wandering souls or boiled into an oil used to preserve the corpses of the recently deceased.
- Some necromancers believe that properly cultivated Wraithroot can be used to anchor a spirit to the mortal plane, preventing them from passing on.
3. Potent Alchemical Concoctions
- The root’s glowing veins hold an ethereal sap, which is used in potions that enhance spectral communication, astral projection, or protection against possession.
- Wraithroot-infused ink is sometimes used for cursed contracts, grimoires, or binding rituals, making it highly valued by scholars of the occult.
- Some desperate souls consume it to briefly glimpse the afterlife—though doing so often results in madness or spiritual affliction.
Hazards
- Harvesting Wraithroot is highly dangerous, as it often angers nearby spirits, causing hauntings, spectral attacks, or ghostly curses.
- Some religious orders, like the Keepers of the Rift, consider Wraithroot to be a cursed plant, warning that using it deepens one’s connection to death, making the user more susceptible to spirit possession.
- In contrast, the Drowned Circle cult views Wraithroot as sacred, using it in rituals of drowning and rebirth, believing it strengthens their bond with the depths.
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