Jeriba
Among the varied plant life of the northern region of Gression, the most storied is easily the Jeriba flower. This fragrant purple herb will be found planted near doorways and gates, hung in garlands and wreaths, and strewn among the floor rushes or barn straw. Every citizen of Gression carries a sachet of the fragrant herb with them at all times, as well.
This is not just a love of Jeriba's appearance or its pleasant odor. In Gression, Jeriba is a survival tool. When The Shattering warped the forces of magic, many creatures were mutated as well. The northern district is plagued by one of the more noxious mutations, that of the rat-like Orpus, or Chitter, in the local slang. These armored rodents travel in packs, and will attack any creature that they think they can defeat. The one thing that can repel them is the scent of the Jeriba plant.
Like all native Gression species, Jeriba enjoys the cold, and can bloom late into the fall. It has no culinary or medicinal uses that have yet been found, and was treated as a purely decorative species by early settlers to the region. However, one lucky family discovered its true power.
Having planted it around the cabin for its beauty and smell, the settlers were surprised and relieved when a swarm of Chitters, that was barreling towards their youngest child, suddenly stopped and scattered when the Orpoi scented the flowers.
Since then, Jeriba has become part of the culture. Young plants are often given to newlyweds to plant by their door. Children learn needlepoint by decorating sachets of Jeriba to wear. Sachets are frequently given to visitors, especially from other regions, as well as given to the itinerant as an act of charity.
Jeriba Plant by Nightflyer0ne via Midjourney
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