Hellebore Root

Hellebore is a perennial, evergreen plant that flowers from mid-to-late winter. It is harvested primarily for its roots and flowers.
This toxic plant is coveted by necromancers, conjurers, and magicians that specialise is bestowing curses. It is also considered a sacred plant to Allyce and was historically incorporated into Unex Multin's coat of arms, giving it associations with Spiritblades. Furthermore, as a component of a fairly taboo curse, the plant is associated with sandals in the language of flowers.
Hellebore root is powerfully emetic, causing violent, bloody vomiting that can be useful in expelling internal parasites when ingested.

Properties

Material Characteristics

25-30cm tall plant

Physical & Chemical Properties

Level 1 Properties

Inflict wound levels (contact)
Immunity to animation (aura)

Level 2 Properties

Cure disease (ingest)
Inflict wound levels (ingest)
Damage HP (ingest)
Damage constitution (ingest)
Damage EP (ingest)
Damage wisdom (ingest)

Level 3 Properties

Empower necromancy magic (circle of reanimation)
Empower conjuration magic (excluding circle of objects)
Reflect magic

Level 5 Properties

Damage constitution

Level 7 Properties

Transfer properties
Fortify stealth

Level U Properties

Cure madness
Exorcise

Level S Properties

Banish undead (1 required for Funeral Lotion)
Immunity to animation (1 required for Funeral Lotion)
Repel spirits (1 required for Funeral Lotion)
Damage HP

Compounds

• Lethal paste (level 5)
• Blighting powder (level 7)
• Bewitchment antidote (level U)
• Funeral Lotion (level S)

Geology & Geography

Hellebore naturally favours temperate woodlands and mountainsides, though it is also grown ornamentally in gardens where there is no harsh sunlight. By coincidence or otherwise, hellebore seems to grow prominently around witches' lairs. Its native range includes:

• Saccos
• Decas
• Athium, specifically the Southern mountain forests
• Dratoran Isle, specifically Aetheran and Susurr

Origin & Source

It is said that the first hellebores sprouted from the ground where the tears of a poor young girl landed whilst she wept in frustration at having nothing to offer Unex Multin, the first Spiritblade, to help him save Dratora from Judias Wrathlore. The girl presented the Spiritblade with these plants and he came to realise their potential as a powerful necromantic tool. From then on, Unex Multin incorporated the flower into his own coat of arms, and the flower propagated itself across the world.

History & Usage

History

Hellebore has seen a lot of historical use as a chemical weapon in warfare.

Everyday use

Hellebore is commonly used to make a pesticide called micing powder, which is believed to be how the ritual for the Midnight Curse was discovered.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Powdered hellebore is an ingredient required for the spell Midnight Curse.
The very rare and debated property of hellebore root that serves as a cure for insanity is the origin behind the proverb "Journey to Susurr", which is often said to those deemed to be out of their minds as a mocking instruction to go to the place where hellebore grows abundantly and cure oneself.

Refinement

Must be harvested with gloves in order to avoid allergic reaction to the juice. Should be dug out whilst facing East inside a drawn circle, ideally a magic circle, to avoid the ire of the spirit within, which takes the form of an eagle. If one is caught incorrectly harvesting hellebore by the spirit in eagle form, it will attack and fight to the death.
Roots should be harvested in Autumn. Both roots and flowers should be dried in the shade before use.

Manufacturing & Products

• Amulet of Protection
• Micing powder
• Micing cake
• Injury poisons

Byproducts & Sideproducts

• Summoner's Mantle (failed level 5, successful at level 4)

H-r

Type

Biomaterial

Value

10 silver pennies

Rarity

Ωs-tier ingredient

Odor

Odourless

Taste

Acrid

Color

Dark brown, almost black