Description:
Scarlet Thornhook is a fearsome and majestic plant that thrives in harsh, wind-scoured highlands and rocky cliffscapes. Its spiraling, iron-hued stalk and hooked leaves radiate menace, but its solitary scarlet bloom is as beautiful as it is brutal. Revered and feared in equal measure, the plant is believed to root in places marked by ancient conflict, blood-oaths, or unbroken vows.
Stems & Growth:
- Central stalk rises in a tall spiral, dark crimson and rust-black, ridged with bark-like plates
- Covered in long, barbed thorns that curve downward like the talons of a hunting bird
- The stalk coils slightly as it grows, often forming a crown-like loop at its peak
- Found in barren, high-altitude regions or scorched stone flats where few plants survive
Leaves:
- Wide, serrated leaves radiate from the base like a blade ring
- Dark green with deep red veining and crimson-tipped edges
- Textured and leathery, built to withstand high winds and dry conditions
- Each leaf ends in a curled hook, capable of drawing blood if handled carelessly
Flower:
- A single, claw-like bloom emerges at the top of the spiral stalk
- Petals are sharply pointed, deep scarlet with blackened, flame-like tips
- Faces downward, dripping a dark, resinous nectar used in protective and binding rituals
- Rarely seen in bloom—often regarded as an omen when it appears
Folklore:
"Known in ancient texts as The Red Oath or Hook of Kings, Scarlet Thornhook is believed to sprout where vengeance was vowed but never fulfilled. Warriors carved oath-rings from its stalk, binding promises in thorn and blood. Its sap is used sparingly in rituals of warding, to guard against betrayal or corruption. It is said the plant only blooms for those who’ve survived something they should not have."
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