Þáta

Dalran/Vanran: Þóda

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Þáta is a flowering plant native to southern and eastern Emlas, specifically northern Imkala, the southernmost Narannax Mountains and, to lesser extend, the southwestern Zamra Mountains.
It bears distinct black and white flowers for a relatively short period of time during mid-summer.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Þáta is especially important to the Dalrans, Imkalans and Vanrans, whose priests ingest a drink made from the plant as a stimulant, believed to bring them closer to the gods and make their prayers more likely to be heard. This practice was first developed by the imkalans, and later spread to the vanrans, from whom the dalrans adopted it. In Dalra, the drink is traditionally served in a sacred cup made of gold and silver, which are only used for this purpose.
Because of its religious significance, short flowering period and being notoriously difficult to cultivate, þáta is worth its weight in silver and even gold in some places.

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Þáta grows only at specific altitudes which vary between regions; higher altitudes in warmer areas, and lower in colder ones.

Average Intelligence

About as smart as wild rue.

Þáta and a cup by Lappalingur

Origin/Ancestry

Highlands of southern and eastern Emlas.

Lifespan

Annual

Conservation Status

The species has slowly declined throughout the centuries due to overharvesting, even though picking the flowers is a strictly monitored affair. More recently, þáta has become locally extinct in certain regions of Dalra as dalran religious practices spread throughout eastern Emlas, further increasing the demand for the plant.