Dwarf's Beard

It's been three weeks and the children are still entertained by shoving those faux-beards on their faces... well, whatever works.

— weary traveller

Little grows in Kylmävikk Desert. Near-endless stretches of white permafrost leave a picturesque yet utterly lifeless mark on these northern reaches of Iskaldhal. Thankfully for the many creatures - terrifying or otherwise - that roam the desert's surface, dwarf's beard ekes out its own determined existence across every surface it can try to reach.
Named for both the resemblence to the beards worn by dwarves and the stubborn resilience that every dwarf has (no matter whether they're from Gildómar or Fjolkandr or anywhere in between), dwarf's beard is the most common plant upon the Kylmävikk and one of the only to to give life to so many different creatures.

Basic Information

Anatomy

Like all mosses, dwarf's beard is a non-vascular and flowerless plant. It manifests as a dense mass of greyish-brown when dessicated; if it has gained enough water through seasonal shifts or the area's constantly-changing magical balance, dwarf's beard can 'bloom' into a saturated gold-brown form. It absorbs water through the many spiny leaves it bears, and harvests the Kylmävikk's ambient carbon dioxide and sunshine to grant it other food necessary for its survival.
Contrary to how most other mosses work, however, dwarf's beard is fully capable of surviving for millennia without water. Whilst it must be hydrated to fully swell up into its golden-brown colour and greatest softness, it can remain in its spiny dessicated form - wirey, like a dwarf's untamed beard - so long as the area has ambient magic.
Many travellers of the Kylmävikk now use the appearance of dwarf's beard as a way to tell that the area in which they travel is magically stable at minimum, and avoid areas where there are great swathes of moss missing from otherwise-perfect walls: those areas are almost certainly distorted in magic, or potentially antimagic entirely.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Survive with what you can, question the strange side-effects later. They're not harming us, at least..

Culinary Uses

Though it does not compare to eating fresh vegetables or meat in terms of nutrients, those travelling the deserted wilds do not have the luxury of choice. Dwarf's beard has been eaten in many different ways. Most commonly, it is first boiled or rinsed to remove traces of acid and any bugs that might be clinging to it. Blending dwarf's beard into a gel-like paste can thicken soups and broths, or serve as a nutrient-rich drink. If properly rinsed beforehand, grilling it lightly - similar to how a marshmallow would be grilled - can toast the moss enough to provide a not-unpleasant, crunchy taste.
Notably, those of elven or gnomish heritage have far less issue with the acids and innate magics of dwarf's beard. While a human would be struck down with severe stomach pains and a dwarf would experience less-savoury digestive issues if they ate unprepared dwarf's beard, an elf would feel mildly ill at worst.

Medicinal Uses

Like many mosses, dwarf's beard possesses innate antibacterial properties in addition to its absorbency. In a pinch, it can function as a fantastic water filter - often used in conjunction with a small heating set-up to melt snow - and as something with which to pack wounds and staunch bleeding.
It also has use in druidic herblore and witch brews, where it is often used to bring out hidden magical essence, augment healing factors, or neutralise certain poisons.

Other Uses

Naturally, as an often-dry plant, dwarf's beard is a common source of fuel for campfires. It burns quickly, and thus cannot provide much heat, but is usually combined with other fuels - such as coals or heatrocks - that catch on its flames.
Some travellers have also taken to weaving the moss into clothing and rope; these are not often sturdy creations, but produced of necessity.

Sketch of dwarf with beard, not to be confused with dwarf's beard by Hanhula

Scientific Name

Dhurizkal glaciale

Conservation Status

Least concern

Geographic Distribution

• Kylmävikk Desert