Gumreed

A plant that grows exclusively in the mountain pass of Robber's Run. The bulbous strobilus that crowns the stem exudes a clear, extremely sticky substance when squeezed, which is used as a powerful adhesive.

Structure

Resembling a reed, which is where it gets its name from, the Gumreed is a tall, tubular plant that is capped with a fleshy strobilus. The stem is hollow and bending it too harshly will cause it to snap rather easily. The strobilus passively drips the sticky residue it produces, and handlers that are not careful will soon find their fingers glued together or onto something else.

The roots are long and reach deep, siphoning moisture and nutrients from the soil and surrounding vegetation, making Gumreed partly parasitic.

Spread

Gumreed is found exclusively in Robber's Run, where the clay-rich soil offers the unique growing conditions required by the plant. Attempts to plant the reed into other places have been made and are still underway, though it seems the plant is resistant to adaptation into new conditions.

Gum

The sticky residue, also known as gum, is harvested for its adhesive properties by several parties. Those with legitimate businesses, especially relating to construction or upkeep, pay good money for gum which is quickly becoming a preferred solution for fastening. Those with more unsavory aims refine the gum into extremely powerful yet fluid glue, which is packed into thrown packets that splash the incapacitating substance onto whatever is struck with the projectile as it bursts.

This is the favored way for highwaymen to force carriages and caravans to stop, as a packet of glue refined from gum aimed at the wheels of the carriage or onto the driver usually stops the fleeing prize in its tracks.

I'd wear gloves if I were you.

–A bandit sneaking up on a traveler who is about to pluck a Gumreed

by Midjourney

_{Stalks of Gumreed}