Ironvine
Basic Information
Anatomy
Root System: Extensive and sturdy, capable of penetrating concrete and metal to anchor itself.
Tendrils: Flexible when young, becoming wire-like as they age. Tendrils can conduct small amounts of electricity.
Metallic Integration: Absorbs trace metals from its environment, incorporating them into its structure or strength.
Biological Traits
Growth Speed: Rapid in industrial zones, slower in less polluted environments.
Strength: Mature tendrils can support significant weight, rivaling some industrial cables.
Resilience: Resistant to extreme weather, pollution, and minor Aetheric fluctuations.
Genetics and Reproduction
Reproduction: Pollinated by insects drawn to its faintly glowing flowers. Seeds are encased in though, metallic pods that crack open after a few weeks.
B Seeds can remain dormant for years, sprouting when conditions become favorable.
Growth Rate & Stages
Sprout: Delicate green shoots emerge, growing rapidly.
Tendril Phase: Young tendrils begin absorbing metals and hardening.
Mature Vine: Fully grown, with strong, metallic tendrils and flowers.
Decay: Older vines wither but leave behind reinforced tendrils that can persist for years.
Ecology and Habitats
Preferred Habitat: Industrial ruins, factory walls, and ley line-rich environments.
Range: Limited to regions with high concentrations of metal or magickal energy.
Dietary Needs and Habits
Nutrients: Requires both organic material and race metals to grow effectively.
Adaptations: Capable of absorbing toxins, using them to enhance its metallic structure.
Biological Cycle
Seasonal Growth: Slows in colder months but remains active year-round in Argenthold's polluted warmth.
Blooming Period: Flowers appear in late spring, glowing brighter when ley lines are active.
Additional Information
Domestication
Uses: Cultivated for strong tendrils used in construction, crafting, and even fashion (woven metallic threads).
Domestication Efforts: The Order of the Silver Dawn maintains controlled greenhouses to maximize yield.
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Wire Production: Harvested tendrils are processed into durable, flexible wire.
Reinforcement: Used as structural support in buildings and airships.
Aesthetic Applications: Metallic flowers are popular among the Upper City elite for decorative purposes.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Argenthold: Thrives in urban areas, factory walls, and abandoned machinery especially in the Ironward District.
Black Fog Districts: Found growing in toxic zones, adapted to extract trace metals from polluted soil.
Perception and Sensory Capabilities
Metal Sensitivity: Vines grow toward metallic objects and rich soil deposits.
Light Sensitivity: Flowers glow brighter in areas of high Aetheric energy, aiding pollination.
Symbiotic and Parasitic organisms
Symbiotic:
- Glowmoths: Insects attracted to the flowers, assisting in pollination.
Parasitic:
- Rust Beetles: Feeds on the metallic tendrils, weakening the plant.
Civilization and Culture
History
Discovery: First noted during the early Industrial Ascension in SE 85, as it began overtaking abandoned machinery in Argenthold.
Industrial Use: By SE 100, Ironvine was cultivated intentionally for use in factory repairs and urban reinforcement.
Current Role: Heavily regulated by the Order but a staple in revolutionary crafting due to its availability and strength.
Cultivated Ironvine: About Twenty years with proper care.
- While common in Argenthold, Ironvine thrives only in specific environments enriched by metal and Aetheric energy.
- Conservation Measures: The Order of the Silver Dawn regulates harvesting to prevent overuse and maintains seed banks in case of catastrophic loss.
- Revolutionary groups use it as a resource for crafting improvised tools and weapons.
Leaves: Deep green with a metallic sheen, speckled with silver veins.
Tendrils: A dull, coppery brown when young, hardening to a dark steel-gray as they mature.
Flowers: Small and spiked, glowing faintly blue in the presence of Aetheric energy.
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