Weistrella

"You can always follow the way stars home."

— Refrain of an untitled ballad by Romero, the Poet in Exile

Basic Information

Anatomy

Colloquially named "way stars," these unassuming yellow flowers sprout through the last snowfall of winter, blooming from early spring to mid summer. While appearing otherwise unremarkable in the daylight hours, these vibrant yellow flowers burst open under the star and moonlight of evening. The petals of the Weistrella are believed to spend the day absorbing the sunlight and then diffuse any remaining energy overnight. When the petals open in the evening, the stored glow radiates like sparkling stars reflecting in the pools of water they grow alongside.

Ecology and Habitats

Though growing most frequently in the shade of a forest canopy, Weistrellas also take root in nearly any consistent shade near sources of water, blooming invitingly along streams and rivers across most of Aerona and central Eirlys.

Additional Information

Uses, Products & Exploitation

Their unique bioluminescence property sparked an early fascination among worshippers of the moon goddess Selûne. These followers often incorporate the blossoms into their evening rituals and midnight prayers, growing circles of 'way stars' in which to hold their meditations and invocations of Selûne's presence. While the flowers are not endangered in their natural habitats, devout worshippers of Selûne maintain greenhouses and gardens throughout Revne dedicated to the preservation of the Weistrella bloom for their ongoing use in services and rituals.
Travelers also favor the sight of a Weistrella, knowing their evening radiance often serve as guides to fresh water sources. Many traveling songs or heroic tales incorporate the sighting of the 'way stars' as a familiar cultural touchstone of the homeward journey. Inspired by these themes, some expeditions have gone so far as to plant Weistrella seeds along their routes to aid in their return venture in case the mists should roll in and shroud their way.
Finally, the fashionably elite of Chalon covet the shining petals of the 'way stars' as well. Because plucked petals lose their bioluminescence after only a few hours and then wilt, incorporating their shine into one's clothing or accessories for one of the Grand Capital's many exclusive events is interpreted as a sign of great wealth and extravagance.