Local Plants of Cantha Volume 1
This Lorebook is a standard introductory alchemy book detailing plant species found across the Cantha region of Orpheus.
Emberthorn Blossom
Habitat: Found in the volcanic regions of Eastern Cantha, particularly on the slopes of Mt. Canthas.
Appearance: A low-growing, thorny shrub with blackened stems and vibrant crimson petals that seem to glow faintly in the dark.
Properties & Uses: The petals, when dried and powdered, act as a mild stimulant, commonly used in wakefulness tonics for Indents. The thorns contain a fiery resin that can be distilled into an alchemical component for combustion-based mixtures. Overexposure to Emberthorn essence can cause burning fever—a condition marked by intense heat in the bloodstream.
Ghostmoss
Habitat: Grows in shadowed caverns and abandoned mine shafts where Aetherium Crystals once lay.
Appearance: A faintly luminescent moss with pale blue tendrils that shimmer under moonlight.
Properties & Uses: Absorbs arcane energy, making it valuable for spellcasting reagents. Some scholars theorize it feeds on residual magic left by Aetherium. When brewed into a tincture, it creates a potion of night vision, commonly used by smugglers and miners. Exposure in high doses can cause hallucinatory effects, leading some to believe it acts as a gateway to visions of the past.
Widows Fang
Habitat: Thrives in the Sable Expanse, the black-sand desert where little else survives.
Appearance: A serpentine, vine-like plant with dark violet leaves and sharp needle-like pods that release spores when disturbed.
Properties & Uses: The plant's spores are a natural paralytic, used by native Wildlands hunters to coat arrows and blades. When refined, Widow’s Fang can be diluted into a medical anesthetic, though Imperial regulations heavily restrict its use. Certain outlaw alchemists use it in the creation of "Silent Dust," an airborne poison designed to incapacitate targets without a trace.
Hollow Root
Habitat: Found in the bogs and marshes of the Wildlands, often near sources of stagnant water.
Appearance: A pale, gnarled root with hollow channels running through its core, secreting a thick, amber resin.
Properties & Uses: The resin acts as a natural coagulant, used in field medicine to seal wounds instantly. When burned, it releases a pungent, trance-inducing smoke that Wildlands mystics use in rituals. Some Indents chew the raw root to numb pain from their labor, but long-term use causes hallucinations and vivid dreams of ancient landscapes.
Sunspike Cactus
Habitat: Grows in the rocky outcroppings of Western Cantha, near Brimstone and Quarry Junction.
Appearance: A short, stout cactus with golden spines and small blue flowers that only bloom under direct sunlight.
Properties & Uses: Stores large amounts of water, making it a survival staple for Indents and frontier explorers. The sap has a mildly euphoric effect, used recreationally in the Wildlands as a substitute for alcohol. When distilled, it can be refined into "Sunfire Oil," an alchemical ingredient used in illumination potions and firebombs.
Closing Notes of the Book
"While many of Orpheus’ plants hold great value, one must remember that nature in the Kagoma System is neither kind nor forgiving. Each flower, each root, and each thorn holds a secret—some that heal, others that kill. Handle with care, and never take more than you need."