The Copperfield Herbarium

Kell’s Field Journal – Entry 27

Location: Copperfield Estate Herbarium, Brimstone, Orpheus
Author: Kell Saleur

The herbarium at the Copperfield Estate was far more than a garden. Cornelius Copperfield III, ever the eccentric archaeologist, seemed to have curated a vault of living mysteries. The glass-roofed atrium stinks of ozone and sweet rot, lined with Magitech reservoirs humming softly beneath the soil beds. Despite the obvious neglect during his absence, the plants persist — some even thrive. Below are six notable specimens recorded during my initial investigation:

Ashbloom Lotus (Endemic to Orpheus)
Description: A pale, ghostly water lily with translucent petals that shimmer like moonlight on obsidian. Found floating in still pools in the Deadflame Bogs. Emits a soft phosphorescent glow when disturbed.
Usage: When brewed into a tea, the flower induces lucid dreaming and enhances Arcana checks by +1 for 1 hour. Consuming more than one dose per day risks psychic backlash (1d6 psychic damage).
Notes: Extremely rare in the wild; appears to respond to leyline shifts.

Thorned Vireleaf (Endemic to Orpheus)
Description: A jagged vine with metallic red leaves and black, blood-dripping thorns. The plant reacts to sound and movement, contracting violently like a carnivorous predator.
Usage: Alchemically refined, the thorn resin can be used to craft paralytic poison (DC 13 Con save or paralyzed for 1 minute). Also burns with a scent that repels Voidwasps.
Notes: Highly volatile. Cutting requires a silent approach and iron shears.

Glimmercap Mycelium (Endemic to Orpheus)
Description: Bioluminescent mushrooms with glittering, glass-like caps. Found in the caves below the Sable Expanse. Colonies exhibit hive-like intelligence and communicate via glowing pulses.
Usage: When dried and powdered, adds 1 temporary spell slot (up to 2nd level) once per long rest. Causes mild hallucinations.
Notes: Consuming raw caps may trigger empathy with local fungal colonies. Proceed with caution.

Threxian Coilfruit (Imported from Primus)
Description: A spiraling vine bearing iridescent, coil-shaped fruits. Native to highland jungles of Primus. Fruits hum faintly when touched and are mildly radioactive.
Usage: Rare alchemical component that enhances vitality. When distilled, adds +1 to saving throws vs disease for 24 hours.
Notes: Fruit flesh is toxic to Warforged but invigorating to biologicals.

Choral Bloom (Imported from Primus)
Description: A tall, reed-like stalk topped with soft blue bell-flowers that chime when wind passes through them. Resonates with ambient magical frequencies.
Usage: When brewed into incense or oil, lowers spell misfire chance for unstable casters or wild mages.
Notes: Copperfield’s journals suggest it grows better when sung to.

Elysian Root (Illegal – Multiplanetary Origin)
Description: A fibrous, knotty root resembling a human spinal cord. The outer bark secretes a vivid blue sap that evaporates into a luminous blue vapor when ignited.
Usage: Smoked or vaporized, it induces euphoria, heightened awareness, and vivid hallucinations. Grants +2 to Perception and Insight checks for 10 minutes, then imposes 1 level of exhaustion. Addictive.
Notes: Banned in all Empire-controlled systems. Salda Mourn uses this regularly — her blue exhalations confirm the link.

-K.S.