Passion's Kiss

Passion's Kiss is a rare flower found in meadows throughout central Europe. A bright red flower with petals shaped like flowers, only a few are found each year. The smell produces an intoxication in most sapient species. No-one has been able to cultivate it in any way leading in part to rarity of it.

Basic Information

Biological Traits

Passion's Kiss is small in size and easily overlooked no bigger overall than the palm of a human's hand. The flower stalk grows no longer than the pinkie finger of a human. Incredibly delicate it is easily damaged and the flower produces such a fragrance that those who encounter one never forgets it. Some suspect it uses this to stop it being ate or damaged. Unfortunately it does not do well on Earth and only a handful can be found per year. As an angiosperm it's flowers can be male, female, or both on the one plant.

Ecology and Habitats

Passion's Kiss is found in small patches around Austria, the lower end of Old Saxony, and the Bohemian Massif. It prefers meadows hidden by the grass and the odd bit of woodland that lets the sun through.

Dietary Needs and Habits

It feeds on the soil with the roots buried deep in it, and gains moisture the same way. Slender delicate leaves helps it to photosynthesise.

Biological Cycle

It dies back in autumn & winter, growing again in spring and flowering in early summer. It releases a warm heady perfume that relaxes the senses, and in a few it seems to inflame the passion within. Whatever the passion is it causes the person to relax and causes them a sense of joy.

Additional Information

Geographic Origin and Distribution

Central Europe.

Civilization and Culture

History

The first Passion's Kiss was found centuries ago by the Celts & early Germanic peoples in the region in & surrounding the Bohemian Massif. They tended to what flowers they found and treated it with reverence. Most of these peoples believed that it came originally from the Feywild and is part of the reason it does not do well on Earth. Also, Pixies seem drawn to them for some reason, and other small Fey seem to treat it with respect.
Since this time others have noticed it and tried to cultivate it. Unfortunately none were successful. Even Earth bound Pixies don't know why. What is known is if the flower, and to a lesser degree the rest of the plant, is ground into a love potion the strength and effects are at least doubled. Unfortunately this has led to a few of them being damaged or destroyed reducing the numbers further.

"Ahh, Passion's Kiss. What a beautiful flower. Nothing like it to inflame your own passion, and to make you feel so alive. If only it could survive here as it was meant to be. I've seen it a couple of times, but so delicate. They say it came from the Feywild, like myself, and I could believe it. But we'll never know. If we make it back to Eschbach, we can always take a trip and try to find some. Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
Alfre the Pixie, talking to an injured (and rather disgruntled & rather alarmed) Kulug Jocki in the Nordic Temple during the Battle of Uppsala.