Moonfire Pollen
Moonfire pollen is harvested from Moonfire Flowers. The most common, though certainly not only, use is as a poison.
Properties
Material Characteristics
The substance is a fine pollen, more like a powder. The dark red-brown-black particles are mixed with the gold particles about two to one.
Physical & Chemical Properties
Moonfire flower pollen is highly poisonous to humans and most humanoid species. Marelis are, curiously, resistant.
Compounds
The pollen is poisonous on its own if breathed in or ingested, but can be used to create even more potent compounds and poisons. It can also be used in other potions and magical creations, but of course, the user must be incredibly careful not to get poisoned.
Geology & Geography
The Moonfire Flower that produces the pollen are native to Ryold. The plant can be cultivated elsewhere, but usually isn't except by the odd mage, scientist, plant enthusiast...or criminal.
Origin & Source
Moonfire Pollen comes from the Moonfire Flower.
Life & Expiration
The compound does not lose potency when it is dried, crushed, or added to other compounds. The one exception is salt water or copious amounts of salt. Salt water can almost entirely neutralize raw pollen, and adding a lot of salt to anything made with the pollen can do so as well.
History & Usage
Everyday use
Moonfire pollen has few day-to-day, much less ethical or legal, uses. It's deadly to most humanoid species except the Marelis. It is a powerful magic ingredient, but only if it is not neutralized, making it usually not worth the risk; there are no uses for which something else cannot be substituted, though perhaps those substitutes can be harder to find, more expensive, or some other inconvenience. In a neutralized state, it is sold as a spice for food, but due to the danger in handling it to make the spice, it is rare and extraordinately expensive. The final use is by the Marelis to make a dark red body paint which they use in some ceremonies.
Cultural Significance and Usage
The Marelis use the moonfire pollen to create a body paint for ceremonies. This has become somewhat less common as the Marelis have intermingled to some degree with the humans of Ryold, who cannot use the body paint unless made with a different compound or neutralized with salt.
Distribution
Trade & Market
Most trade of the moonfire pollen is as a spice, coming from Ryold, where it is occasionally processed by Marelis who wish to have something to trade. This spice is an expensive luxury.
People always insist on turning very poisonous things into delicious food. :D
Explore Etrea | March of 31 Tales
They like to walk on the edge, I guess.