Ereberry

CW: Mention of suicide in "Toxic Properties"

Ereberries are small epiphyte plants that grow on the trunks and bark of maze pines on Maloruno. They are feared for the hallucinations and rage they cause in those who consume them, the rage that can only be stopped with death.

Anatomy

The two most significant parts of ereberry bushes are the leaves and the berries.

The berries are a bright purple - this colour attracts rune deer for an unexplained reason, rather than deterring them as it does any other species as it appears poisonous. The berries are small, approximately 2cm in diameter, and are very soft. They grow in large clumps of 5 - 10 just below branches. There are usually about twenty clumps per bush, which wrap around the maze pine trunks.

The leaves of the ereberry bush are a bright green, much brighter than maze pine needles and they stand out. The leaves are a squarish shape, with round, serrated edges.

Toxic Properties

Despite not actually being toxic, they are considered so thanks to their various mind-altering properties. When consumed, ereberries release a catastrophic amount of cortisol and testosterone, which sends whoever consumed it into an episode of pure rage, that cannot be controlled nor stopped. The only known method of stopping this rage episode is by mercifully killing them. Rather quickly, the animal will become so overwhelmed by rage and stress they will stop at nothing until they kill themselves. Reports of rune deers impaling themselves with branches, jumping off mountains and cliffs, and drowning themselves have all circulated the planet.

Because rune deers are attracted to ereberries, rage episodes in the animals are not uncommon. In fact, many stories of uncontrollable rune deers are a common campfire horror story, especially ones that describe the animals tearing up entire settlements and slaughtering many hundreds of people.

Maze Pines

Ereberries share a mutualistic relationship with maze pines. The maze pines provide a safe place to live for the ereberries, while the berries scare off other animals from eating both of them. Rune deers eating just one berry and going on a rampage will scare off the entire herd forever, which makes them very effective.

WARNING

These berries are incredibly toxic. Do not consume. They will cause uncontrollable rage in those who consume them.

Geographic Distribution

Related Species
Maze Pine