R&D - Zandalari Alchemical Notes - “Riverbud”
Riverbud is a plant with extreme sentimental and functional significance to the Zandalari people and the ecosystem of the continent. Despite its ancient and established presence on the Zandalari continent it sits in a surprisingly precarious position on the local food chain, being desired by many and having developed next to no natural defenses from its predator-species. It must rely on its ability to mask itself in its surroundings and on its innately accelerated reproductive rate to keep its population alive. The natives of this area have learned not to overharvest it for precisely this reason, however growing Blood Troll activity in its primary home of the Nazmiri swamplands have affected the wellbeing of the species. There have been efforts to transplant the Riverbud species to the less dangerous locale of Zuldazar and, as of this writing, those efforts have been extremely fruitful.
APPEARANCE) In its immaturity, the Riverbud plant can be extremely difficult to spot, presenting itself along river-beds as a cluster dry, dark-ochre coils, nearly indiscernible from the mud and soil. At this point in its life, the dark casing that contains the undeveloped Riverbud is thick and rough in texture, pocked where one can count the pods up-close. If one rubs their thumb along the center, they can follow a thin vertical seam which can be drawn upon to forcibly uncoil the plant, however, this is not advisable as it will kill the specimen and the bud inside will be worthless.
Upon its maturity, the strongest and tallest of the coils will unfurl itself over the course of 48 hours; the pod will split open along the seam and peel out to either side, baring the vibrant blue berry-like Riverbud inside. In rare instances, more than one coil in a cluster will reach maturity, sharing nutrients with its sister-plants; However, as a result, these plants produce less and sicklier pods than the ones wherein the weakest of the coils have been left to wither and compost. The average single-coiled Riverbud plant will produce anywhere from three (3) to eleven (11) berries with the thickest and the richest Riverbud berries found closer to the soil. Each riverbud is roughly the size of a palm, perfectly round and supple, semi translucent and a deep, azure blue in coloration. A transparent dermis can be peeled away or consumed safely and tastelessly. Underneath, vascular ‘chickenwire’ bundles decorate the berry in pale blue hair-sized streaks. If bitten into, the Riverbud berry is extremely juicy; dark, sweet and woody in taste. Its flesh is rubbery but squishy, much resembling a processed tapioca-pearl. If squeezed, the berry exhibits an off-grey juice which can be harvested in vials.
LOCATION) The Riverbud Plant is primarily found in the area of Nazmir, however efforts to relocate its species on the continent of Zandalar have made it possible to find in other locales such as the areas of Zuldazar. The plant will always be found in beds surrounding rivers and small lakes, but never along saltwater bodies. More often than not it will be partially-submerged, placing it in the range of herbivorous fish and other aquatic life.
HARVESTING/USES) Because of the currently endangered nature of the Riverbud plant, great care must be taken not to overharvest. When one is plucking riverbud berries from a coil, one must be careful to select the ripest and the sturdiest of the coils, leaving the others in the cluster to develop naturally unmolested. Pinch the riverbud berry gently between two fingers, being cautious not to yank up the coil. Turn the berry in its pod until the veins connecting it to the plant are severed and then pluck it free, storing it in a dark and damp place. Pluck every visible berry from the pod, discarding those that have been partially consumed or show signs of parasitic rot. This should be an uncommon find. The emptied coil will shrink and decay in time, fertilizing the soil for the next-strongest coil in the cluster to develop. It is not advisable to attempt to remove the coil but to separate the buds with authority.
While Riverbud does bear slight magical uses, its primary use on the continent of Zandalar is as a nutrient-rich source of food and hydration for the local plant life. It is a valued piece of the diets of nearly every plant-eating species in the area, which make it a coveted find for those creatures. The trainers of Zandalar often use these riverbuds to feed their beasts, each of which enjoys it from youth to maturity. Zandalari cooks have been known to use it in their recipes.
Alchemically, Riverbud serves as a useful filler-reagent in most magical potions. Due to its nutrient-density, it is a popular ingredient in potions of physical wellness and resilience such as the ‘Steelskin Potion’ and the ‘Potion of Bursting Blood’. It is a natural conductor of arcane energy and is a staple-piece in Zandalari potions of mana and flasks of arcane intellect. It is highly versatile and influenceable, creating an ideal vessel-reagent for poisons and other useful maladies.
STORAGE) Riverbud is highly perishable but easily stored and carried in its seed-form. After separation from a coil, the Riverbud berry will sustain itself for a week. The berries, being mere vessels of the juice inside, cannot be usefully dried. However, the juices can be squeezed and saved in a vial in a dark place for up to two weeks, after which point its magical properties diminish.
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