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Igneous Moss

Name: Igneous Moss (Pyrevein)

Size: Small

Region: Mountains

Lifespan: 3-5 years

Appearance

Igneous moss, or Pyrevein, is a vibrant red-orange moss that grows on the rocks on the inside of the active volcanoes on Dardanos, such as the famous Three Sisters. It grows in thin, sprawling amounts at the top on the volcanoes it inhabits, and grows thicker the closer you get to hot molten rock.

Pyrevein usually consists of eight or nine stems, all reaching around five inches in length, that spread out along the rock face clinging to the earth. These stems twist and turn at odd angles, and their vibrant red-orange color make them look like veins along the rock face, thus their more common name.

Each plant will also have two to ten small black seeds that look essentially like pebbles. These seeds are remarkable strong, as well as being practically heat proof.

Behaviour

Pyrevein has no particularly remarkable behaviors other than where and how it grows. It will, however cover over anything that sits for long enough in the volcano, and so Nymph settlements inside such places are usually decorated with them in a symbol of true symbiosis with nature.

Diet: The Pyrevein feeds off of typical photo synthesis, garnering most of its water from the steam and heat emanating from the lava.

Habitat: Igneous moss requires the extreme heat of fresh magma to survive, and thus grows only inside of volcanoes. It also seems to be exclusive to Dardanos, though no one has ever tried to transplant it anywhere as of yet.

Reproduction: Pyreveins reproduce when volcanoes erupt. The eruption drags along with it the small, black seeds found on each plant and then launches them into the air. The direct exposure to lava causes the seeds to begin to sprout, and if a seed lands somewhere with enough heat it will begin to grow.

Special Information

Weaknesses: Oddly, given the plant's dependence on magma, it dies when in contact with the material and is not remarkably difficult to burn.

Uses: Igneous moss is not usefull in and of itself, however the secretion caused by its roots (known as bithanium) is commonly sought both by herbalists and weapon smiths for its unique properties.

Origin: The pyrevein was discovered to be already growing when settlers of Dardanos first investigated the Sisters. The settlers at first thought it was a part of the volcano itself, and thus began to call it the veins of the mountains. Years later it was discovered to be a separate plant, and some years after that the uses for bithanium were found.

Creator: Russ