Bungmoss

Plant Type

Damp-Seeking Moss

Rarity

Common

Description

Upon aged trees, deep in the forests, where water is prevalent, lies a thick and heavy moss. Its surface always faces away from the strongest light that may fall from the canopy, towards the North, or South on the cardinal points. A dark, and mottled green-grey, Bungmoss appears similar to a lichen, with leafy extraneous elements upon thick, and dark tightly woven root-like rhizoids. These root structures burrow deep into elder trees, and draw from them nutrients that pass along the core of the living flesh.

In larger trees, this parasitic relationship is mostly ignored, the Bungmoss' lower structure, a gametophyte, adheres to the tree's flesh, and forms a pseudo-bark that protects it from the elements. Though, should Bungmoss become present on a younger tree by some fluke, it is likely the tree may suffer and perish under the ravenous draw, itself being unable to supply its growing needs.

In the season of breeding, late in the summer, Bungmoss grows small, sickly-yellow buds upon its thickest rhizoids, releasing a few septs later, clusters of spores that shift about the air, to land upon other trees, and begin their growth.

Location

Bungmoss is found in deep forests, below the chill of the Arctic lands, and north of the scorching Desert. It is most prevalent in the deep thickets of dense canopied forests, such as jungles or more compact woodland areas, though it can be found elsewhere with a bit of searching.

Development

Bungmoss develops slowly, as its life-source relies upon the growth and draw of the tree it attaches to. It is for this reason, that large quantities of Bungmoss are hard to acquire. Within ten years, it only grows a few inches, forming splotch-like collections upon the Northern and Southern compass points of a tree.

Once a colony of Bungmoss reaches Twelve years of age, it becomes mature, and may begin to produce bundles of spores from its rhizoids. As the spores lift into the air, they become pollinated by the male-oriented gametes of another Bungmoss plant nearby. However, due to their rarity, most spores die without ever becoming pollinated.

A singular colony of Bungmoss, may only exist on a single tree. Enzymes fed into the tree, which are indicative of a single plant, containing its specific pheromones, force any other spores to reject their host, dying on the vine.

Material Properties

Bungmoss is neither tough, nor incredibly durable. It may be used for a type of padding within pillows, though due to its alchemical effects, this would be incredibly ill advised.

It does contain a foul-smelling pheromone, excreted from its rhizoids, that may ward off small rodentia, and can be utilized as a type of scent-bag in homes.

• A fairly weak plant, unable to be used for cloth.
• It is soft, when removed from a tree. It can be used for padding.
• Alchemical effects apply if the situation is correct when used for padding.
• Contains a foul-smelling pheromone, which can ward off small rodents.

Alchemical Properties

Bungmoss is correctly known, by the most skilled of Alchemists, and those who stumble upon it by accident, as an unrivaled coagulant. It possesses the protein, Fibrinogen, within its rhizoid structures, that when properly removed, or accidentally removed, causes coagulation and cauterization.

However, due to the nature of a moss, the Fibrinogen protein that lies within Bungmoss, cannot be removed by simply boiling the plant. In fact, boiling it will cause the protein to denature, and become destroyed. Instead, it requires collection via crushing, and absorption. It increases in potency, the more purified the nature of collection is.

Consumption of the protein, in its natural form, or in a purified form, causes the lining of the stomach to begin to constrict, as the Fibrinogen calcifies the blood within the small cilia capillaries. After a short time, [12 OOC Hours], the stomach lining perishes. Ulcers, decay, and rot soon are to follow unless dealt with by a Life Magi.

• Bungmoss possesses a protein, Fibrinogen, that works as an unrivaled coagulant.
• Bungmoss' proteins cannot be extracted by boiling. It is destroyed with high temperature.
• The more purified the Bungmoss extract is, the more powerful the Coagulant/Cauterant.
• Consumption of Bungmoss, in natural or purified form, causes death and decay of the intestinal tract. Death soon follows if not treated by magic.

The World of Aethius • The Multiverse of Aethier