Ocean's Breath

Plant Type

Seaweed

Rarity

Rare

Description

Ocean’s Breath was given its name through when Syrien merchants traded off the plant for its unique looks and extra salty additive for cooking, but those on land soon found out through alchemical experimenting and testing, that it allows you to breathe water, hence the name Ocean’s Breath. It’s found commonly a few miles off of the coast, or in otherwise oxygen rich environments, yet only in saltwater.

Akin to most seaweeds, it is easily described as multiple little tendrils that snake outward from a base to enact its usual process of photosynthesis. They also possess a rather unique part that allows them to filter the water itself for nutrients as well. At the base of the vibrantly colored, light blue edged blades, is a large bulb, which then extends into the roots. Upon the base of this bulb there are two holes that allows the gentle flow of seawater to pass through and within this, is an advanced filter system that allows the plant to take in and eat small micro-organisms that pass through along with taking in oxygen for itself.

This part of the bulb is what caught the eyes of seafarers and alchemists alike, that being an alchemical that allows humanoids or those who breathe only air to be able to breathe beneath the crashing waves of the sea. This grew extensively popular on merchant ships and otherwise that have to sail through notoriously rough waters. The Captains of these ships typically carried a vial for the possible emergency of being swept beneath the waves.

At the very base of the bulb there resides the inner blades, which take on a shade of grin for part of the photosynthesis process. However, during the night the colors change entirely. Upon the setting of the sun and the rays of light dimming to darkness, the plant stores the gathered energy used for photosynthesis and relies entirely on the bulb for passive energy. As this happens, the entire plant becomes a vibrant blue, getting brighter as it goes from bulb to the very tips of the blades.

This makes it far more easy to spot within the darkness of the ocean other than the other few signs it gives. This was the incentive originally for syrien merchants to gather and sell the beautiful plant and all its vibrant coloration. It was sold initially for the dyes it gave while amidst this state.

When harvesting the plant, it requires a gentle hand for the bulb is very delicate and any damage done to it will ruin it entirely. The filter system within is fragile to the point where it is meant only for the seawater it grows beneath to flow through it. A far too rough grip or much too violent of motions will ruin the entire system and the alchemical creation of the liquid within.

Location

Ocean’s Breath grows in oxygen rich environments within the sea, this being a few miles off of the coast, coral reefs, or in other aquatic biomes where oxygen and life is massively abundant. It’s typically seen out in the open, as it needs photosynthesis to feed, and an open way for water to come through its bulb.

Development

Ocean’s Breath has a rather average cycle, every sept after its initial creation, the plants’ bulb opens up, and it releases the developing seeds within itself off into the waters currents, letting the seeds spread out and away. Unfortunately for the plant, not only is there very few seeds that are released to begin with, but many smaller fish tend to eat the seeds as a small salty snack, making it difficult for the Sea Merchant to keep a high population, thus making it so difficult to find. Once the seeds land in their spot though, they are typically buried in sand or lodged away into a coral reef or rock, where they slowly began to once more grow out roots and blades, beginning its path to adulthood. They reach full maturity after [1 OOC month], as that’s where they release their own seeds for the first time.

Material Properties

• A special liquid lives in the stems of the Ocean's breath plant that produces an extremely useful ink-like substance, and is able to adhere and act as if it were Ink on land beneath the waves, but not harm the Syrien like regular ink would. This is often the most used writing material in Syrien literature-the little that exists.

Alchemical Properties

• The Ocean’s Breath produces a special and rare alchemical found scarcely in its filtration system, if an alchemist is to press this out and concentrate it, it would grant the user an effect far superior to that of the weed-like mouthwater plant, and allow them to be able to breathe in both water, and on land freely. In addition to this, a temporary transformation occurs in which the hands and feet of the user become rubbery and webbed, becoming far more aquatic then normal. This allows them to swim more efficiently, almost like a half mer yet nowhere near that of the Syrien or other creatures of the depths.

The World of Aethius • The Multiverse of Aethier