herbology101:herbology_101 [One Last Fire]

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====== Herbology 101 ======

Sire Plant seems to like it here in the Well. Their petals wave softly and the green shoots in their pot are turning from a light sage to a dark green. That's a good thing, right? Right?

Brother Johannes did like gardening, but you never had much of an interest in plant husbandry until now. Now that you have discovered Sire Plant, a Chosen abandoned in the Refuge of Amar's Bookshop, you can't deny you are emotionally invested. You must ensure the survival of Sire Plant.

Their legacy must be preserved.

And perhaps, if you treat them well, they will continue to grace you with their amicable presence. At least, until they find someone worthier than yourself.

But now, through your conversation with Efsan, you have realised more about the true identity of Sire Plant. It was thanks to Sire Plant you were permitted into the Well's mushroom farm because Efsan knew the kind of flower they were!

A Rafflesia, she called Sire Plant. Said they were native to Southeast Asia? How far East are you now? You have never travelled so far from the monastery, from Ireland. It is all very strange, but you have begun to accept the strangeness that comes with time-travelling through different, magical libraries.

You drift away from the conversation, the disagreement around what to with the God-like gigantic fish, the Besa, and seek out Efsan again. Eventually, panting and struggling for breath, you find her. It's hard work carrying Sire Plant around. They do seem bigger and heavier than when you first discovered them.

Or… did they discover you, you consider?

“Pardon me, Dame Efsan?” you call out. She doesn't seem to hear you as she has a box filled with fish and insects in hand on her way to the mushroom farm.

You try again, a bit louder. “Dame Efsan!”

She whirls around with a scowl. It quickly fades as she recognises you. “Oh, you are… Sed, right? And… uh… Sire Plant?”

You nod, trying your best not to seem over-eager. You can't wait to learn more about Sire Plant and the excitement is beginning to spill over.

“Can I talk to you more about… Rafflesia? And the plants from this region? I… um… want to be able to care for Sire Plant better. They do seem to like this hot and humid climate…”

Efsan is still staring at Sire Plant, but meets your wary gaze when you trail off. “I am not an expert on rafflesia, have never seen one firsthand actually. But if you are okay with secondhand knowledge…”

“Yes, anything would be helpful!”

The woman nods slowly. “Alright, let me deliver these creatures first. I will be right back.”

She disappears down the corridor you recall leads to the mushroom farm and returns within ten minutes. When she reappears, her expression has soured again. “I would invite you back to the farm if those scientist friends of yours hadn't commandeered a section for the sedative project. And some of them like to flap their tongues a little too much for my liking.”

“That's okay! We can just stand around here,” you assure her. You really don't want to cause undue trouble or stress.

Efsan shrugs, leads you further down the corridor lined with archways looking out over the central pool of the Well and then leans against a wall.

She begins sharing with you all she knows about the rafflesia.

Efsan admits her specialty is in plants which can be cultivated in the Well's climate and ecosystem and that this is comprised primarily of mushrooms, algaes, mosses, and lichens. There are some vines which thrive down here as well, but certainly not rainforest floor species like rafflesia. She explains that the rafflesia is very rare and that they are a parasitic species. Your eyes widen at this as the only parasites you have heard of are quite harmful. And you thought Sire Plant was good!

Apparently, rafflesia typically are a parasite on a type of vine and they attach to the roots of the vine and obtain their nutrients from there. And the reason for Sire Plant's fetid, rotting flesh smell? Efsan smirks and says, “It attracts insects that feed on dead creatures. Those insects transport pollen from one rafflesia to another, or at least to another part of the forest where a new rafflesia can find a host.”

Your gaze flicks to Sire Plant, squatting innocently in their pot. Sire Plant is a more complex individual than you could ever have imagined.



Suddenly Efsan bends down and begins poking at Sire Plant's green leafy shoots.

“What are you doing?!” you cry out and move to shield Sire Plant with your very body. You had already damaged Sire Plant earlier in attempting a trim… and then Besa had eaten one of the leaves.

You hang your head in remembered guilt.

Efsan stops prodding and looks at you with that same amused smirk. “Looks like your rafflesia, Sire Plant, has a host vine plant to feed off of after all.”

You look curiously as Efsan points to the leaves you thought were Sire Plant's and she says that it is a Tetrastigma leucostaphylum, an Indian chestnut vine. Seems like a seedling was along for the ride after all.

“Is-is that good or bad?” This is all new to you, and although you are appreciative of Efsan's teachings, it is a lot to absorb at once.

“Good.” Efsan reassures and stands up. “Wherever you replant this 'Sire Plant' make sure they stay with the vine. Without a host a rafflesia will not survive.”

Parasite… host… you are still pondering these words and what is the meaning of such a relationship when angry shouting floats from near the mushroom farm further back.

Is that… William Wraith's voice? Is he yelling at the top of his lungs again?

Efsan curses. “Sorry. Have to go make sure your friends don't destroy my entire livelihood.”

She waves farewell and leaves you alone with your thoughts, Sire Plant and… Sire Plant's parasitic host???
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