Thistles
Plants that sting with their spiny barbs.
The down of thistles is used in the powering of magical flight. However, the spines on the plant itself make the harvesting of the down difficult even with gloves. Different types of thistle have sharper barbs than others, and some are even noxious making the ability to differentiate between types very useful.
Magical Uses
Thistles are, of course, famous for their use in magical flight-a feat once thought impossible in the magical academic world. They also have other uses in magic. The spines of particularly tough types are often used in the work of inscribing runes. The flowers work in magical dyes used for cloth and clothing, and the tough stems are pounded for their milky substance used in potions.
Thistle Types in Magic
Different types of thistles and their down have different uses in magical flight. Lighter, less noxious types are preferred for completely wingless flight, and thus are the most expensive. Heavier downs are more useful in the creation of prosthetic wings and mechanical vessels as their properties are more robust. Noxious types are used in the creation of deadly war craft. Wings and vessels meant for long spaces of time spent in war remain both strong and full of poisonous coatings.
Other Uses
Particularly noxious thistles are used in poisons and dyes. The barbs are often used in simple projectiles as a deterrent to thieves and brigands.
Inks are also made from the vibrant flowers' pigments.
Thistlefolk
Harvesters of thistles and their down, Thistlefolk can, and do, turn tidy profits from the discomfort of plucking the spiny plants. Usually a business begun by poorer class folks, some families have risen to higher social classes by simply enduring the pain of thistle harvesting. This has created a boom in poorer families beginning their own businesses in the hope that they, too will rise to greater social standing.
Unfortunately, the consequence of this is overharvesting of thistles, making them rarer still in the magical components trade. Some thistlefolk have begun daring the dangers of Brangorn to collect the wild thistle that grows there. Not everyone comes back, and thus the price of thistles is even higher.
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