Savrin Wood

"Great material for decorative boxes, because they can mask most common household odors. If you don't feel like burning incense, which is a lot like burning money..."

— Carmichael, Caravan Owner

  Found in the Sebilian Jungle, the "savrin tree" grows in a bundle of thin trunks connected underground at the root network. This means it only can produce small pieces of lumber to work from, making it unsuited for construction purposes. Since it also is found in the jungle, and hasn't been succussfully cultivated elsewhere, there aren't many reasons to go out of the way to harvest it. But there have been other reasons to grow savrin trees: objects made from the wood is heavily valued by Valorian nobles.

Commonly called "muskwood" due to the distinct and strong odor, savrin wood is valued for being able to cover up most other unsavory odors. This can be anything from small decorative boxes to small shingles which are kept amongst clothing to help mask personal odors once the garments are worn. Eva Valoria has a bustling trade for various objects made from savrin wood, since it is the seat of power and appearances matter for many who live there. Since savrin wood is cheaper than other means to cover up smells, the middle class and lesser nobility tend to use it for that purpose. When not using incense, the scent of savrin wood will mask nearly every other trace of scents. The lower class tends to either do without, or use oils from various types of mint which is cultivated closer to the city. Higher levels of nobility often have the means to take baths regularly for personal hygiene, or wear enchanted objects which specifically mask their odor. (It should be noted such objects also render it impossible for them to be tracked by scent.)

Scholars also make use of savrin wood, as most pests which cause damage to paper and parchment are repelled by the oils within the wood. There are many libraries which have shelves lined in savrin wood, if the owner cannot afford magical aid to keep pests out. As these same pests can turn their attention to clothing, there have been a few woodworking studios lining chests with thin slabs of savrin when other lumber with similar properties is not available. Due to the expense and nature of the trees, these linings are thin and can be easily damaged by careless actions. Over the last few generations, it has been discovered savrin wood is very weak when the fibers are pulled or compressed, but remarkably durable against bending. Because of this, most objects lined in savrin wood will have flat surfaces rather than curved ones. This property also means it is less in demand for more ornate purposes where the ability to shape the wood is important; rather, decoration is done through carving or hand painting.

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