Flowering Daeva Moss

In the deep dark recesses of the world, most plants would readily wilt and die. Mosses, however, thrive. One particular breed is that of the daeva moss.    

Environmental Requirements

  The moss tends to take the strongest hold in the presence of a steady, dripping flow of water. Damp, dark cave systems that are either close enough to the surface for rain water to permeate through or caverns located under water reservoirs are the most effective. In these environments the moss slowly and steadily covers most surfaces, spreading its hair-like roots into any crevice it can. A number of other mosses also enjoy similar environments and act as competitors for both space and nutrients.    

Identifiable Features

  Much of the time, the moss has very small and unremarkable dull greenish leaves and it would be tough to differentiate it from many other mosses. However, when the water it is feeding on has dissolved certain metals or minerals, it becomes slightly alkaline, which in turn, begins the plant's reproductive process. The moss then starts to sprout what could be mistaken for small white flowers. These are actually the male reproductive organs designed to release cells that fertilize the female’s eggs. The male portion of the plant releases a chemical that alerts the female portion which echos back with its own signaling which allows the fertilization process to occur. This signalling chemical is well known for having a strong, sickly sweet scent and makes the specific breed easily identified while in this state.

Symbiotic or Parasitic

  The reproductive system of the plant is robust on its own but its spores rely on a more acidic environment to be able to take a foothold. Luckily, a combination of acidic and alkaline are present in most cave systems but in order to spread further, the plant has employed the local cave fauna into its lifecycle. Due to the sweet aroma of the plant, animals, goblins and dwarves alike have been drawn to it over the centuries. When the spores are inhaled or consumed they are introduced to warm and slightly acidic conditions. This activates the spores and when they are then expelled, they are ready to take hold in a new cave system, spreading the plant further atunnel. To spread its seed even further the plant has developed a substance that acts as a light hallucinogen that it expels alongside the spores. The main side effects are a feeling of dread, auditory hallucinations or, in some cases, peripheral visual hallucinations. It is hypothesised whether this is an evolved trait or entirely coincidental but the end result is the further spreading of the activated spores from creatures travelling while in a panicked state.      

Goblin Uses

    Some goblin clans and camps have found that by repeatedly heating and cooling harvested daeva moss beds over a number of days, they are able to extract small quantities of liquid that provide a potent and prolonged hallucinogenic effect. As the extraction process is so time consuming, the liquid gathered is often prized and saved for use as a pre-battle pick-me-up for those able to get hold of it.

Dwarven Uses

  Dwarven botanists have managed to find that when the flowers of the moss are harvested and washed clean of any residual spores, they can then be crushed into a pale paste. This paste has some restorative and pain relieving properties and is most commonly used to treat small wounds. In some cities, it’s even been known to then be dried and turned into a type of chewable gum-like substance that provides short term pain relief. The paste, much like the flower it is created from, still holds the same sickly sweet scent which helps counter its bitter flavouring.

This is a submission for my second Summer Camp - I hope you enjoy the world I am building!