Bloodfire Mango Tree

Look, most of the time I discourage magic users from tinkering too much with the natural order. I mean honestly there are enough cautionary tales out there to fill several books and a whole series of plays, but every once in a while, the stars align and we get something delightfully tasty like the Bloodfire Mango.

— Jasper Cameron, Leader of the Bronze Ravens.

 

From the Journal of Tilloth'tonogozonannoth

_{Volume 77: The Peculiarities of Aether Influenced Plants.}   The Dryads of Hell's Half-Acre approached me with this rather peculiar plant and asked me to study it. I shall make this a priority as usually I have to ask them to find me new subjects to fill the time. They apparently were concerned that the species may spread from where they found it (though how they found it I still am unsure, their continued ability to near instantaneously access areas across the globe is somewhat vexing given this planes abhorrence to most teleportation magic). I'm assuming since the specimen they brought me appears to be well cared for that there is a tended grove with its own Dryad, who is likely experiencing some bleed-over of the tree's traits.   The specimen that they brought me appears to be around 160 years old, plus or minus a decade or so. I would imagine that those less familiar with these studies would have an even harder time, as there is no small amount of otherworldly essence flowing through the tree. While most of it appears come from a mix of demonic and devilish blood, there appears to be an influential amount of aberrant factors as well as a not-subtle influence from the elemental plane of fire.   To my knowledge, this particular mixture of materials exists in only a single place on Kohtalo, and so I must conclude that the orchard from which this Mango Tree originates is near Wizard's Peak, that most dangerous home of the Grand Wizard Kitoypoy. Despite me communicating this, the dryads seem quite intent on keeping this specimen alive, so no doubt Lux and I shall need to source this most unique of fertilizers... and put up a fence because the last thing we need is guests to wander near the tree.  

Morphology

Bark - The bark of the Bloodfire Mango reminds me most of the burning fissures of Troxas. Realizing that most of you dont have a frame of reference for that, the gaps in the bark pulse with a light that you would likely describe as infernal, the glow shifting from dark reds and oranges to deep purples. What causes these shifts in color I have yet to figure out, though it is likely related to the movement of certain Leylines and the Moons. The bark feels unpleasantly warm to the touch, regardless of ones inherent resistance to extreme temperatures. Both Lux and Chef confirmed feeling something similar despite there being no change in the measured temperature of the bark. I can only conclude that this is some lingering psychic effect of the trees unique diet.   The bark, and almost every other part of the tree, is resistant and corrosive to all extra-planar materials that I have been able to test. Though for native beings of this plane it appears to have some medicinal effects, for those of us from elsewhere it is incredibly toxic.   Foliage - In the light of day one could be forgiven for thinking that the leaves are relatively normal. A verdant green in color, with the elongated shape one would expect of a typical mango leaf. And that, likely, is what they were designed to look like. I say designed because it is highly unlikely that this species came about on its own, even with the influence of its "fertilizer". Unlike normal mangos, close inspection will show the leaves are slightly serrated and from the tips of these serrations extends the tiniest of spines. Admittedly, these serrations and spines are only extended in the presence of extra-planar energies, any extra-planar energies. Magic items that pull from the elemental planes, demonic armor, devilish weapons, even items of divine origins will cause the leaves to flex. The small spines, when brushed against, will embed into whatever extra-planar substance they have come in contact with and then start to break that material down any movement works them further in. The process is unpleasant to say the least. I still shudder thinking about the pain in the hands I lost due to my initial inspection. The serrations, though able to be resisted by metals, will leave rather unpleasant cuts in any otherworldly leathers, cloths, or flesh. These cuts and tears will no doubt be embedded with the aforementioned spines, and so healing them is incredibly difficult.   It should also be noted that at night the leaves glow faintly, providing little more illumination that starlight. However, should two moons be full, the leaves, and the glow, shift in color to match the pulses of the bark and emit light bright enough that one could comfortably read by it, as long as you are not bothered by the color. The leaves will shift back to a more natural green over the following day.   Wood - The wood of the Bloodfire Mango is a hardwood of deep red color. While it is able to be worked perfectly fine with normal tools, here too, one will notice the plants aversion to all things other. Attempt to work the wood with anything extra-planar and you will find yourself with a broken tool, as the wood will leave splinters even more corrosive in nature than the spines on the leaves. Luckily simply handling the wood does not seem to produce such splinters, though after my experience with the leaves I did wear hide gloves, just to be safe. (no splinters were found in the gloves of regular hide or my demon-hide gloves, so it appears the splinters only come from the direct destruction of the wood).   While still living the wood is exceedingly flexible. The branches can flail about with surprising force, though they only appear to do so should someone put non-native metal to the trunk. They will whip with enough force to break bones, and bring whatever poor soul is there in contact with a large numbers of leaves and spines.   Roots - I will not lie to you, I have no idea how the roods of the Bloodfire Mango came to be. They are an exceedingly unique structure that I have not come across before in my studies. Unlike many carnivorous plants the roots do not activate on first, or even second contact of a trip hair. Instead it seems to take prolonged contact. Sadly, due to my duties as Hell's Half-Acre I have been unable to determine the exact amount of time required, but it is greater than 4 hours, and less than 7 hours.   Should something of sufficient weight rest atop a root or group of roots for the required time, it shall find itself in the process of being digested in one of the most painful ways that I have yet witnessed. The roots will coil around you, bringing you closer to the main trunk of the tree. As you begin this migration towards death, starting at one end, the roots shall begin to tighten with bone-crushing force, eventually pulping their prey, providing water and nourishment to the tree.  

Ruminations on Behavior

Based off what I know of where this tree comes from and who most probably created it, I'm guessing that it does not usually consume live, healthy "prey". Rather, it is likely that that it exists symbiotically with the Grand Wizard and the forces that gather at Wizard's Peak. It provides at least a partial barrier, all the more effective if my guess about the grove having a Dryad is true, and even more importantly, the trees provide disposal for the many, many corpses of otherworldly beings. In return tree provides a nourishing fruit, which no doubt has a large number of magical properties. Sadly, the single specimen that I have has not yet produced any fruit, and seems resistant to being encouraged to do so by magical means. There is, of course, the chance that the tree is one of the species of plant with separate sexes, and so without a second tree, it may not flower and fruit at all. I shall have to send a missive to Wizards Peak, or see if I can convince some adventurers to make the trip to get samples of the fruit, for I am curious as to its properties.   Come to think of it, I believe the brewers at Outh Mead provided us with 2 casks of Bloodfire Mead a while back. I shall have to check the inventory and if we have any left I may be able to glean some of the fruits properties from that, assuming the fruit is where that mead gets its name from. If not, they may be an alternate source of procurement, as they do seem capable of getting a surprisingly diverse number of ingredients for their brewing given their remote location.