Amaranthine Gardens

The Gardens

  Amaranthine Gardens are rare medical facilities amongst the Ehlen and are primarily located in and around their namesake city of Amaranthine. The gardens themselves are often isolated from the nearby flora, framed by intricate archways, pillars, and statuaries to mark them and their significance. A stone slab lays at the center of the garden formation with a single pathway leading to the declared entrance. The rest of the garden is filled with thick, vibrant Amaranths blooming eternally in a deep garnet. Several beehives adorn the nearby statuary. The bees that reside in the garden are abnormally large and red in color, having been created by Elanaah to exclusively reside in and tend to the gardens. The bees are in a constant state of pollination within the gardens in every season. Regardless of weather conditions or the state of the flora and fauna outside, the gardens themselves maintain an appearance of constant spring. The Amaranths that grow within the decrease in height as they get closer to the stone slab in the center. By the outside pillars and statuary they can reach heights of nine feet; gradually decreasing to a meager three feet closest to the center.  

History

  The Amaranthine Gardens were created by Elanaah when she originally left the Ehlen to their own dealings. Concerned for the frail mortality of her people, the Amaranths that grew inside the garden were blessed so that their pollen and grain would become a panacea to all common injuries and illnesses - but only if they offered her honest worship. This was never an issue to the native Ehlen that pledged their lives and allegiance to their creator. The gardens were declared sacred grounds and not to be tampered with outside of their intended use. Ever since they have been regarded as cultural landmarks, and many people around the world have traveled to Amaranthine in an effort to offer prayer to Elanaah and make use of her gardens.    Recently the gardens have become a controversial subject amongst the citizens of Amaranthine and foreign visitors. The attack on Ehlen lands from the previous Archmagos of The Collective has greatly increased border security and prejudice against foreigners, even more than a century after the fact. Many who have traveled from other lands or countries have been turned away simply for the fact that they were not natives. There lies a small faction of Ehlen within the city that rebels against these decisions and claims that any who proclaims worship of Elanaah deserves a chance to lie on the slab, regardless of their origin.  

Usage

  A Cleric of Elanaah will be present at each garden at all times. These clerics are responsible for overseeing the use of the gardens, tending to the flowers and beehives, and warding off anyone who may have ill intent. When someone is approved for use of the altar, they are brought in and laid prone against the stone slab. A small swarm of bees will begin to gather around the slab and crawl over whoever is laying on it. If the cleric was right in their judgment, the bees will spread pollen from the Amaranths across the individual, causing their healing powers to begin work immediately. Should the cleric have misjudged and Elanaah deems the person unworthy of her gift, the bees will sting and inject them with a powerful, lethal venom, instantly paralyzing them before slowly stopping their heart. The latter has been an extremely rare scenario but certainly not unseen. After being treated by the pollinating bees, the individual will be gifted a meal of toasted grain from the Amaranths along with honey from the hives. This meal will often be the final step in the healing process to tackle the worst of what ails the affected.