Livezweig Leaves
Livezweig (live branch) trees only grow naturally in one place, around a portal to the Plane of Air on the island of Regenfelsen. The broad leaves are constantly filled with the wind, even if no wind blows in the surroundings: as if affected by a control weather spell.
This spell effect continues even if the branches are taken off the tree, as long as the leaves are still attached to the wood. They can even be stitched together to form sails. Luckily for the Wislandish navy, they can be cultivated anywhere through the use of a wand of control weather.
Still, because wands are not cheap, livezweig leaves are a limited resource. Only the ships capable of very high top speeds are issued livebranch sails, and only the adventuring captains most trusted by their party's officials can requisition them.
Properties
Material Characteristics
Waxy when attached to tree, brittle to the touch when used as a sail. Though continually filled with wind, the leaf only bows outward slightly indicating the direction of the magical wind. It never flaps or snaps. It must however be taken down in the event of hail, as the hailstones will punch holes through the brittle dead leaves.
Geology & Geography
Naturally found only on Regenfelsen. Best grown in acidic soil. A livezweig tree's bark will make the ground around it gradually more acidic, meaning that most plants will not grow there. Highly susceptible to magical fungal infections, which the Conservation Corps has spent a great deal of resources to keep off of Regenfelsen.
Life & Expiration
Like most magical materials, a livezweig branch will not deteriorate as long as it remains whole and the magic is active. If the leaves are unattached from the branch, they pretty much instantly begin to rot. If the branch is disjoined or otherwise has it's magic stripped away, it also begins to rot within a few minutes. It is of course highly flammable, and indeed the wind magic will very quickly create an inferno out of the branch.
History & Usage
History
Those who peruse a great many dusty draconic scrolls may eventually piece together the story of how a portal to the Plane of Air came to sit on Regenfelsen.
Discovery
Long known to the elves, they were nothing but a rumor to everyone else until a Fermenese ship was wrecked on Regenfelsen. Their leader smartly helped out the local druids, and was given some livezweig branches to use in repairing his ship. They soon became a highly prized magical item, and a symbol of status for the Wislandish elite. Even in socialist Wisland, livezweig sails are a sign of favor with the regime.
Everyday use
The most common use for livezweig branches is for sails, though they can have other uses as well.
The people of Regenfelsen, for example, use the branches as lightning rods on their watch-towers. In this case, the leaves are stripped away and it is the dried branch which is used: stood upright on top of the building.
They can also be used as weather vanes, as the branches will turn so that the leaves are filled by the wind. Though this is frowned upon in socialist Wisland, as it is a profligate use of a limited resource. A few of the great Sudronian houses have such weathervanes, as souvenirs from their time as Wislandish nobles.
Cultural Significance and Usage
heavily associated with high status and nobility, their use tends to be frowned upon by the more radical socialists. In Sudron, a sign of Wislandish heritage.
Manufacturing & Products
livezweig sails: two branches, positioned parallel to each other, with the leaves sewn together. They don't look like much, but they make a ship sail at top speed regardless of the weather. Most ships with such sails also have normal sails for use while maneuvering in combat, since it is not normally desirable for the ship to move at top speed while in close quarters.
Byproducts & Sideproducts
If it decomposes, tannins.
Hazards
Acidic tannins, if the branch begins to rot. Keep away from alkaline substances while decomposition commences.
Environmental Impact
The trees render an area about 10ft square around them mostly infertile, due to the tannins in their bark. Only acidophile plants will grow near them.
Reusability & Recycling
In the rare event that a livezweig branch is disjoined or otherwise rendered nonmagical, it generally becomes compost within a day. It can then be used to acidify alkaline soil, or the tannin can be extracted through repeated rinsing and squeezing through a tightly woven cloth.
Type
Metamaterial
Odor
like oak leaves, but slightly spicy.
Taste
Like oak leaves (humanoids shouldn't eat)
Color
bright green, turning brown when on the trees. Brown when dry and used as sails.
Boiling / Condensation Point
if pulverized and dissolved in water, raises the boiling point by two degrees due to the tannins.
Melting / Freezing Point
if pulverized and dissolved in water then frozen, raises the melting point by two degrees.
Common State
a broad oak-shaped leaf.
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