Dwarf Axe

This alpine plant is rarely found in mountains and the remotest parts of desolate and inhospitable environments and practically never found anywhere else. The most prolific place it can be found is the Bairn Mountains and then, again, only at the highest peaks. The climate may be dry but cold. Wind is not a problem as it tends to thrive in rock crevices or among other alpine plants. Heat is the climate that perishes this small plant with extravagant flowers.

Typically it grows to less than an inch tall, a carpet of moss-like leaves that from a cushion of green to dark green pointed, succulent foliage. Sometimes the plants becomes damaged by animals or falling scree and other natural occurrences. When this occurs often a small part of the clump falls away and this may be blown to a new location, but once it comes to rest it may send out small roots and gain a new footing and grow a new plant. It is one way that it spreads.

Very cold, snow or ice laden locations may form the plant into a tougher, tighter clump, warmer climes produces a lighter, more open form. the body of the plant often freezes and can remain so for many Dodecates, indeed it has been said that a Dwarf Axe plant once encased within a glacier bloomed when finally the glacier thawed and disappeared. There is no maximum size to the plants covering capacity and one legend tells of a valley that spawned a ravine covered in Dwarf Axe. No sighting has been mentioned in Cycles however and this rare plant is expensive to those that have a use for it. The leaves offer little value to creature or being, being of little or no nutritional value, dry out quickly when harvested and become powdery if kept in a warm environment such as a home or cool cave, and indeed the leaves are not in the least pretty other than its ability to turn gray rock and white snow into green spotted landscapes.

It is not the foliage that Dwarf Axe is known for, or indeed for which it fetches such a lord's ransom, it is the flowers of this little, inconsequential plant that causes both swollen purses that have it for sale and deadly use in those that buy it. From a Dodecate old it may flower at any time, particularly if liquid falls upon the plant or moistens the ground around one, melting snow or ice often have this effect. Once the plant has received the attainable moisture it will begin to send up a tough, tubular stem that reaches up to eight inches in height, and a clump of six inches in diameter may produce anywhere between 1 to eight stems, depending upon the amount of moisture present and the length of time before it freezes or disappears. After the stems have grown, around a Waek to half size, the stem forms a bulbous end and this becomes the bud. Once the stem is full sized the bud opens at the tip and the flower pushes its way out of the stem, which in turn closes and seals behind it, forming a perfect tube to the flower. the red and white petals then unfold downward into two clear sides. White petals with red edges and normally three red radiating lines that neither touch edge or middle. the petals are narrow at the middle and widen to the edge much like the shape of a double-headed axe. Hence the name Dwarf Axe. The name has been attributed to its size but some have linked it more to the insulting name of the Cairngroms, particularly as they have an affinity with axes.

The stamen and anthers form a circle in the center of the flower and wind or animal disturbance can pass pollen from flower to flower. Even water or ice have been said to pollinate the flowers as it drips or flows across its surface. No insects are known to trouble the flower except the rare Rock Beetle that drinks the nectar and becomes drunk with its potency.

The seeds are small and reddish, appearing in the first Waek of Fall. They are innutritious and germinate in Thirdpentawaek -Fourthpentawaek. The sapling grows quickly to around four feet where it then slows and begins to thicken. Draaf tend to live up to 500 Dodecates, in good localities.

The leaves, the only really useful part of this plant other than its natural beauty, are best picked when yellow or tan and ingested, the best time being between Fourthpentawaek and Eighthpentawaek. Once eaten the leaves will do little for up to a Passage or a Passage and a half, then any concussion in the eater is removed quite gently but rapidly. Clarity of thought and vision will occur within moments. After this the leaves continue to aid in the form of general healing over the course of a day to three days. 

The leaves when gathered or picked must be dried naturally, usually taking about two - three Passages in temperate sunny weather, though hot sun-spots can reduce this time by around a Passage. Once dried they should be used that day or they lose -15% on their chance to heal and cure per day following until 6 days have passed whereby they crumble and become useless. Bottling or packing in bags, both of which must be sealed from air will enable them to last much longer but each time the bag or bottle is opened they will lose 1D6% effectiveness. The leaves can be eaten with other foodstuffs but should not be placed into liquids.

The leaves though perishable are potent and consuming more than two in any Passage can give disastrous results to the consumer in the form of stomach cramps and dizziness followed by retching which can remove the benefit of their properties. Other than this they cause no harm.

Should very large doses be needed the entire tree may be removed of its leaves and still survive but constant harvesting throughout a whole Dodecate or two can cause the tree severe problems and may result in death.