Defenders of the Forest - Liber Fanatica

Chapter XI: Flora, Fauna
and Foes of the Forest
Ch a p t e r XI: Fl o r a , Fa u n a
a n d Fo e s o f t h e Fo r e s t
“The forest is a wild and dangerous place, my child. It should be treated with respect and never
taken for granted. Make offerings to both plants and animals, so that Isha and Kurnous will watch
us, then the forest will warn us of danger and we can do our part in protecting kith and kin.”
Gethdaine Bluefeather, Warhawk Rider
The woodland realms of the Asrai are more dangerous than most
in the Old World. Human children are taught that the Old
World’s forests are dangerous for a variety of reasons, and not all
of them have fangs. Certain plants and trees are known to have
mind-altering or dangerous properties and are also best avoided.
Needless to say, Athel Loren and other Wood Elf forests are
an entirely different order of strangeness, because the flows of
magic have awakened the flora, and subtly changed the fauna
that dwells within them.
El v e n He r b a l i s m
The Old World’s forests contain a diverse range of plants available
for use in herbal remedies. Wood Elves believe their bodies
are sacred and should be nurtured accordingly (see Gaelen’s
Theory in WFRP Companion pg. 53). The magic of the woodland
realms imbues many plants with special properties that
make them desirable to herbalists and apothecaries. The Asrai
are considered to be the greatest herbalists in the Old World,
able to cure ailments of the heart and mind as effectively as afflictions
of the body.
Silverleaf
Availabilty: Scarce
Enviroment: Forest
Form: Leaves
Application: Vapours
Blessing: See below
Side Effects: Hallucinations
These white flowers grow mainly upon the banks of the Mirror
Pools of Ithorien (see pg. 66). They are identifiable by the vein
structure on the leaves which has a silvery reflective sheen under
moonlight. Leaves crushed and boiled as tea give the drinker a
+5% bonus towards tests for navigating the Shadow Walk and
the forest of Athel Loren for 2d10 hours. Furthermore, the
drinker receives Witch Sight, but only for the purpose of noticing
Darkhounds/Handmaidens or Rot Wyrms (see WFRP pg.
210). Any Chaos Manifestations witnessed under the influence
of Silverleaf tea gain the viewer 1 Insanity Point unless a Will
Power Test is passed.
Crystal-Creeper
Availabilty: Very Rare
Enviroment: Forest
Form: Petals
Application: Tonic
Blessing: See below
Side Effects: Dry Mouth, Diarrhoea
The Crystal-Creeper is a vine that grows upon dormant Treemen
(see pg. 104). Older vines crystallise every year as new vines
grow, and when their flowers are pollinated in the summer they
also turn into crystal, protecting a tiny seed-pod. Spites cherish
the crystal flowers and bring them as offerings to other Treemen,
thus spreading the Crystal-Creeper throughout the forest. If the
petals of a late summer flower are ground into crystal dust, the
tonic mixed from this powder and water from the Crystal Mere
will cause a mutation to vanish after 1d10 hours. However, the
user suffers from a dry mouth and diarrhoea, incurring a -10%
penalty to all tests for 1d10 days as the corruption is flushed
out. The Treeman’s Handmaidens (see Dryads pg. 97) and Spites
(see pg. 102) will not take kindly to flowers being picked from
their slumbering lord. Attacking or awakening the Treeman
shatters the vine, and causes its flowers to disintegrate upon the
ground.
Love-in-Idleness
Availabilty: Very Rare
Enviroment: Forest
Form: Petals
Application: Powder
Blessing: Curse – see below
Side Effects: Memory loss
This small violet grows in late spring on the banks of rivers
where Naiads swim. The powder of dried Love-in-Idleness petals
can be sprinkled on the eyes of a sleeping character to make
them fall in love. When the affected character awakens from
sleep, they must pass a Hard (-20) Will Power Test or become
smitten with the first person (or even animal!) they see, gaining
the Lost Heart Insanity (WFRP pg. 206).
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