#blindweed

after years of getting random intense urges to design the cast of firebringer and draw up scenes from the book i’m finally getting around to it, starting with color palettes. the first six are the main cast, two after are the main character’s bio parents, then the four does are the first four guys’ moms, and finally the two villains and a nice old dude who dies on page two. i forgot the old doe who’s really chill and i love her, but otherwise this is the main red deer cast.

One of the more sorrowful plants this world cradles to life, Blindweed hides in dark places of the earth, always facing towards water.

Colloquial Names: Devil’s Deal, Weeping Widow, Jai’Shallandor (Darnassian, having to do with shadow.)

Physical Description:  Blindweed is said to be the ancient remnant of a pre-sundering plant, transfigured by a further foul usage during the Third War. Much of its appearance remains the same: dandelion-like dark green leaves giving way to spindly stems and small, daisy-like blooms. The flowers start as a dusky purple, fading to pale blue as they age. The buds resemble cataracts, strangely, in how light reflects from them. It is one of the few plants that consistently has both buds and fully-developed flowers. The flowers droop, their own stems buckling underneath them. The only time I have not observed this is when the plant is surrounded by patches of Goldthorn, like a gilded protector defending a weeping widow. I have vague memories of the herb pre-sundering.  It was said to grow near bodies of water, and could sometimes save a victim from drowning, but at a terrible price: that of their vision. Those who ingested it seemed sickly, spreading a fever to all they touched. Today it grows largely in Feralas, most notably around the ruins of Dire Maul. This makes an unfortunate amount of sense to me- pools were plentiful in the City of Eldre’Thalas, and some of the land is thought to have been flooded. Later, during the Third War, the Cult of the Damned somehow discovered this property of the herb in a more sinister capacity.

Described Usage: I’ve highly debated within myself about passing the knowledge of how to create the vile potion the Cult of the Damned created here, in this writing. Here is my compromise: along with the recipe provided below, this page itself is an alchemical reagent. If a small portion of it is bitten off and consumed, it will provide an antidote for the potion’s effects. Do not ask me how I did this, for even if you could reach me, you do not want to know. You also will likely not get worms or pox for two to five years. If somehow, this breaks out en masse, combine the pulp of this page with the entries of Briarthorn and Bruiseweed into a trough of water, and apply intravenously or via dart gun.

I assume the Cult of the Damned found the plant in the Plaguelands, growing around the waters of Caer Darrow. Collected en masse, burned and combined with the befouled water of one of the most unholy places on Azeroth, it creates a sickly black serum, opalescently swirling within itself. When imbibed, it provides protection from shadow magicks, but has rather disastrous effects to those that come in contact with its wielder. When touched, the imbiber will transfer a feverish illness to the assailant or point of contact, even through mere touch alone. The skin of the victim will become soft and thin, like a butterfly's wing, tearing at the slightest touch and spreading from the injury. While this reaction generally diminishes within a few hours for both wielder and afflicted, it can be quite damaging if spread in a populated area. The affliction is highly contagious, and again, this page should be used to prevent outbreaks.

The best place to find Blindweed is Kalimdor, though some specimens have been carried through the Dark Portal and have begun growing in Zangarmarsh. It is a tall plant with colorful petals of blue and purple, but one should take caution when handling the flowers. They have ample amounts of pollen which is easily disturbed and can cause permanent blindness if large quantities get into the eyes.

Due to its caustic effects, Blindweed has earned a meaning to match its name. Novices are more likely to be injured while gathering the plant, so it can be sent as a warning to someone that their experience has blinded them. To receive Blindweed, particularly a bag of nothing but its pollen, is a message that you have missed something that’s obvious to everyone else.