Netherbloom
Colloquial names: Nether flytrap, Netherdrake Tongue, Mana Lasher
Physical Description: Netherbloom is a strange, four-petaled flower shooting from a curved fleshy stem. The petals themselves are a brilliant, feathery purple, tinged by yellow and pink on their interior and a web of net-like veins. They point downward, yielding to a strange, conical tube facing upward from their point of convergence. This fleshy tube holds a thin fuschia “tongue”, which catches the mana-infused flies of Netherstorm. The plant primarily grows in the rocky, fragmented reaches of the purple, mana-tinged region. It receives nutrients not by sun or soil, as neither is readily abundant, but instead by the flies it ingests. The conical structure produces a thin, shimmering pollen of light purple, which dusts across the plant in a patchy sheen. This pollen is said to enhance strength, vitality, quickness, and other abilities, as is prized by Netherstorm’s ethereal traders for such purposes. The pollen can be gathered by being scooped out of the cone with a small implement such as a teaspoon. This is advisable, as are leather gloves- the tongue delivers a weak shock when it lashes, lest the herbalist be mistaken for a fly.
Described Usage: Netherbloom’s pollen is its most prized reagent. In addition to giving the effects summarily listed above, a concentrated enough liquid dose can be used to send a rush of adrenaline to the body. It is a common drug for victims of stroke, blood clots, and those whose hearts have stopped beating. Alchemically, the properties of the pollen are various. Combined with a tincture of Nightmare Vine, it greatly enhances magical abilities, especially magicks of destruction. Assassins combine the pollen with fel lotus to slay their targets with ease. Mages prefer a powder of the pollen with ancient lichen stirred into tea, to increase their ability in combat. The substance takes on a reddish hue, and is aptly named “Elixir of Mageblood”. Although a spoonful of Netherbloom pollen in tepid water and catalyzed with Felweed fern makes a mighty fine healing potion, little of the substance is used in this way. In a certain capacity, its uses are either highly lucrative or rather shady. The pollen should be kept in a locked container, or diluted in dyed to disguise its vaguely glowing, purple tint. The Dalaran hospital has their own methods of this, which change every few months or so. For my purposes, I find crushed walnut shell added to the watered pollen produces a brownish black, making the substance look rather unremarkable. A bit of crushed chalk also works well, as it renders the purplish substance a silvery white, much like an innocuous tonic of Peacebloom.
