Gargolia

Gargolia is a flowering plant used mainly for its seeds. The seeds can be ground into Gargolia flour that was mainly used to make bread in ancient times. It was first cultivated in the coastal regions in K'l'mun around 7286 BN.

It is a big source of carbohydrates and it, along with other species of grain, are an essential part of the human's diet.

## Physiology

Gargolia has a long stalk with a flower on top. Its flower contains many "knobs" with seeds inside of them, with fibers reaching off of the knobs. Sometimes, the seeds will get knocked free from the plant and the fiber helps it be carried by the wind to distribute the seeds for expansion of growth.

## Origin and History

### Early Humanity

Gargolia is native to Southeastern Je'meir around the Southeastern Peninsula. People from the Great Arrival immediately noticed its rapid growth and harvested its seeds to begin growing their own. Nuzosec ordered miles of farmland be used to grow this plant, and there was an immense surplus of grain in the nation of K'l'mun. They figured out that by mixing it with water, they could create a type of unleavened bread called Oppasu, which became a huge part of the average K'l'munite's diet. Some different, more advanced, strains were used to make higher quality bread that was reserved for the richer people in the town.

It was also used to feed eropals that the early humans domesticated. It was the main food source for them, so it was integral to the rest of the food such as eropal meat and milk, as well as their hide. Eventually, however, the growth of gargolia was lessened with the introduction of other easy-to-grow vegetables such as Lopsom. Reakh also grew gargolia after the Civil War of K'l'mun.

## Farming Techniques

Gargolia is very easy to harvest. You simply remove the flower and then meticulously remove the seeds from within the flowers. It is a little bit more advanced to actually grow them, however. Farmers in ancient times used irrigation to allow water from the Inkap'la River into the fields. Gargolia grows extremely quickly relative to other species of grain, requiring no more than a month to reach maturity. This means that farming season for this crop occurs very regularly.

## Strains

There are a few unique strains of Gargolia that are commonly used.

### L'dana

The most common strain found both now and in ancient times. It makes a brittle and tasteless bread when baked and it does not retain much moisture. Most cooks advise not to use this type unless you know how to make it work with your overall recipe. It occurs under regular conditions.

### Dareana

A cross-breed variety of gargolia, it is a cross between L'dana and Fet grass. It is the second-most common strain. Bread using this type usually retains a lot of moisture and keeps its shape very well. It has a few healing properties, making it a useful food if you are not feeling well. The fet grass component in the breed gives a partial boost to your immune system, acting as a partial remedy for sicknesses like the common cold. Despite it not being used often anymore, a few people still use this type of bread for traditional Southeastern Je'meiran recipes.

In ancient times, when this grain was mostly used, only the richest in the community could get their hands on it. It is very rare, and only grows under very particular circumstances.

### Golden Dareana

This is the third and final strain of gargolia; it is the rarest, being a cross between Golden refusios and Dareana gargolia. It is not used as an ingredient in food and was only cultivated after around 3140 BN. It is ground up and used as an anti-bacterial ointment that treats most small wounds. It is also used as a remedy for burns, able to heal some of the lighter burned tissue at the site of injury.