Esuridell

Esuridell is a curious plant that seems to radiate fiendish energy.

## History

After the diminishment of the Flails of Nargus through the efforts of adventurers, skirmishes led by Tinia paa Wormswoe and military reinforcement and construction organised by Atralran, an uneasy peace settled into the Bristlebacks. It was subsequently noted that a new type of flower had started to bloom throughout the region, initially assumed to be a variation on Blight Yarrow but quickly established to be elsewise by the herbalist Muguet. When ingested, it seems to stir madness and bloodlust in creatures, its growth strongest in areas of demonic connection.

## Research

### Completed by Ashewan Norvegicus

The plant is hardy, maintaining its shape and form even after being uprooted for a number of hours and days without any lose of turgidity, which seems primarily due to the woodiness of the thorn-laden stem structure. Despite this outward woodiness, the Esuridell seems at least somewhat resistant to flame, not catching as readily as might be expect of something as dry and ligneous as it. When it does finally catch, it burns slowly, giving off a heady and thick smoke that does not seem to yield any ill effects with short-term exposure pertaining to a few minutes. It is likewise resilient to poisons and other noxious substances that would prevent the growth of other flora, although when potted next to other crops, it in itself seems to elicit no change or variation, quashing concerns that it itself was a source of creeping corruption - instead seeming to just be a symptom of it.

For sake of further experimentation, it proves necessary to involve a test subject to establish the definitive parameters of the effects. After a short trip into the surrounding woods to catch a pair of squirrels, the stage is subsequently set for further investigations. When mixed amongst other food suited for the creatures in question, there appears to be no particular hesitation to eat the Esuridell, albeit for a squirrel the sample has to be sliced into small pieces to truly mix this amongst a selection of tree barks, buds, flowers, berries and seeds. Nonetheless, once consumed, effects seem to take place at around the half-an-hour mark, at which point there is a sudden shift in attitude - from a curious beast switching between eating, resting and investigating the enclose in which they are held to a beast with a vacant and glazed expression, increased salivation and an utter disregard for its own wellbeing. Repeatedly slamming itself against the cage bars with the full extent of its strength, covering the enclosure does not satiate the sudden seemed bloodlust, and even when deprived of other senses it continues to try and move in the direction of where it last perceived would-be prey. Attempts to calm this bloodlust alchemically do not seem obvious, although through use of the *Calm Emotions* spell some passing respite can be achieved, but seemingly require more traditionally divine magic to overcome, whether by means of warding against or healing of afflictions.

Retrieving what remains of the Esuridell from within the belly of the first squirrel - slain by their own doing as they concussed and split open their head on the bars of the cage attempting to break free - shows that the more delicate parts of the bloom have been at least partially digested, specifically that of the flowers and leaves. The hardy stem seems untouched by this process, leading credence to the idea that a predatory creature subsequently eating the corpse of the deceased herbivore may be afflicted itself, carrying the results up and through the food web.