Iron Roots

### Overview

A small somewhat uncommon red shrubbery that can be found growing on sands and rocky soil, most commonly in deserts and dry and warm mountains. It’s roots will burrow into the stone or soil it rests on and will pull all the iron out. It has no leaves and it uses the energy produced by reacting iron with air to grow and survive. The rust that is produced in this way gives rise to its characteristic red-brown hue.

It as small extremely pointy and hard thorns to defend against predators. Once a month the iron root blooms, after it was pollinated by its pollen being scattered in the wind, it will grow tiny holes on its branches. In these holes rests thousands of small seeds. While in bloom the thorns grow to resemble a fishhook. If an animal brushes against the iron root while it blooms, some branches may get stuck on the animal and break off. The animal, driven by pain will run away from the iron root and through this will shake off the small seeds that nestled in the branches.

Due to the plants requirement that there be iron in the soil, coupled with the fact that just one iron root can quickly turn into a large group within just a few generations, they often appear at the sites of battles. The iron of the spilled blood and the weapons feeding the iron root and their red hue paining the field red again as has the blood of the soldiers before. For this reason the iron root is also known as a soldier’s red gravestone.

#### Malicious Iron Roots

There exist more malicious forms of the iron root. These are not different species of iron root but are called different names depending on how and where they grow. All of these malicious versions grow inside of a animal or person, feeding off the iron in their blood and muscle. Weakness, tiredness, disfigurement and death are some of the consequences the victims suffer.

These malicious plants come about by a iron root seed or piece getting stuck in a wound. Within a day it will have grown roots and will be virtually impossible to remove as just one missed piece of root can regrow the entire plant. At first the roots of the plant will grow through out the body, following blood vessels and burrowing deep into muscle tissue. It will not pierce the skin at first as the blood of the victim will deliver more than enough iron and oxygen for the plant to survive. After roughly two weeks the plants has grown into every part of the body. From here it can develop into one of three types.

##### Miverna's Kiss

The mildest type, often called lady’s flowers or Miverna’s kiss after the first person to have suffered under the iron roots parasitic effect. In this type the iron root stays within the body and does not break the skin. Only once a month do flower bud sprout out from beneath the skin in a slow painful way, only unveiling their brilliant colours once the bud has fully breached the skin. The flowers will stay for roughly a week before falling off, allowing the skin to heal again. This type most often appear in female subjects for unknown reasons. Many noble women have been known to intentionally get a parasitic iron root to settle within them in order to have blooming flowers on their skin every month.

#### Thorne Skin

The more severe thorn skin has the same flower blooming features as Miverna’s kiss but the iron root grows much closer under the skin, it’s thorns piercing the skin permanently. Some might have thorns all over while others only have regional patches.

##### Iron Heart

In the most severe, though rare, case, colloquially known as iron heart, the iron root grows not only inside the victim but regularly pierced the skin with whole branches. It also grows much more aggressive inside the victim, destroying organs and being maddeningly painful. It is also the only type that will grow into the brain of the victims and induce mania in that way too. Victims with iron heart often either died within just a few weeks or live long enough to become mad, attacking all they can see and get killed by others.

Some rumours exist speaking of monsters that came about from victims of iron heart not dying, being twisted both physically and mentally by the blood hungry plant.

### Usage

##### Root

The root of the plant is primarily used in two ways.

The first is to burn the plant, specifically the root and collect the ashes. These ashes can then be used in a smelter to extract the iron of the plant. In some iron poor regions, iron root is used to replace ore. In other places, richer in iron ore, Iron Root may still be used for special weapons, mostly to make the weapon seem more special or prestigious.

The root can be boiled until it takes on a rubbery consistency. Then chopped up, it can be added to potions and brews. Iron root is known to loosen inhibitions is small quantities and in greater concentrations it can lead to temporary madness or coma. It is however a good source of iron.

### Mechanics

When infected by Iron Roots, roll a constitution saving throw. How severe the infection will be will depend on the roll and the chart below.

* If the Constitution Saving Throw was 14 or higher, you suffer from Miverna's Kiss.
* If the Constitution Saving Throw was 7 of higher, but below 14, you suffer from Thorne Skin
* If the Constitution Saving Throw was below 7, you suffer from Iron Heart.

When being infected again, despite already being infected, roll a new constitution saving throw and check the chart. If the result is more severe than your current infection, you suffer from the new, more severe infection.

#### Miverna's Kiss

When suffering from Miverna's Kiss, you subtract 2 from your constitution score and loose 1/8th of your max HP. At the beginning of each month, your flowers will bloom. Roll a d4+1 and add the result to your charisma score for one week.

#### Thorne Skin

When suffering from Thorne Skin, you subtract 3 from your constitution score and loose 1/6th of your max HP. Your unarmed attacks deal an extra 1d6+proficiency modifier damage. When you are hit by an unarmed attack, your attacker takes 1d6 piercing damage.

#### Iron Heart

When suffering from Iron Heart, you subtract 4 from your constitution score and loos 1/4th of your max HP. Your unarmed attacks deal an extra 2d8+proficiency modifier damage. When you are hit by an unarmed attack, your attacker takes 2d8 piercing damage. You gain +3 to your AC.

Suffering from Iron Heart opens the path to the Bloodhungry Symbiote transformation.