Flora and fauna of the Anvil Range
Ash Creeper
- A tough, fibrous vine that clings to rock faces, weaving itself into braid-like formations along cliff sides.
- Its dark gray, soot-colored bark helps it blend into the mountains, making it nearly invisible unless inspected closely.
- The plant absorbs trace minerals from the rock, making it slightly metallic to the touch, and is sometimes used in Minthari rope-making.
Iron Thistle
- A low-growing, deep-rooted thistle that thrives in rocky soil and volcanic ash.
- Its thick, spiny leaves are dull bronze with sharp serrated edges, deterring herbivores.
- Produces a bitter, resinous sap that the Minthari use as a natural adhesive in stoneworking and leather sealing.
Ember Moss
- A resilient moss found in geothermal caverns and along steam vents, thriving in high heat.
- Appears charcoal-black when dormant, but when exposed to warmth and moisture, it unfurls tiny, rust-colored fronds resembling embers.
- The moss is highly absorbent, used by the Minthari in water filtration and moisture retention in underground tunnels.
Bell Shrub
- A dense, gnarled shrub with pale yellow, bell-shaped seed pods that release a strong sulfuric odor when crushed.
- Grows near mineral deposits and geothermal fissures, tolerating extreme soil acidity.
- The pods deter most herbivores, but Minthari alchemists extract trace compounds from them for metal-toughening treatments in forging.
Latch Fungi
- A pale, root-like fungal network that grows just beneath the surface of rocky slopes.
- It produces thread-thin, wiry filaments that latch onto passing creatures, spreading its spores through underground tunnels.
- The Minthari consider it a living hazard, as it can clog ventilation shafts and create hazardous fungal dust if disturbed.
Bromthorn Cactus
- A squat, thick-stemmed cactus with dense, spiral-patterned thorns that break off easily when touched.
- Its flesh is tough and fibrous, but inside, it holds small, sponge-like pockets of water, allowing it to survive long droughts.
- Minthari scouts and travelers occasionally extract its water in emergencies, though the bitter taste makes it a last resort.
Scourge Bramble
- A low, tangled shrub with razor-thin, hooked leaves that latch onto anything that brushes against it.
- The leaves dry out and detach in the wind, drifting across the rocky slopes like tiny, bladed tumbleweeds.
- Minthari use dried Scourgeleaf fibers to create abrasive tools, and some warriors weave them into defensive barricades.
Melthel Bloom
- A creeping groundcover plant with thick, sinewy runners that coil tightly around rocks, slowly splitting stone apart over years.
- Produces small, pale blue flowers that bloom only once every several years, giving it an eerie, ghostly presence when in season.
- The Minthari believe its ability to break apart rock is symbolic of patience and inevitability and often carve its image into ceremonial tunnels.
Voidgrain Tuft
- A hardy, short grass that grows in small, isolated clumps, often between cracks in the stone.
- Unlike most plants, it absorbs almost no light, appearing as a patch of unnaturally dark, featureless void against the rocky terrain.
- Used by Minthari scouts to camouflage their burrows, as its matte-black appearance disrupts natural shadows.
Astak Fern
- A delicate, thin fern that grows in the shadowed crevices of high-altitude cliffs.
- Its silvery-gray leaves curl and unfurl with changing temperatures, creating an illusion of drifting smoke when seen from a distance.
- The plant is almost impossible to cultivate, making it a rare and revered sight among the Minthari.