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ysabetwordsmithThese are the setting notes for "Spiraling Out of Control."
Withering Heights is a dark fantasy live-action roleplaying group near the Heights in Colorado. They play at Estes Park. The five standard teams are the Blue Orcs, the Cave Elves, the Swamp Halflings, the Black Unicorns, and the Spectral Dragons. The Blue Orcs hold the valleys, the Cave Elves hold the caves and cliffs around them, the Swamp Halflings hold the waterways, the Black Unicorns hold the forests, and the Spectral Dragons hold the mountains. The Blue Orcs use their meadows to forage some "important herbs," also raising livestock and crops; they are prone to raiding everyone for finer goods or just for fun. The Cave Elves mine for "gems" and "precious metals," which they trade (and sometimes have stolen). They have their own private work days when they volunteer for litter pickup; metal trash counts as "precious metals" and glass counts as "gems." The Swamp Halflings control the water and the fish, along with some "important herbs." The Black Unicorns control most of the wood, forest game animals, and some "important herbs." The Spectral Dragons can see far but have few resources in their barren home, so they must hunt or trade elsewhere for most of their needs.
Many game actions require resources that people have to acquire somehow. Members can agree to meet anywhere within the game boundaries for a session, or travel through the park on maneuvers. Characters have advantages in their home territory and disadvantages in other territories, based on "knowing the lay of the land," and some character classes or skills influence these modifiers. The Game Masters dress in red robes for easy recognition without disrupting the appearance of the game.
Individuals from other LARP groups can show up as their own characters, presented as travelers, traders, or similar. Some appear often, others rarely. Different LARP groups sometimes arrange for one or more teams to visit each other, and once or twice a year there are big gathers of two or more entire groups. The occasional Market Days particularly attract more visitors, both traveling merchants and shoppers. It's a good opportunity to buy and sell LARP goods such as clothes, costume weapons, and padded mock-combat weapons.
Blue Orcs: large and muscular, a brutish race that likes to build big settlements.
Pros: high in Strength, bonus on all weapons, numerous, source of crops and livestock, some "important herbs."
Cons: weak in Stealth and Mind, weakest in Spirit and Magic, little skill in making finer items so they have to trade or raid for those, requires a "food source."
See the chieftain and a warrior.
Cave Elves: slim and graceful, a sophisticated race skilled in politics.
Pros: high in Mind and Magic, bonus on missile or magical weapons, teamwork, mining for valuables in caves.
Cons: penalty on melee weapons, uncommon, more vulnerable alone, constantly getting raided for treasure.
Swamp Halflings: short and fuzzy, a cunning race wise about nature.
Pros: highest in Stealth, bonus on hurled weapons, numerous, plenty of "important herbs" and water access to trade.
Cons: weakest in Strength, weak in Spirit and Magic, must trade for their ponies, requires a "food source."
(See a male, a female, and their son.)
Black Unicorns: tall and fast, a mysterious race prone to be solitary.
Pros: high in Stealth and Spirit, horn attack, wood and forest goods to trade.
Cons: rare, penalty on teamwork or in crowds, must trade for grain.
Spectral Dragons: shapeshifters, a powerful race with great influence.
Pros: highest in Strength (draconic form), Spirit (both forms), Mind (humanoid form), and Magic (both forms), breath weapons, flight (dragonic form only), can choose which form to present in each session, mountains provide visual and tactical vantage points.
Cons: weakest in Stealth (humanoid form; draconic form cannot attempt Stealth) and Mind (draconic form is mute), low penalty on movement in humanoid form, high penalty on movement in draconic form (unless flying), low penalty on all manufactured weapons, high penalty on all nonmagical weapons, cannot change form during a session, rarest race (there are only 5), few mountain resources so they must trade for almost everything.
Strength: Spectral Dragons (draconic form), Blue Orcs, Cave Elves, Black Unicorns, Spectral Dragons (humanoid form), Swamp Halflings
Stealth: Swamp Halflings, Black Unicorns, Cave Elves, Blue Orcs, Spectral Dragons (humanoid form; draconic form cannot attempt Stealth)
Spirit: Spectral Dragons (both forms), Black Unicorns, Cave Elves, Swamp Halflings, Blue Orcs
Mind: Spectral Dragons (humanoid form), Cave Elves, Swamp Halflings, Black Unicorns, Blue Orcs, Spectral Dragons (draconic form is mute)
Magic: Spectral Dragons (both forms), Cave Elves, Black Unicorns, Swamp Halflings, Blue Orcs
Withering Heights plays in Estes Park, Colorado. The group has negotiated special use rights to multiple park features, and they pay into the park fund for those extra privileges. They also hold work days when members volunteer to help with upkeep such as trail maintenance.
Locations
The valleys in Estes Park belong to the Blue Orcs. These areas are flat or gently sloped with few or no trees, lying between the upland forests and the waterways.
The rocky cliffs and occasional caves belong to the Cave Elves. This territory lies between valleys or forests and the mountains, often interspersed with patches of brush, forest, or alpine meadows.
The waterways include swamps, streams, ponds, and Lake Estes itself. This territory belongs to the Swamp Halflings, although the upland streams generally belong to other territories such as forests or cliffs.
The forests are dense stands of evergreens with some deciduous trees, belonging to the Black Unicorns. They typically lie between the valleys and the cliffs.
The mountains are rocky with a few patches of low-growing grass and wildflowers, belonging to the Spectral Dragons. They rise above the cliffs.
Several locations are popular for conflict scenes, including Hill of the King and Field of Valor.
The Hill of the King is a large rocky outcropping where valley meets forest. This mixed terrain allows for a wide variety of tactics.
The Field of Valor is a big, flat stretch of shortgrass prairie that lies between forest and mixed-grass valley. It has room for maneuvering large troops and even mock-combat siege weapons.
In Terramagne-America, large wilderness parks typically have a clinic for guests and staff, which can treat minor to moderate complaints and stabilize major ones for transfer to a hospital. Estes Park has a clinic in the Visitors Center with reception, waiting room, emotional first aid room, exam room, and procedure room. Staff members include a supervising doctor with a team of nurses, paramedics, assistants, and secretaries. Some of these are deployed elsewhere in the park to provide access to first aid over a wider range.
The Visitors Center stands below a cluster of outbuildings and guest cabins.
Inside the clinic, the reception area lets into the waiting area. The door inside the niche leads to the rest of the rooms.
The emotional first aid room has self-help books and other tools for working with difficult feelings.
The exam room includes an exam bed, counters, cabinets, a desk, and guest chairs.
The procedure room has more elaborate equipment for significant injuries.
Invasive Plants as Game Resources
Withering Heights has cleverly designated certain invasive plants as "important herbs" that have game effects, based on T-Estes target lists. (These are similar to L-Colorado concerns, but proportions of more or less common species can vary.) Participation in this aspect of gaming is purely voluntary, but it creates a natural opportunity for labor that allows diligent players to gain valuable in-game benefits, which makes it popular. It also provides opportunities for interesting, practical, game-relevant activities other than combat (foraging, trading, negotiating, etc.) for players who don't enjoy the "murder hoboes" approach to roleplaying games. Members can attend the park's workshop on invasive species removal, and once they have that certification, their character can collect those for use or trade. If a given species is successfully diminished or eradicated, a new one can be added to meet the same in-game need(s). This created value motivates people to find, harvest, and destroy large amounts of bothersome plants -- but unlike a cash bounty, it doesn't cost anything. Even the workshops are free. The park service is so thrilled with the idea that they have written about it and encouraged other parks to try similar projects, which has improved park access for LARP groups.
Top Invasive Concerns: Noxious Weeds
These are three of the most valuable "important herbs."
Meadow knapweed is used to "assist fertility" in the rarest species, the Black Unicorns and the Spectral Dragons. These teams must gather mass quantities of whole plants in order to bring in a new member. A majority of the plants grow in open areas controlled by the Blue Orcs, but a few grow in Swamp Halfling territory.
Meadow Knapweed (Centaurea pratensis)
Meadow knapweed is classified as a “List A” species in the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, designating it for statewide eradication. It is a fertile hybrid resulting from crossbreeding black knapweed (C. nigra) and brown knapweed (C. jacea).
The root of meadow knapweed is large and woody.
Meadow knapweed prefers moist roadsides, sand/gravel bars and river banks, irrigated pastures, ditches, moist meadows, and forest openings.
Purple loosestrife is a key "important herb" for the Swamp Halflings. Its taproot is used in all "elemental spells" for Earth or Water. As a result, they have all but eradicated it around their favorite pond and now forage up the creeks where dense stands remain. A risk to gathering this species is that if any native fireweed (Chamerion augustifolium) is found in a batch, the whole batch is "magically contaminated" with essence of Fire and must be discarded.
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Purple loosestrife is classified as a “List A” species in the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, designating it for statewide eradication.
Purple loosestrife has a taproot, making it difficult to remove mechanically (hand-removal). This species may be mistaken for native fireweed (Chamerion augustifolium).
Purple loosestrife is an escaped ornamental that prefers river banks, stream banks, shallow ponds, ditches, shores of lakes and wetlands throughout the state.
Yellow starthistle has multiple purposes. In season, its yellow flowers can be used to make a potent "sun bomb spell." Its thorny upper parts are used in many "combat spells." The taproot is good for "star spells" enabling divination or luck. This herb grows primarily in the borderland where the Blue Orc valleys slope up to the rocky home of the Cave Elves.
Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)
Yellow starthistle is classified as a “List A” species in the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, designating it for statewide eradication.
Yellow starthistle is an annual or winter annual forb that grows 2-3 feet tall and has a vigorous taproot. The flowers are yellow, located singly on the ends of branches. Below the flowers are sharp, stiff thorns about ¾ inch in length. The flower emerges as a rosette with deeply lobed leaves in the early spring. The upper leaf edges are smooth and sharply pointed. The stems are branching, winged and covered with cottony hairs.
Yellow starthistle prefers rangeland, pastures, roadsides, wastelands, and lower elevations.
Noxious Weed Identification
Noxious Weed Species
Colorado Weed Management Association
Absinth wormwood is a dual-purpose "important herb." The entire top of the plant is used in all "elemental spells" for Spirit. Each complete root system can brew one dose of "poison." This plant is scattered around several territories.
Absinth Wormwood
Artemisia absinthium
3-5 ft tall. Woody at base; regrows from crown each spring.
Small, yellow, inconspicuous, numerous 1/8 in wide. Late July – August.
One seeded fruit, 1/16 in long, smooth, flattened and light gray-brown in color.
Divided into deeply lobed leaflets, light green to olive green color, 2-5 in long.
Variable growing sites.
Bull thistle has multiple uses. Different parts are used for all "elemental spells" for Air (seed down, gathered before dispersal) and Fire (entire thorny top of plant). The taproot is used for "strength potions." This species grows in the upper parts of the Blue Orc valleys and sometimes on the lower slopes of the Cave Elf cliffs.
Bull thistle
Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore
Leaves are prickly-hairy above and cottony below
Has stiff pointy spines on leaf tips
Seeds are capped with a circle of plume-like white hairs.
Has a short, fleshy taproot with several primary roots extending from the root crown. Each bears a number of smaller lateral roots.
Bull thistle grows in dry to moist habitats. It thrives on nitrogen-rich soils, and it grows on gravelly to clay-textured soils. Bull thistle cannot withstand deep shade, and is nearly absent if light is reduced to less than 40% of full sunlight (FEIS 1998). Potential habitats include pastures, overgrazed rangeland, roadsides, and logged areas.
Cheatgrass is used in "rogue spells" based on the whole plant. It grows in a few places in Blue Orc territory.
Cheatgrass aka Downy brome
Bromus tectorum
Has reddish or purple drooping awns
One of the first plants to green up in the spring
Chinese clematis plants are used whole in "climbing spells" to boost character ability to scale cliffs or trees. The local variety prefers part shade and grows near the edges of the Black Unicorn forests, using the trees for support.
Chinese Clematis
Clematis orientalis L.
Chinese clematis is a perennial vine that is found along creeks, right-of-ways, and on rocky cliffs. It will climb fences, trees or similar structures but will form clumps if it does not have something to climb
The distinctive single yellow flower has four petals and is 1 to 2 inches wide.
Most Clematis species prefer sunny, well drained soils, although they may be shade tolerant to some degree.
Common mullein is used whole to brew "healing potions." It grows in and near the forests of the Black Unicorns.
Common Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
Flowers are yellow, saucer-shaped, attached to the stem
Leaves are oblong and woolly with a rounded tip
Stems are erect, rigid, up to 6 feet tall, covered with woolly hairs
Occurs in areas with an average annual precipitation of 20-60 in. (0.5-1.5 m) and a 140-day growing season. Prefers well-drained soils with pH 6.5 to 7.8. Prefers dry sandy soils but can grow in chalk and limestone. Found in meadows, prairies, desert shrublands, chaparral, deciduous woodlands, and coniferous forests.
Dame's rocket is a rare species in Swamp Halfling territory. Each whole plant can power one single-use "rocket spell" of devastating force.
Dame’s Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
Dame’s Rocket is a member of the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) This escaped ornamental is beginning to show up in our wildlands.
This native of Europe may be either a biennial or perennial, and may be from 1-1/2 to 4 feet tall, flowers range in color from white to pink to purple. Dame’s Rocket flowers from April through July. This plant tends to invade riparian and wetland habitat. There are many alternatives to planting Dame’s Rocket including Blue Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) and Lavender Native Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa menthaefolia).
Eurasian watermilfoil is a key "food source" of Swamp Halflings, as the two numerous races require a magical boost. Gathering this plant keeps their population healthy and enables them to add as many new members as they wish. The amount required depends on their population at the time. It grows in the calm waters of their territory.
Eurasian watermilfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Long underwater stems that are branched which produce leaves near the surface of the water.
Lakes, ponds, shallow reservoirs and low energy areas of rivers and streams.
Field bindweed is used whole in the "teamwork potions" of the Cave Elves. It grows in and near the Black Unicorn forests.
Field bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
Arrowhead-shaped leaves
White to pink funnel-shaped flowers with two small bracts one inch below the flower base
Found in disturbed sites, pastures, rights-of-way, agricultural lands, orchards, vineyards, lawns and gardens.
Johnson grass is a key "food source" of the Blue Orcs, as the numerous races require a magical boost. Gathering this plant keeps their population healthy and enables them to add as many new members as they wish. The amount required depends on their population at the time. It grows in the low valleys. Formerly their key "food source" was quackgrass, but they eradicated that so it was replaced with a new one.
Johnson Grass
Sorghum halepense
Up to 10 feet tall perennial grass
With tillers from the crown
Prevalent in riverbank communities, disturbed sites, and moist, well-drained soils. Requires warm season moisture.
Medusahead grass is used in "petrification spells" both for turning characters to stone and restoring them to normal. It appears rarely in Blue Orc territory.
Medusahead
Taeniatherum caput-medusae
An aggressive winter annual grass
The 4 inch inflorescence persists after the plant has matured
Semi-arid clay soils.
Perennial pepperweed is used to make "pepper potions" to relieve the character conditions of Tired and Exhausted. It is locally abundant in Swamp Halfling territory.
Perennial pepperweed
Lepidium latifolium
Perennial pepperweed has dense clusters of white flowers that appear in early summer
The leaves and stem are covered with a waxy layer
Perennial pepperweed is locally common in riparian areas, marshy floodplains, valley bottoms, and seasonally wet areas from 5,500 to 9,000 ft. Perennial pepperweed is found in similar environments throughout much of the western U.S.
Puncturevine powers a popular "combat spell." The plant (leaves, stems, and roots) creates the framework of the spell while each spiny seedpod provides one damage point. The base spell requires one whole plant for up to 25 seedpods, but the seedpods allow a customizable range from a small-scale grenade effect to a massive cluster bomb for battles. The plant grows in the borderlands where the Blue Orc valleys meet the Black Unicorn forests.
Puncturevine
Tribulus terrestris
Small yellow flowers
Dissected leaflets
Woody, spiny seedpods
Likes sunny, dry, sandy to gravely sites. Found in pastures, orchards, vineyards, rights-of-way, trailheads, and vacant lands.
Russian olive is a key "important herb" of the Black Unicorns. The bark makes "energizing potions" that can replace food or sleep. These relieve the conditions of Hungry or Tired. The wood makes "magical weapons." This species grows toward the edge of the forests.
Russian Olive
Elaeagnus angustifolia L
Tree or shrub up to 30 ft tall
Leaf is light green above and silvery beneath
Many yellowish olive-shaped fruit
Withering Heights is a dark fantasy live-action roleplaying group near the Heights in Colorado. They play at Estes Park. The five standard teams are the Blue Orcs, the Cave Elves, the Swamp Halflings, the Black Unicorns, and the Spectral Dragons. The Blue Orcs hold the valleys, the Cave Elves hold the caves and cliffs around them, the Swamp Halflings hold the waterways, the Black Unicorns hold the forests, and the Spectral Dragons hold the mountains. The Blue Orcs use their meadows to forage some "important herbs," also raising livestock and crops; they are prone to raiding everyone for finer goods or just for fun. The Cave Elves mine for "gems" and "precious metals," which they trade (and sometimes have stolen). They have their own private work days when they volunteer for litter pickup; metal trash counts as "precious metals" and glass counts as "gems." The Swamp Halflings control the water and the fish, along with some "important herbs." The Black Unicorns control most of the wood, forest game animals, and some "important herbs." The Spectral Dragons can see far but have few resources in their barren home, so they must hunt or trade elsewhere for most of their needs.
Many game actions require resources that people have to acquire somehow. Members can agree to meet anywhere within the game boundaries for a session, or travel through the park on maneuvers. Characters have advantages in their home territory and disadvantages in other territories, based on "knowing the lay of the land," and some character classes or skills influence these modifiers. The Game Masters dress in red robes for easy recognition without disrupting the appearance of the game.
Individuals from other LARP groups can show up as their own characters, presented as travelers, traders, or similar. Some appear often, others rarely. Different LARP groups sometimes arrange for one or more teams to visit each other, and once or twice a year there are big gathers of two or more entire groups. The occasional Market Days particularly attract more visitors, both traveling merchants and shoppers. It's a good opportunity to buy and sell LARP goods such as clothes, costume weapons, and padded mock-combat weapons.
Blue Orcs: large and muscular, a brutish race that likes to build big settlements.
Pros: high in Strength, bonus on all weapons, numerous, source of crops and livestock, some "important herbs."
Cons: weak in Stealth and Mind, weakest in Spirit and Magic, little skill in making finer items so they have to trade or raid for those, requires a "food source."
See the chieftain and a warrior.
Cave Elves: slim and graceful, a sophisticated race skilled in politics.
Pros: high in Mind and Magic, bonus on missile or magical weapons, teamwork, mining for valuables in caves.
Cons: penalty on melee weapons, uncommon, more vulnerable alone, constantly getting raided for treasure.
Swamp Halflings: short and fuzzy, a cunning race wise about nature.
Pros: highest in Stealth, bonus on hurled weapons, numerous, plenty of "important herbs" and water access to trade.
Cons: weakest in Strength, weak in Spirit and Magic, must trade for their ponies, requires a "food source."
(See a male, a female, and their son.)
Black Unicorns: tall and fast, a mysterious race prone to be solitary.
Pros: high in Stealth and Spirit, horn attack, wood and forest goods to trade.
Cons: rare, penalty on teamwork or in crowds, must trade for grain.
Spectral Dragons: shapeshifters, a powerful race with great influence.
Pros: highest in Strength (draconic form), Spirit (both forms), Mind (humanoid form), and Magic (both forms), breath weapons, flight (dragonic form only), can choose which form to present in each session, mountains provide visual and tactical vantage points.
Cons: weakest in Stealth (humanoid form; draconic form cannot attempt Stealth) and Mind (draconic form is mute), low penalty on movement in humanoid form, high penalty on movement in draconic form (unless flying), low penalty on all manufactured weapons, high penalty on all nonmagical weapons, cannot change form during a session, rarest race (there are only 5), few mountain resources so they must trade for almost everything.
Strength: Spectral Dragons (draconic form), Blue Orcs, Cave Elves, Black Unicorns, Spectral Dragons (humanoid form), Swamp Halflings
Stealth: Swamp Halflings, Black Unicorns, Cave Elves, Blue Orcs, Spectral Dragons (humanoid form; draconic form cannot attempt Stealth)
Spirit: Spectral Dragons (both forms), Black Unicorns, Cave Elves, Swamp Halflings, Blue Orcs
Mind: Spectral Dragons (humanoid form), Cave Elves, Swamp Halflings, Black Unicorns, Blue Orcs, Spectral Dragons (draconic form is mute)
Magic: Spectral Dragons (both forms), Cave Elves, Black Unicorns, Swamp Halflings, Blue Orcs
Withering Heights plays in Estes Park, Colorado. The group has negotiated special use rights to multiple park features, and they pay into the park fund for those extra privileges. They also hold work days when members volunteer to help with upkeep such as trail maintenance.
Locations
The valleys in Estes Park belong to the Blue Orcs. These areas are flat or gently sloped with few or no trees, lying between the upland forests and the waterways.
The rocky cliffs and occasional caves belong to the Cave Elves. This territory lies between valleys or forests and the mountains, often interspersed with patches of brush, forest, or alpine meadows.
The waterways include swamps, streams, ponds, and Lake Estes itself. This territory belongs to the Swamp Halflings, although the upland streams generally belong to other territories such as forests or cliffs.
The forests are dense stands of evergreens with some deciduous trees, belonging to the Black Unicorns. They typically lie between the valleys and the cliffs.
The mountains are rocky with a few patches of low-growing grass and wildflowers, belonging to the Spectral Dragons. They rise above the cliffs.
Several locations are popular for conflict scenes, including Hill of the King and Field of Valor.
The Hill of the King is a large rocky outcropping where valley meets forest. This mixed terrain allows for a wide variety of tactics.
The Field of Valor is a big, flat stretch of shortgrass prairie that lies between forest and mixed-grass valley. It has room for maneuvering large troops and even mock-combat siege weapons.
In Terramagne-America, large wilderness parks typically have a clinic for guests and staff, which can treat minor to moderate complaints and stabilize major ones for transfer to a hospital. Estes Park has a clinic in the Visitors Center with reception, waiting room, emotional first aid room, exam room, and procedure room. Staff members include a supervising doctor with a team of nurses, paramedics, assistants, and secretaries. Some of these are deployed elsewhere in the park to provide access to first aid over a wider range.
The Visitors Center stands below a cluster of outbuildings and guest cabins.
Inside the clinic, the reception area lets into the waiting area. The door inside the niche leads to the rest of the rooms.
The emotional first aid room has self-help books and other tools for working with difficult feelings.
The exam room includes an exam bed, counters, cabinets, a desk, and guest chairs.
The procedure room has more elaborate equipment for significant injuries.
Invasive Plants as Game Resources
Withering Heights has cleverly designated certain invasive plants as "important herbs" that have game effects, based on T-Estes target lists. (These are similar to L-Colorado concerns, but proportions of more or less common species can vary.) Participation in this aspect of gaming is purely voluntary, but it creates a natural opportunity for labor that allows diligent players to gain valuable in-game benefits, which makes it popular. It also provides opportunities for interesting, practical, game-relevant activities other than combat (foraging, trading, negotiating, etc.) for players who don't enjoy the "murder hoboes" approach to roleplaying games. Members can attend the park's workshop on invasive species removal, and once they have that certification, their character can collect those for use or trade. If a given species is successfully diminished or eradicated, a new one can be added to meet the same in-game need(s). This created value motivates people to find, harvest, and destroy large amounts of bothersome plants -- but unlike a cash bounty, it doesn't cost anything. Even the workshops are free. The park service is so thrilled with the idea that they have written about it and encouraged other parks to try similar projects, which has improved park access for LARP groups.
Top Invasive Concerns: Noxious Weeds
These are three of the most valuable "important herbs."
Meadow knapweed is used to "assist fertility" in the rarest species, the Black Unicorns and the Spectral Dragons. These teams must gather mass quantities of whole plants in order to bring in a new member. A majority of the plants grow in open areas controlled by the Blue Orcs, but a few grow in Swamp Halfling territory.
Meadow Knapweed (Centaurea pratensis)
Meadow knapweed is classified as a “List A” species in the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, designating it for statewide eradication. It is a fertile hybrid resulting from crossbreeding black knapweed (C. nigra) and brown knapweed (C. jacea).
The root of meadow knapweed is large and woody.
Meadow knapweed prefers moist roadsides, sand/gravel bars and river banks, irrigated pastures, ditches, moist meadows, and forest openings.
Purple loosestrife is a key "important herb" for the Swamp Halflings. Its taproot is used in all "elemental spells" for Earth or Water. As a result, they have all but eradicated it around their favorite pond and now forage up the creeks where dense stands remain. A risk to gathering this species is that if any native fireweed (Chamerion augustifolium) is found in a batch, the whole batch is "magically contaminated" with essence of Fire and must be discarded.
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Purple loosestrife is classified as a “List A” species in the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, designating it for statewide eradication.
Purple loosestrife has a taproot, making it difficult to remove mechanically (hand-removal). This species may be mistaken for native fireweed (Chamerion augustifolium).
Purple loosestrife is an escaped ornamental that prefers river banks, stream banks, shallow ponds, ditches, shores of lakes and wetlands throughout the state.
Yellow starthistle has multiple purposes. In season, its yellow flowers can be used to make a potent "sun bomb spell." Its thorny upper parts are used in many "combat spells." The taproot is good for "star spells" enabling divination or luck. This herb grows primarily in the borderland where the Blue Orc valleys slope up to the rocky home of the Cave Elves.
Yellow Starthistle (Centaurea solstitialis)
Yellow starthistle is classified as a “List A” species in the Colorado Noxious Weed Act, designating it for statewide eradication.
Yellow starthistle is an annual or winter annual forb that grows 2-3 feet tall and has a vigorous taproot. The flowers are yellow, located singly on the ends of branches. Below the flowers are sharp, stiff thorns about ¾ inch in length. The flower emerges as a rosette with deeply lobed leaves in the early spring. The upper leaf edges are smooth and sharply pointed. The stems are branching, winged and covered with cottony hairs.
Yellow starthistle prefers rangeland, pastures, roadsides, wastelands, and lower elevations.
Noxious Weed Identification
Noxious Weed Species
Colorado Weed Management Association
Absinth wormwood is a dual-purpose "important herb." The entire top of the plant is used in all "elemental spells" for Spirit. Each complete root system can brew one dose of "poison." This plant is scattered around several territories.
Absinth Wormwood
Artemisia absinthium
3-5 ft tall. Woody at base; regrows from crown each spring.
Small, yellow, inconspicuous, numerous 1/8 in wide. Late July – August.
One seeded fruit, 1/16 in long, smooth, flattened and light gray-brown in color.
Divided into deeply lobed leaflets, light green to olive green color, 2-5 in long.
Variable growing sites.
Bull thistle has multiple uses. Different parts are used for all "elemental spells" for Air (seed down, gathered before dispersal) and Fire (entire thorny top of plant). The taproot is used for "strength potions." This species grows in the upper parts of the Blue Orc valleys and sometimes on the lower slopes of the Cave Elf cliffs.
Bull thistle
Cirsium vulgare (Savi) Tenore
Leaves are prickly-hairy above and cottony below
Has stiff pointy spines on leaf tips
Seeds are capped with a circle of plume-like white hairs.
Has a short, fleshy taproot with several primary roots extending from the root crown. Each bears a number of smaller lateral roots.
Bull thistle grows in dry to moist habitats. It thrives on nitrogen-rich soils, and it grows on gravelly to clay-textured soils. Bull thistle cannot withstand deep shade, and is nearly absent if light is reduced to less than 40% of full sunlight (FEIS 1998). Potential habitats include pastures, overgrazed rangeland, roadsides, and logged areas.
Cheatgrass is used in "rogue spells" based on the whole plant. It grows in a few places in Blue Orc territory.
Cheatgrass aka Downy brome
Bromus tectorum
Has reddish or purple drooping awns
One of the first plants to green up in the spring
Chinese clematis plants are used whole in "climbing spells" to boost character ability to scale cliffs or trees. The local variety prefers part shade and grows near the edges of the Black Unicorn forests, using the trees for support.
Chinese Clematis
Clematis orientalis L.
Chinese clematis is a perennial vine that is found along creeks, right-of-ways, and on rocky cliffs. It will climb fences, trees or similar structures but will form clumps if it does not have something to climb
The distinctive single yellow flower has four petals and is 1 to 2 inches wide.
Most Clematis species prefer sunny, well drained soils, although they may be shade tolerant to some degree.
Common mullein is used whole to brew "healing potions." It grows in and near the forests of the Black Unicorns.
Common Mullein
Verbascum thapsus
Flowers are yellow, saucer-shaped, attached to the stem
Leaves are oblong and woolly with a rounded tip
Stems are erect, rigid, up to 6 feet tall, covered with woolly hairs
Occurs in areas with an average annual precipitation of 20-60 in. (0.5-1.5 m) and a 140-day growing season. Prefers well-drained soils with pH 6.5 to 7.8. Prefers dry sandy soils but can grow in chalk and limestone. Found in meadows, prairies, desert shrublands, chaparral, deciduous woodlands, and coniferous forests.
Dame's rocket is a rare species in Swamp Halfling territory. Each whole plant can power one single-use "rocket spell" of devastating force.
Dame’s Rocket
Hesperis matronalis
Dame’s Rocket is a member of the Mustard Family (Brassicaceae) This escaped ornamental is beginning to show up in our wildlands.
This native of Europe may be either a biennial or perennial, and may be from 1-1/2 to 4 feet tall, flowers range in color from white to pink to purple. Dame’s Rocket flowers from April through July. This plant tends to invade riparian and wetland habitat. There are many alternatives to planting Dame’s Rocket including Blue Columbine (Aquilegia caerulea) and Lavender Native Bee Balm (Monarda fistulosa menthaefolia).
Eurasian watermilfoil is a key "food source" of Swamp Halflings, as the two numerous races require a magical boost. Gathering this plant keeps their population healthy and enables them to add as many new members as they wish. The amount required depends on their population at the time. It grows in the calm waters of their territory.
Eurasian watermilfoil
Myriophyllum spicatum
Long underwater stems that are branched which produce leaves near the surface of the water.
Lakes, ponds, shallow reservoirs and low energy areas of rivers and streams.
Field bindweed is used whole in the "teamwork potions" of the Cave Elves. It grows in and near the Black Unicorn forests.
Field bindweed
Convolvulus arvensis
Arrowhead-shaped leaves
White to pink funnel-shaped flowers with two small bracts one inch below the flower base
Found in disturbed sites, pastures, rights-of-way, agricultural lands, orchards, vineyards, lawns and gardens.
Johnson grass is a key "food source" of the Blue Orcs, as the numerous races require a magical boost. Gathering this plant keeps their population healthy and enables them to add as many new members as they wish. The amount required depends on their population at the time. It grows in the low valleys. Formerly their key "food source" was quackgrass, but they eradicated that so it was replaced with a new one.
Johnson Grass
Sorghum halepense
Up to 10 feet tall perennial grass
With tillers from the crown
Prevalent in riverbank communities, disturbed sites, and moist, well-drained soils. Requires warm season moisture.
Medusahead grass is used in "petrification spells" both for turning characters to stone and restoring them to normal. It appears rarely in Blue Orc territory.
Medusahead
Taeniatherum caput-medusae
An aggressive winter annual grass
The 4 inch inflorescence persists after the plant has matured
Semi-arid clay soils.
Perennial pepperweed is used to make "pepper potions" to relieve the character conditions of Tired and Exhausted. It is locally abundant in Swamp Halfling territory.
Perennial pepperweed
Lepidium latifolium
Perennial pepperweed has dense clusters of white flowers that appear in early summer
The leaves and stem are covered with a waxy layer
Perennial pepperweed is locally common in riparian areas, marshy floodplains, valley bottoms, and seasonally wet areas from 5,500 to 9,000 ft. Perennial pepperweed is found in similar environments throughout much of the western U.S.
Puncturevine powers a popular "combat spell." The plant (leaves, stems, and roots) creates the framework of the spell while each spiny seedpod provides one damage point. The base spell requires one whole plant for up to 25 seedpods, but the seedpods allow a customizable range from a small-scale grenade effect to a massive cluster bomb for battles. The plant grows in the borderlands where the Blue Orc valleys meet the Black Unicorn forests.
Puncturevine
Tribulus terrestris
Small yellow flowers
Dissected leaflets
Woody, spiny seedpods
Likes sunny, dry, sandy to gravely sites. Found in pastures, orchards, vineyards, rights-of-way, trailheads, and vacant lands.
Russian olive is a key "important herb" of the Black Unicorns. The bark makes "energizing potions" that can replace food or sleep. These relieve the conditions of Hungry or Tired. The wood makes "magical weapons." This species grows toward the edge of the forests.
Russian Olive
Elaeagnus angustifolia L
Tree or shrub up to 30 ft tall
Leaf is light green above and silvery beneath
Many yellowish olive-shaped fruit
