A multitude of plants that grow in Asta (and neighboring regions) are poisonous, which lends to Asta's reputation for producing assassins. However, not all of Asta's plants are harmful; a number of medicinal herbs can only be found in the swamps of this province.
Plant Lore 1 / Poison Lore 1
Bloodberry: a large, woody bush with spade-shaped leaves that grows in drier areas of the wetlands. The bloodberry bush grows very thickly, often in clumps of three or more plants, and bear dark red clusters of berries. The berries, about the size of peas, are bitter tasting but not poisonous. They are an ingredient in a rustic fermented drink called fenwine. Bloodberries are more commonly used to dye cloth or to produce a deep red ink. (Artisan 1, Poison Research 1, Magic Research 1 can be used to distill bloodberry dye.)
Purgeweed: a low-growing, large leafed plant (similar to skunkweed) that grow along shallows or moist areas. The leaves are slightly curly and variegated (red or purplish streaks). Can be eaten raw, but purgeweed is often boiled and the liquid reduced to produce a potent purgative. (Poison Research 1 or Aid 5 can be used to create the purgative.)
Swamp Laurel: the swamp laurel is a cousin to the mountain laurels found elsewhere in the Realm. This shrub, with dark green (sometimes purplish) waxy leaves, grows often in the shade of larger trees in loamy, acidic soil. Like most laurels, the swamp variety is poisonous. (Poison Research 2 can be used to create a mild Light poison.)
Plant Lore 3 / Poison Lore 3
Somnathas or Sleepberry: the somnathas plant -- also called sleepberry -- is relatively rare in the northern swamps of Asta. This small plant grows out of pools with bright yellow curly-edged leaves. In late summer through fall, the plant bears tiny red-orange berries. Only the berries of the somnathas is poisonous. (Poison Research 4 can be used to create a Sleep poison.)
Plant Lore 5 / Poison Lore 5
Addergrass: local lore tells that a reclusive mage living in the wilds of Asta came upon a mound where a great brood of baby blackhead adders were hatching and pushing from the soft earth. Hundreds of young snakes poured from the ground as a wriggling mass. The mage in his ire transformed the entire lot into grass; each snake becoming a blade of grass. Addergrass is a kind of reed with thin stems and broad, stiff blades. The leaves are serrated and very sharp making harvesting difficult. Dark green in color, mature leaves are tipped in black much like the blackhead adder. The leaves can be made into a dark, bitter poison. (Poison Research 6 can create a Critical poison.)
Dotillin or Astan Cureall: this curious fungus grows only on the dung of several species of swamp mammals (rodents, deer), particularly those animals that can ingest poisonous plants with immunity. Dotillin or Astan Cureall is rare and nearly impossible to cultivate. Something of the natural climate of the swamps and the needed diet of the area's swamp life is perfect for producing this pale green, slightly hairy fungus. When dried and mixed with other common curatives, the cureall is an effective antidote for many natural poisons. (Poison Research 5 or Aid 10 can create an antidote for most natural Light, Sleep, Paralysis, Critical, and equivalent poisons.)
Plant Lore 1 / Poison Lore 1
Bloodberry: a large, woody bush with spade-shaped leaves that grows in drier areas of the wetlands. The bloodberry bush grows very thickly, often in clumps of three or more plants, and bear dark red clusters of berries. The berries, about the size of peas, are bitter tasting but not poisonous. They are an ingredient in a rustic fermented drink called fenwine. Bloodberries are more commonly used to dye cloth or to produce a deep red ink. (Artisan 1, Poison Research 1, Magic Research 1 can be used to distill bloodberry dye.)
Purgeweed: a low-growing, large leafed plant (similar to skunkweed) that grow along shallows or moist areas. The leaves are slightly curly and variegated (red or purplish streaks). Can be eaten raw, but purgeweed is often boiled and the liquid reduced to produce a potent purgative. (Poison Research 1 or Aid 5 can be used to create the purgative.)
Swamp Laurel: the swamp laurel is a cousin to the mountain laurels found elsewhere in the Realm. This shrub, with dark green (sometimes purplish) waxy leaves, grows often in the shade of larger trees in loamy, acidic soil. Like most laurels, the swamp variety is poisonous. (Poison Research 2 can be used to create a mild Light poison.)
Plant Lore 3 / Poison Lore 3
Somnathas or Sleepberry: the somnathas plant -- also called sleepberry -- is relatively rare in the northern swamps of Asta. This small plant grows out of pools with bright yellow curly-edged leaves. In late summer through fall, the plant bears tiny red-orange berries. Only the berries of the somnathas is poisonous. (Poison Research 4 can be used to create a Sleep poison.)
Plant Lore 5 / Poison Lore 5
Addergrass: local lore tells that a reclusive mage living in the wilds of Asta came upon a mound where a great brood of baby blackhead adders were hatching and pushing from the soft earth. Hundreds of young snakes poured from the ground as a wriggling mass. The mage in his ire transformed the entire lot into grass; each snake becoming a blade of grass. Addergrass is a kind of reed with thin stems and broad, stiff blades. The leaves are serrated and very sharp making harvesting difficult. Dark green in color, mature leaves are tipped in black much like the blackhead adder. The leaves can be made into a dark, bitter poison. (Poison Research 6 can create a Critical poison.)
Dotillin or Astan Cureall: this curious fungus grows only on the dung of several species of swamp mammals (rodents, deer), particularly those animals that can ingest poisonous plants with immunity. Dotillin or Astan Cureall is rare and nearly impossible to cultivate. Something of the natural climate of the swamps and the needed diet of the area's swamp life is perfect for producing this pale green, slightly hairy fungus. When dried and mixed with other common curatives, the cureall is an effective antidote for many natural poisons. (Poison Research 5 or Aid 10 can create an antidote for most natural Light, Sleep, Paralysis, Critical, and equivalent poisons.)
