Black Orchid: Difference between revisions

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|image          = BlackOrchid.png
|image          = BlackOrchid.png
|officialname    = Black Orchid
|officialname    = Black Orchid
|commonname      = Alu’s Eye, Dae Lotte
|classification  = Flower
|classification  = Flower
|origins        = Ancient
|origins        = Kilarallis
|habitat        = The forests of [[Kilarallis]]
|habitat        = Mouths of underground rivers
|commonuse = Aesthetic and religious
|commonuse       = Dye
|}}
|}}
The Black Orchid is a flower that has long been a part of the [[Kilarallis]] culture. Once thought to be a symbol and servant of the goddess Alu, the shifting political situation wiped the negative association with the plant away. Now it stands as a useful flower in the creation of dyes and as a positive religious symbol to Kilarallisians.


The black orchid is a flower that has long been a part of [[Kilarallis]] Culture. Once thought to be a bad omen or the cause of many a traveler’s misfortune, the religion of Gestalt has accepted it into their myths as a plant that warns of the end of days.
==History==
==Origins==
The Black Orchid was originally viewed as an evil plant by the [[Elvish]] peoples on the island of Kilarallis. They later transferred their beliefs onto the slaves who eventually rose up against them. To the Elves, the plant was evil simply because of it’s color and associated it with the [[Void]]. However, they were also fearful that there might be something more to the plants and so let them be. When the religion of [[Old Gods]] reached the island and the religious figures calmed the fierce civil war that had been raging, it was officially called Alu’s Eye. The belief was that the flowers were a way of Alu to view the mortal world and more superstitiously, lure people to their deaths and into her realm.  
Found in the few forests that lay in Kilarallis, the black orchid has been a part of Kilarallis' history as far as anyone can remember. It was originally seen as a vile and evil flower due to its color and the superstitious belief that they would bring bad luck upon those who saw or ran into them. This began to change however after it was encountered by several explorers and merchants who noted that soon after seeing the flower growing at the side of the path their party fell into trouble and a life was lost due to a hidden cliff face. Some people pointed out that perhaps the flower was actually a warning of danger and not the cause.  


However, real change in the perception of the plant came much later. A reputable healer was in the forest searching for herbs to help heal the soldiers of his patron noblemen when he came across the flower. He saw the herbs he was looking for on the other side of the patch of orchids and walked through. Yet he suddenly tripped on something in the patch and found himself looking over the edge of a vertical cave entrance. He claimed the plant saved his life and that they warned of danger. The Church of Gestalt worked this into their belief system concerning Kanda in their early days, saying that if the plant began to grow in vast excess, Kanda will not be far off. As such, the flower has been uprooted from its native habitat of the forest and placed in Kilarallis noblemen’s gardens and close to churches of the faith to warn them of the danger.
These beliefs continued for years until early 247 AC when several lower members of the ruling Handskneghter Oligarchy and other business persons realized that the plant could be of great use in dyeing cloth. The trend for years on the island had always been somber colors and it had been difficult to provide the needed materials for dyeing the cloth used. As such, they carefully used their influence to change the perception of the flower to simply be the watchful eye of Alu over the dead and dying. They were able to change the name of the flower to completely rid itself of the religious title and began a monopoly on the harvest and trade of the flower. When the family fell, the business carried over to their merchant allies whose descendents control it to this day. Since the final name change, the orchid has been used in large amounts by the people of Kilarallis to dye their clothing.


===Etymology===
==Appearance==
Originally called the “shadow flower,” its name was changed to “bat orchid” once tradesmen brought specimens of the normal white, pale yellow, and purple types. The “bat” portion came about due to the belief in the region that bats can see dangers even though they live in the dark. It was then changed again to “black orchid” to still keep a reference of its obvious colour once it was adopted by the Church as an apparent early warning sign of the end of the world.
The Black Orchid is a quarter to a half a foot wide flower with four to six black petals and a violet center in the shape of the bell or a horn. They grow in small clusters near the mouths of the several underground rivers that run through Kilarallis.
 
==Uses and Abilities==
If the petals of the flower are plucked, chopped and then boiled in hot water, a black or very dark mixture can be created which can be mixed with other dye mixtures to produce dark and somber colours of black, dark purple, dark blue and dark grey. The water must be at a boiling point and is normally left for around a day for the dark coloration to enter the water properly. [[Dargon]] and [[Humans]] can dye their fur or hair black with the raw dye produced and the results are known to last several weeks.  


==Primary Use==
If the leaves of the flower are picked off and dried, it can be made into a tea thought by the Church of Gestalt to give the foresight and good judgement, while in fact it does nothing but taste sweet. Some churches also grind it up into a near powder and throw it into onto their bread. This is also said to give the eater the same effect as the tea but very few people actually believe that.
*Apart from religious assumptions based on its apparent “power,” the tea in fact does nothing to [[Human]] races.
*The Church assumed that because the flower is a warning of danger, it will pass on the power of better sight for upcoming dangers to those who consume it as a tea.
*There are also no known effects to other races of Aloria.
*Combined with some mint, the tea helps somewhat with digestion issues, although this is not widely known. Only certain botanists or tea masters would know about this effect.
==Trivia==
==Trivia==
*A vast number of shadow orchids were once given as a gift to the [[Regalia]]n Emperor in 259 AC. It is not known what he did with the shipment yet some think it was burned because none of the flowers made it into the Imperial Palace Garden or any other location.
*Due to the isolationist tendencies of Kilarallis, there are few specimens elsewhere on Aloria, resulting in some [[Etosian]] smugglers to take these flowers when on runs to the neighbouring state.
*As the Church of Gestalt might think the flower as a herald of the end, they wish to be assured that Kilarallis are the first to be warned of the end whenever it comes and as such has restricted the shipment of these flowers. As such, few specimens exist elsewhere in Aloria.
*The belief that the plant was a killer and servant of Alu started when a story circulated the island that a woman gathering water had been pushed into the water by the plant; she more accurately tripped on a clump of the flowers, fell into the water and then over the waterfall to her death.
 
{{Floratable
|name      = Shadow Orchid
|appearance = A 7-17 cm wide flower with four to six black petals and a violet center in the shape of the bell of a horn that grow in small clusters.
|habitat    = The Black Orchid grows in Kilarallis, normally around the forests of the island.
|}}


{{Flora}}
{{Flora}}
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|Artists = Lithiel_Everlast
|Artists = Lithiel_Everlast
|Writers = The_Shadow_King3
|Writers = The_Shadow_King3
|Processors = Plecy, Shayin, Levers
|Processors = Shayin, Shuikenai
}}
}}
[[category:flora]] [[category:flowers]] [[category:Ornaments]] [[category:Kilarallis]]
[[category:Flora]] [[category:UtilityFlora]] [[category:Kilarallis]] [[Category:Etosil]]

Revision as of 20:56, 19 June 2016

Black Orchid
BlackOrchid.png
Flora
Official Name Black Orchid
Common Name Alu’s Eye, Dae Lotte
Classification Flower
Common Use Dye
Origins Kilarallis
Habitat Mouths of underground rivers

The Black Orchid is a flower that has long been a part of the Kilarallis culture. Once thought to be a symbol and servant of the goddess Alu, the shifting political situation wiped the negative association with the plant away. Now it stands as a useful flower in the creation of dyes and as a positive religious symbol to Kilarallisians.

History

The Black Orchid was originally viewed as an evil plant by the Elvish peoples on the island of Kilarallis. They later transferred their beliefs onto the slaves who eventually rose up against them. To the Elves, the plant was evil simply because of it’s color and associated it with the Void. However, they were also fearful that there might be something more to the plants and so let them be. When the religion of Old Gods reached the island and the religious figures calmed the fierce civil war that had been raging, it was officially called Alu’s Eye. The belief was that the flowers were a way of Alu to view the mortal world and more superstitiously, lure people to their deaths and into her realm.

These beliefs continued for years until early 247 AC when several lower members of the ruling Handskneghter Oligarchy and other business persons realized that the plant could be of great use in dyeing cloth. The trend for years on the island had always been somber colors and it had been difficult to provide the needed materials for dyeing the cloth used. As such, they carefully used their influence to change the perception of the flower to simply be the watchful eye of Alu over the dead and dying. They were able to change the name of the flower to completely rid itself of the religious title and began a monopoly on the harvest and trade of the flower. When the family fell, the business carried over to their merchant allies whose descendents control it to this day. Since the final name change, the orchid has been used in large amounts by the people of Kilarallis to dye their clothing.

Appearance

The Black Orchid is a quarter to a half a foot wide flower with four to six black petals and a violet center in the shape of the bell or a horn. They grow in small clusters near the mouths of the several underground rivers that run through Kilarallis.

Uses and Abilities

If the petals of the flower are plucked, chopped and then boiled in hot water, a black or very dark mixture can be created which can be mixed with other dye mixtures to produce dark and somber colours of black, dark purple, dark blue and dark grey. The water must be at a boiling point and is normally left for around a day for the dark coloration to enter the water properly. Dargon and Humans can dye their fur or hair black with the raw dye produced and the results are known to last several weeks.

Trivia

  • Due to the isolationist tendencies of Kilarallis, there are few specimens elsewhere on Aloria, resulting in some Etosian smugglers to take these flowers when on runs to the neighbouring state.
  • The belief that the plant was a killer and servant of Alu started when a story circulated the island that a woman gathering water had been pushed into the water by the plant; she more accurately tripped on a clump of the flowers, fell into the water and then over the waterfall to her death.

Accreditation
Writers The_Shadow_King3
Artists Lithiel_Everlast
Processors Shayin, Shuikenai
Last Editor Shayin on 06/19/2016.

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