Kaihereret
| Kaihereret | |
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| Flora | |
| Official Name | Kaihereret (High Flower) |
| Common Name | Asha Reed |
| Classification | Reed |
| Common Use | Utility, Decoration |
| Origins | Ashal Isles |
| Habitat | Sunny areas by water |
While the Asha aren’t known for their written history, the Kaihereret has served as a way for them to create several exotic handicrafts. Among all the plants within Asha territories, the reeds are the tallest that can stand even taller than some houses. It is one of the well-known plants that are softly tied to the culture of the Asha. While the paper that is commonly used for writing is known to come from trees, outsiders to the Asha acknowledge the Race’s heavy use of Kaihereret paper. Presently, the Asha continue to grow and sell produce made from the reeds to those who enjoy what can be made out of it.
History
Since the formation of the Ashal Isles, the Kaihereret is a plant that the early Asha have used in various ways. The history of the Dewamenet Empire is long gone to those living in the modern day, but the ruins uncovered have revealed the use of the Kaihereret since the creation of the empire. The plant has strong roots in the past of The Sefakhem, for it is known that the mummification of the dead involved wrapping the embalmed bodies in Kaihereret paper whenever linen or silk were not available. This tradition carried on over the centuries, but the Allorn Empire’s invasion on the Asha drew this to a temporary stop. The Kaihereret was exclusive to the Ashal Islands, so those that were enslaved by the Allorn did not have a chance to continue to use the plant. However, the Siwath-Khenu brought with them the rhizomes of the reeds, which they used to reproduce where they went into hiding. The coastal tribes of the Siwath-Khenu continued to use the Kaihereret for various means. When they did not practice the art of mummification, they would utilize the plant’s stem for handicrafts such as mats, rope, and so on. The very first Asha T’zzrazans made included sails made of refined Kaihereret, and this had been already done to the Asha C’zzardez made during the reign of the Dewamenet Empire.
At the end of The Great Journey, the Kaihereret was heavily used by the Asha, who moved back to the Asha Isles. The plant soon became a widespread, regular part of daily life inside the Asha Society. After the Cataclysm, the Asha began to sell Kaihereret to merchants that came to bargain for their exotic products. This merchandising has led to the plant reaching foreign lands that can meet its growing conditions. However, Alorians associate the Kaihereret with the Asha no matter how far they get from their homeland.
Appearance
It may shock those that come across these reeds that they can grow extraordinarily large. When they are cultivated in nature, the plant can grow several feet above from where its roots are connected. The tallest the Kaihereret can reach are heights of around eighteen feet. The Kaihereret is a chartreuse color from the bottom of its stems to the top of the plant, with little to no variation in its color even with regional differences. The stems of the reeds are strong despite being thin, requiring sharp tools to cut into. The plant has been accessible to the Asha for a long time due to the Living Metal that they can control at will. The most discernible feature of the reeds is the grouping of leaves at the top of their stems. They are arranged in an umbrella-like formation and are known as the plant’s rays. Delicate, brown nuts grow from daffodil-colored flowers at the end of each ray. These nuts can be easily pulled away from the rays, and do not require any processing to be eaten. Beyond that, Kaihereret are typically uniform in the way that they all grow alike. However, if it is cultivated outside the Ashal Isles, the stems grow several feet shorter than what they can typically grow to.
Uses and Abilities
All the parts of the Kaihereret have been innovated into an object that it can be made into. The stem is one of the vital parts of the reed when it comes to crafting Kaihereret commodities. The Kaihereret is best known for the paper that the reeds can be refined into. Compared to paper made from the pulp of trees, Kaihereret paper has a more coarse texture. Ironically, the Asha do not use the paper to write themselves; Instead, they produce this paper to be sold to the merchants interested in Asha products. Another way to use the stem of the Kaihereret is by refining it into a thin, large canvas to be used as sails for Asha vessels. Sails are not the only exclusive parts of a ship which the reeds can be used for. Multiple Kaihereret put together can form a sufficient watercraft. It is no surprise that the reeds can serve as the material for various Asha furniture as well. Kaihereret mats are a common item found in Asha homes. Finally, the small nuts that grow at the end of the plant’s rays provide harvesters with a quick snack. While the nuts themselves are fairly small, consuming them grants the eater reserves of water and a sweet taste.
Trivia
- The tradition of wrapping the dead in the paper of Kaihereret has spread out to holidays during the month of October. It has become fairly common for those who enjoy dressing up for the holidays to pretend to be a “mummy,” the term for the dead that undergoes mummification.
- There is an Asha children’s tale about an old patch of Kaihereret that once grew all the way up to the clouds. Of course, there is no evidence of this today, but the tale said that those who climbed all the way up would meet Baskarr.
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