Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)

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Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)

« on: 08 August 2009, 03:03:36 »

Alright... My sad first attempt at an entry. My apologies if it isn't long enough or in-depth enough. And um. A beforehand apology for the exceedingly short physical description.

Changes according to Seth's suggestions/corrections
Changes made after finally noticing the startling messiness of the Overview
Changes according to Shaba’s suggestions/corrections

Categorization
Herbarium > Moss and Fungi > Moss > Yamdh Moss (“Trunk” Moss)

Overview
Not one of Caelereth’s most eye-catching plants, Trunk Moss hasn’t gained much attention by the world’s scholars over the years, being in the eyes of many just another stubbly, brown-green blob on a tree. Mullogs, with their practice of resourcefully using whatever can be used to its full advantage, were the first to discover the moss and put it to use. Thus, it was dubbed "Yamdh," or "Trunk" moss. The Mullog researchers found it simpler, however, to refer to it in the loose Tharian translation among themselves, a practice leading up to the common modern mention of the moss as Trunk Moss. Despite its importance among the Mullogs for fuelling controlled fires, the dry green-brown moss has generally evaded popular attention, thriving as it does chiefly in the Lower Marshes.

Description
From a distance, Trunk Moss is simply a wave of brown-green coating on fallen decaying trees and tree stumps throughout the Lower Marshes, and even sometimes sparingly in the crotches of trees that are exceptionally old. With increased proximity the miniscule stubby shoots are visible, standing erect with all of their one to one and a half grains of height. The root system is deep and thick, as the moisture-requiring Trunk Moss needs all of the wetness it can get. Here and there light green stalks ~~of antheridia~~, about three grains tall, shoot up from the sheets of moss, looking for all appearances to be petite flowers with small yellow buds, golden petals slender and aiming sharply upward. Slim, slight leaves stem off of the antheridia stalks, pointing to the sky with their pointed tips.

In wintertime the Trunk Moss loses its murky colouring and becomes a greyish white. The root system extends longer in an attempt to gain more nourishment from the wood, but becomes thinner and weaker because of the decrease in nutriments. The aboveground moss itself grows even drier and very brittle, often to the extent of pieces falling off of wood that is suspended over air.

The precious few who care to learn such things may find that Trunk Moss gives off certain different fragrances in its different phases. The young, immature plant smells musky and a little bit heavy, being damp in its early stages. However, as it matures and dries out, Trunk Moss loses this odour and acquires a separate smell, curiously sweet, like the aroma of a sweet tree bark, and not altogether unpleasant. This is the fragrance that it retains while being burned, although with a heavy tint of that smoky flavour that fire always lends to objects in its proximity. Additionally, the scent of burning Trunk Moss also obtains an intriguingly sharp edge in Ohs-er-dan fires, presumably from the assorted herbs and plants that are guessed to be ingredients.

Territory
Trunk Moss requires excessive moisture, prospering in the Lower Marshes and even, it is surmised, in the Fen of Tears, although the extent of its burgeoning in the latter area is unknown due to the understandable reluctance of scholars to endeavour extensive research there. It grows sparsely in the northern regions of the Silvermarshes, as they are not humid enough for the moss to truly thrive there. Occasionally Trunk Moss can be found in other wetter areas outside of the Silvermarshes, but most of the seeds are spread inside the marshes.

Usages
Mullogs commonly use Trunk Moss as an alternative to firewood, as the moss is dry enough to burn well, is more common than good, dry firewood, and comes in large enough quantities that they feed fire for a substantial amount of time. It is also easier to control the size of a fire fuelled by Trunk Moss, as the sheets can be hacked into measured amounts. But perhaps the most shrouded purpose of the plant is the very likely use of it in the Ohs-er-dan rituals, the dream trips that the Mullog shamans partake in to gain specific guidance from the spirit world. Although the exact components of what is used in these ceremonies is carefully concealed, many Mullog researchers have theorised that Trunk Moss is indeed one of these ingredients, as the size of an Ohs-er-dan fire is fairly vital, being based on the importance and needs of the dream trip, and the moss is somewhat easier to make into controlled portions than firewood.

Although they often go out alone to search for Trunk Moss near their hamlets and villages for smaller home fires, perhaps twice or thrice a month Mullogs form large groups and go mass foraging to increase the general supply of fire fuel. The profits are split evenly among those who engaged in the "moss hunt," and some is given to those who were unable to participate, be they aged, injured, or mentally unwell, although it must be duly noted that those who did not participate but are young and in all ways healthy do not receive a share. This is because the Mullogs have a high general atmosphere of community. The moss must be gathered in time to prepare for the coming autumn and winter, when the plant does not grow, although it is even better for burning as a consequence of increased dryness.

While extremely dehydrated, the mature moss can be difficult to deracinate in summer, spring, and even part of autumn because of its deep root system. When foraging Mullogs typically use a blade, tugging upwards on the moss with one hand as they slice through the roots underneath the stalks with the other. However, in winter and late autumn the moss's roots became thin and frail, making it much easier to pull out the moss. Most times in these colder, less humid months, unless the roots are extraordinarily deep, a blade is not even needed to cut through the roots and the Mullogs can simply tear the layer of moss right up off of the wood. Once harvested, at all seasons Trunk Moss is stored at a high altitude inside to retain the dryness and hopefully prevent any moisture from accumulating among the stalks, especially during the most humid months.

The other beings that find some use in the dull Trunk Moss are the Stilted Elk. The plant is not exactly a main part of their diet, as the elk's flat teeth only find the young, immature Trunk Moss plant suitable to eat, and the young moss is only available half of the year, but during summer and spring they can often be found grazing the tender, moist phase of the plant. Other, smaller, herbivorous, and very occasionally omnivorous, animals also make this moss a part of their diet, but of the animals, Stinted Elk are the chief consumers.

Aside from the Mullogs, Stilted Elk and other animals, Trunk Moss is not put into use much, as it grows only sparingly in the northern regions; even the small amount that does grow in the upper part of the Silvermarshes is not used, as there is not enough growing to be truly utilized, and the halflings and other residents have plenty of firewood to satisfy their fires. A few herbivorous creatures graze on the occasional Trunk Moss plant in the upper Silvermarshes, but other than that, little interest is taken in the moss.

Reproduction
In its peak at the most humid part of the year, Trunk Moss grows from the month of Changing Winds to Fallen Leaf, although by the latter month its blossoming declines. It is ripest for burning around the months of Rising Sun and Burning Heavens, as well as during the wintertime, as it is even more dehydrated and is easier to deracinate because of the thinning roots.

The roots system of a new Trunk Moss plant grows quickly, although the stalks above grow in contrast relatively slowly. Consequently, the aboveground part of the moss is extremely damp for the first two months; during the third month it has expanded sufficiently to acquire the dryness that is a sign of maturity. Flower-like sprouts will then grow and develop spores which it will then, splitting open, let fall to the ground to be conveyed by animals and wind to new areas. The ones that have settled in a suitably humid environment (preferably with rotting wood) will germinate, thirstily putting down a root or two in search of moisture, which it immediately siphons.


« Last Edit: 18 August 2009, 22:36:31 by Chirrip Setter »	Logged

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seth ghibta

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Re: Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)

« Reply #1 on: 08 August 2009, 12:22:48 »

Hi chirrip,
i'm no expert on plants, but this caught my attention, both for the obvious reasons of mullog-ness, and 'cos i like how it's written. grin

there isn't anything wrong with it, it could just maybe do with being a wee bit longer. to that end, a couple of things came to mind, and of course feel free to ignore them, they're just suggestions for how you could embellish it.

> does anything eat it? i know it's not the most appetising plant, but there are lots of things in the silvermarshes that live off slimy green-brown plants. stilted elks, for example, might like the soft spongy texture of the young moss, as they can't eat hard plants like grasses.
> the fact that it burns so well made me think that it might be a really useful way to start the ceremonial fires mullogs use in Ohs-er-Dan rituals. given that it's an indigenous marsh plant, and, i'm guessing, can be burnt in more controlled amounts than lumps of wood (hard to come by in any case for mullogs) it could become a very important part of tht ritual. as far as i know, the whole Ohs-er Dan is described mainly in generalities, as the orecise mix of herbs and plants used is kept a secret. but you could still say that it appears to be one of the main ingredients, or something like that.
> actually, the more i think about it, the more this could be a really important resource for mullogs - firewood is hard to come by, reeds don't burn well unless prepared, and same with peat. so you could very reasonably embellish the usages section a lot, with maybe explaining how they harvest/ store it, wether it needs any preparation, anything like that you can think of. in conjunction with a stock of peat, some moss could keep a mullog comfortably warm all year, without having to waste any precious wood.

like i said, all this is just suggestions - you've done a great job here, with your writing style making a humble moss into something interesting and engaging to read about. well done, and aura for already making a well integrated entry. thumbup


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Chirrip Setter

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Re: Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)

« Reply #2 on: 08 August 2009, 23:13:09 »

Thank you for your suggestions, Seth! I appreciate you taking the time to look through it for me so kindly. Your suggestions for the uses were brilliant (well, I wouldn't have thought them up noidea

). Thanks again, you've no idea how you've helped a clueless newbie.

Erm. Comments welcome?


« Last Edit: 09 August 2009, 19:35:22 by Chirrip Setter »	Logged

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Shabakuk Zeborius Anfang

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Re: Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)

« Reply #3 on: 10 August 2009, 16:39:12 »

Hi Chirrip,

I couldn't resist reading your text before I had to take my hat and my walking stick and go into hiding.

Your entry is very well written indeed, and meticulously researched! It's great how you've written your moss "into" the Silvermarshes, and you've done a good job of integrating it into the mullogs' lives. (When I put up the first draft of my first entry - a bird - I had no idea where it would live.)

A few comments:

Your moss plant is very small. I wonder if it's a bit too small for being used as fuel. If it barely grows higher than a grain, you'd have to do a lot of moss-gathering to get enough for even a small fire, I think? Could the “sheets” of moss that you mention grow a bit thicker? Or could there be a reason (not necessarily a 'scientific' one; it could be a mythical explanation) why the moss would be particularly ‘potent’ as fuel? Usually, I'd imagine a moss to be less efficient than wood. In a fantasy world, of course, this might be different, but still would warrant an explanation, methinks.

A suggestion: Does a fire fueled by Trunk Moss have a distinctive smell? I think it might add a bit of atmosphere to the Silvermarshes if someone could write, in a story for example: "And as the heroine walked through the swamp, she saw a light, and by the distinctive (sweet? musty? foul?) smell of burning Trunk Moss, she could tell that she wasn't far from a band of mullogs sitting around a fire." Or something like that ...

A smell could make your Trunk Moss more 'alive' to a reader, I think. Also, the smell could be another reason why the Moss might be used in the mullogs' rituals?

A different point: I always enjoy a "medieval" and fantasy atmosphere in an entry. There are two words in your text which might endanger that atmosphere: “nutrients”, and “antheridia”. You've obviously done your research on mosses – but you may want to consider “medievalizing” your entry by replacing these scientific terms.

(EDIT: By "replacing" I don't just mean finding a different word, a synonym. For example, a Santharian researcher might just be content with the fact that a moss has roots, and might not think about their function much - you could just omit the information about nutrients.)

In general, don't feel limited by Real Life botany and science. We have a mushroom that wriggles, and I remember a proposal for a pickpocketing vine (which was fondly received, but sadly never finished, because the author disappeared). I'm currently thinking about a flower that can only be seen by moonlight. Of course, it's good also to have plants (and animals, etc.) that are useful rather than outrageously fantastical. So I'm not saying this as criticism of the Trunk Moss. Just, you know – feel free to let your imagination roam.

Although I haven't done a sentence-by-sentence check, I did notice a few minor things:

Quote

From a distance, Trunk Moss is simply a wave of brown-green coating fallen decaying trees and tree stumps throughout the Lower Marshes,

... coating on fallen ... (?)

Quote

The profits are split evenly among those who engaged in the "moss hunt," and some is given to those who were unable to participate, by they aged, injured, or mentally unwell,

... be ...

Sincerely,

Shabakuk


« Last Edit: 10 August 2009, 17:05:22 by Shabakuk Zeborius Anfang »	Logged

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Re: Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)

« Reply #4 on: 11 August 2009, 20:52:14 »

Thank you for critiquing, Shabakuk! I'm sorry I can't get to your comments right away; I've been a bit busier than usual lately, sadly. But I'll be thinking over your corrections and suggestions and making changes mentally.

Thanks again, I'll be around soon to make all those changes!


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Re: Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)

« Reply #5 on: 13 August 2009, 06:30:14 »

Thanks once more for your enlightening suggestions and corrections, Shabakuk! I especially appreciate your suggestion about the moss scent, and even more so your comment about not getting tied up in real life science. I might have tried a bit too hard to make the plant realistic, you are definitely right about that… noidea

With your suggestion/correction about medieval fantasy atmosphere, I have taken out my uses of the word antheridia. As for “nutrients,” I’ll substitute another, vaguer word for it, if that is what you meant.

Or did you mean taking that little bit involving “nutrients” entirely?

For the height: Well… I was mostly relying on the dryness of the aboveground plant, since that’s the part that is used as fuel. But you are, as usual, right. So- I’ll be frank with you, I’m terrible coming up with myths- if I were to try to come up with a mythological reason why it burns so well, it would probably be something like, completely written out: “Firewood too dry. Mullogs need fire. Ancestors/spirits create good burning moss. The end.” So… I don’t mean to be taking a shortcut route, I really don’t, but unless someone (namely Seth, you, or any other of the people who are good with myths) wants to come up with a short legend, would making the moss grow thick as you suggest, and possibly taller do? Perhaps a little more research on my part will help.


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Shabakuk Zeborius Anfang

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Re: Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)

« Reply #6 on: 13 August 2009, 21:07:15 »

Hi Chirrip,

I like your corrections. That's a good detailed description of the scent.

About the potency as fuel:

Looking up the mullog entry, I learn that mullogs have so far been said to mainly use peat to make their fires. (That's something that deserves mentioning in your entry, I think, as a useful cross-reference to important information.) So they wouldn't have to rely on Trunk Moss alone. That may save the mullogs from spending half their waking time gathering moss, and your moss from extinction-through-mullog-harvest. In this respect I've got an idea:

Could Trunk Moss maybe be used as an alternative to peat on special occasions? Say, to celebrate the end of winter, or on days when there's been a birth or a funeral? Plus, of course, in the shamanic ritual. The scent of Trunk Moss fire could then become something special in the mullog cultural imagination, something associated with feeling the closeness of the ancestors, for example, who would certainly be close by to watch when someone dies or when a new mullog is born?

Of course, don't feel you need to take up that suggestion, just because I made it. It's your moss.

But if it's to be a regular source of fuel, I feel that the moss would either have to grow bigger, or would have to be very abundant indeed (and even then, it would be very laborious to get enough even for a single fire). But that's just my opinion; maybe see what others say.


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Re: Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)

« Reply #7 on: 18 August 2009, 22:38:05 »

Sorry again for getting back to you so late, Shabakuk. As aforesaid, been busy. *sigh*

Thank you for catching that detail about the mullogs' use of peat, another detail that slipped past me. Your concept for using trunk moss as fuel on special occasions is, as usual, lovely!

I think I'll think on this a little more, and find out what I want to do with this.


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Trunk Moss ("Yamdh" Moss)