The Arléá's Tear, named after the Aesteran Goddess of Water Arléá, is an abundant wildflower found throughout coastal areas of southern Nybelmar. The flower's name is due to the striking colour, a hue reminiscent of icy blue crystals, of the petals that sprout into nearly a three nailsbreadth wide puffball pattern near the beginning of spring. The flowers hang from their stems in something like a tear shape, lending some evidence to how this beautiful flower came to possess its name.

Krean mothers in more rural areas have at times called this plant "Arléá's Curse", since the plants attributes in the months of Changing Winds and Singing Bird are quite unfriendly to the tiny feet and hands of curious children.

Appearance. Small clusters of stems no larger than the diameter of a fine quill, numbering no less than two and no more than five, sprout from the base of this plant. This assortment of stems rises nearly straight up, no higher than a third of a ped before curtailing outwards to droop and hang low near their tips. These long mournful stems are from which these beautiful flowers hang from. This sagging appearance gives many a casual observer the feeling that the plant is weeping, especially when the tear shaped flower is in full bloom.

In the initial months of spring the supple petals of this flower have a light but sturdy film about their edges. Though glistening and beautiful this attribute of the flower can also be sharp if grasped or stepped upon at the wrong angle. Hence why mothers can often be heard scolding their children for playing with this fragile flower at these times.

This film is a self-defense mechanism of the plant that gives itself time to reproduce before herbivores can feast upon it. This film flacks off the plant until it comes into full flower. At which time very diminutive amounts of this residue, if any at all, is left upon the plants spilk-like petals.

Territory. Arléá's Tear is fairly common along the coastal areas of southern Nybelmar, ranging in rarity to nearly two stral inland, after which it can be considered not present. As the plant does not thrive well in shadowed places it is often found about the edges of higher grown vegetation. Although finding it secreted away beneath a small outcropping of stone is not unheard of, yet this does hinder the plants growth, leaving these findings a rarity.

Usages. More than one would be suitor has used the chilly hues of this flower to add depth to vibrant floral arrangements given to maidens in waiting. The faithful of the Goddess Arléá use this blossom in her worship, but the plant is often associated with rituals pertaining to the moon. The radiant blue of the blossoms is quite striking when moonbeams dance upon their surfaces.

During the latter part of the month Singing Bird and the early part of Rising Sun, Krean mothers and children are seen in droves amongst communities of these wildflowers, meticulously gathering flakes of the resin falling from the wildflowers' petals. This residue is nectarous and a favourite in many desserts during the summer months.

Most notably Arléá's Tear resin is boiled with honey, commonly gathered from the hives of malise honeybees. After simmering for a few hours this concoction is poured into various patterns, where stars, flowers and sunburst shapes are the most common, then left to harden, creating an extremely sweet crystalline candy. Frequently a variety of dyes are added in the boiling process to add bright colours to these candies.

Reproduction. Reproduction amongst these plants is achieved towards the end of the month, Singing Bird.This is easily noted as the flower sprouts a multitude of cobalt coloured seeds within the center of its blossom. These seeds are eaten and carried in the bellies of a variety of herbivores, predominantly avian, at last being deposited in their droppings.

Myth/Lore. The plants abundance along coastal waters is associated with the Aesteran Water Goddess Arléá as it appears that these tears return once more to the sea at the end of summer. Resting with their Goddess until the cycle of seasons brings about the wisps of spring. When her tears are once again shed upon the land with the first moonlit rays of early spring. An abundance of these blossoms lead Arléá's faithful to reckon a fruitful year is waiting for them.

12th Sleeping Dreameress 1667 a.S. Information provided by Twen Araerwen