The Dreamer's Breath Flower

Dreamer’s Breath is a small wild flower that grows abundantly over most of Caelereth, particularly Southern Sarvonia. Surprisingly hearty against cold, Dreamer’s Breath will grow anywhere where there is sunlight, good weather, and moist, well drained earth. Dreamer’s Breath is known best for the relaxing brew made from its dried leaves. The Dreamer's Breath name was believed to have been dervived from the legend ascribing it's creation by the Goddess Eyasha by forming the Dreamer's Breath from a dreaming mother's breath. This legend also explains its more popular secondary names, among them Eyasha's Breath, Mother's Worry and Mother's Breath.

Appearance. Dreamer’s Breath stands about 1 fore and 2 palmspans. The stems are tall, straight, round, and when broken they have found to be hollow. The plant consists of several tall stems to form a small bushy cluster that shares a communal root. The leaves of the plant are made of many divided sections, have a feathery appearance, and are light green in colour. Dreamer’s Breath are small miniature versions of the rik'tyan’s bloom. Small blooms about 2 nailsbreaths wide possess closely grouped small petals with ruffled edges to form roughly a circle in shape. The petals of the Dreamer’s Breath bloom are white, while the small center is a brilliant yellow.

Dreamer’s Breath begins to grow in Awakening Earth, re-growing green and strong from the roots that surveyed winters long cold. The flower begins to bloom late in Signing Bird or early Rising Sun. The blossoms of the plant will begin to close up upon themselves and then gradual turn brown in Sleeping Dreameress, and the blossoms will fall off the stems of the plant. The stems itself will continue to live until snow buries its defiant green colour. The reappearance of the Dreamer’s Breath’s green stems is often viewed as the first sign of spring in some areas.

Territory. Dreamer’s Breath grows all over Caelereth, particularly Southern Sarvonia. It is a very hardy plant that will grow just about anywhere where the weather will permit its growth. Dreamer’s Breath is largely resistant to cold, and will even continue grow in colder weather until snow barriers the plant. Susceptible to mildew the plant will not grow in areas of extreme wet, where the soil is naturally damp, or where the soil is not well drained. Dreamer’s Breath is also prey to storms or other heavy weather and will not grow in this areas.

In order to survive, Dreamer’s Breath needs access to sunlight, and moist, but well drained soil. If these conditions are met, the plant will thrive to the point where it is considered a plague.

Usages. The flowers of the Dreamer’s Breath plant, when harvested, can be brewed to create a relaxing mild tea that has several healing qualities. The tea thus brewed is said to have relaxing effects, to sooth an upset stomach, to induce sleep, and to cure several minor aches or pains.

The flowers are gathered by placing a scrap piece of fabric around the root of the Dreamer’s Breath in Sleeping Dreameress to catch the flowers that naturally fall off by themselves. The brew is made by steeping the flowers in hot water for 10 minutes. The tea is often served to children who suffer from mild ailments such as headache, cough, stomachache, or sleeplessness. The tea has no side effects, and is mild in nature so it is safe to use any even the smallest of children. The tea of the Dreamer’s Breath flower can also be drunk for pleasure, and is often taken with a little bit of honey when honey is present.

The flowers can also be placed in the bath water for sweet smelling skin and hair. The plant when pressed produces oil which can be used as a sweet smelling perfume. Some say that smell of the Dreamer’s Breath oil is similar to the Malsapple’s scent.

Dreamer's Breath is also believed to have positive influences over sick plants. Many gardens will plant a small patch of Dreamer's Breath to increase the general health of their garden. Many reasons have been suggested as to why plants appear healthier where the Dreamer's Breath grows, but whatever the reason, plants near a Dreamer's Breath plant appear greener, free of disease, and free of marks of pest.

Reproduction. Dreamer’s Breath dies of to the ground every winter and re-grows from the same root, but the plant spreads through cuttings. A small portion of the plant, generally some of the stem, leaf, or part of the root. The plant is must often spread accidentally by farmers tilling their fields, but it is often spread purposefully as a yard flower by worried mothers who seek the plant for healing benefits.

Dreamer’s Breath also produces small nigh invisible seeds. The seeds of the Dreamer’s Breath are found on the underside of the leaves of the Dreamer’s Breath. The seeds are round, sandy in colour, and about 1 grain in size. The seeds of the Dreamer’s Breath are a secondary means of reproduction, however as most of the plants come about by cuttings. This is because the seeds of the Dreamer's Breath are even more sensitive to water then the grown plant, and many of seeds of the Dreamer's Plant will drown before they can sprout.

Myth/Lore. Many wives' tales surround the Dreamer’s Breath. Some tell us that the plant is a blessing of Foiros given to those as a cure for the ills that occur during his reign. Others attribute this plant as a creation of Nehtor as a safe healing herb for small children who have taken ill. However, the most popular tale of all tells of a worried mother, an ill child, and a strange dream.

The Dream that Cured. There was once a child that ate too many sweets on festival day. That night, the child lay sick in a fever in tears over an aching stomach that pained the child so much that it could not sleep.

The mother after severely scolding the child for its greed, quickly became concerned as the child’s stomach ache became worse and worse. Concerned, she and her husband set out to find a healer nearby leaving the woman’s grandmother with the ailing child. There was no healer in this small village (which village it is varies from tale to tale), and the parents split up in hopes of finding one of the Butterfly Rovers Healers who had been at the festival.

Yet it was Tenebrume, and the night quickly became dark. The worried mother quickly became lost, and already fatigue after a long day and night with little sleep, the mother fell down by the roadside. She was soon asleep, and asleep she dreamed.

In her dream, Eyasha appeared unto her and asked a question: “Why do you disturb the night little one?”

“My child is sick oh lady of peace, and while he lies ill I can have no peace.”

“Have you sought a cure?”

“Everywhere, my lady, but the night is dark and I have found none. I seek, but now I am lost. I fear for my child.”

“Go home my child.”

“I cannot. I must seek a cure.”

“The cure is given to you. Awake and take the bloom near thy head. It is thy child’s cure, harvest the flowers when they die and all shall be well,” said Eyasha, Goddess of Peace, before gently reaching as if to touch the mother.

Before the mother could thank Eyasha for her kindness, she found herself suddenly awoke as if ice water had spilled on her. Next to her head bloomed a small white flower with a yellow center and as she watched the flowers curled up and died. The Dreamer’s Breath received its name because the plant was believed to be created by Eyasha from the breath of the worried dreaming mother.

Quickly gathering the fallen flowers, the mother turned home. By some miracle, the woman found her way home even in the dark as if some being’s guiding hand led her. On coming home, the mother brewed the flowers and served the tea to her child. The child was cured of its stomach ache and went to sleep a few hours afterwards without complaint. And ever afterwards, they say that when the tea is drunk a prayer is sent upwards to Eyasha for the peace the tea gives.