Strength

Upright:
Inner strength, unwavering will
Courage and resilience

Reversed:
Indecision, faltering will
Timidity, hesitation

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Purging Afflictions

The Deer-Spirit Goddess, crowned with antlers shaped like the infinity symbol, serves as the forest’s guardian and healer. She maintains the ecological balance by removing dangerous afflictions that threaten the plants. Certain fast-growing plants, which absorb vast energy, are prone to such afflictions—sometimes from parasitism, sometimes from internal mutations. Left unchecked, these afflictions can endanger not only the host but also the surrounding ecosystem.

Unlike parasitic plants, which play a role in ecological balance, affliction bodies are invasive and destructive. Detecting them early is crucial, and removing them requires specialized beings. The deer-spirits possess this gift. The goddess herself can soothe and separate afflictions from the host, as if gently comforting a child, restoring health to the forest.

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Strange Plant Compendium

Vine of Strength:
A robust vine with extraordinary vitality, its thick stems bear clusters of four leaves, drawing life force from the sun. It blooms in varied shapes, radiating warm light that symbolizes inner power and resilience. The vine absorbs both sunlight and the earth’s energy, transforming them into life force that nourishes surrounding beings. However, its rapid growth also increases the likelihood of affliction variants emerging.

Darkblood Vine (Affliction Form):
Initially mistaken for a parasitic species, the Darkblood Vine was later revealed to be the affliction form of the Vine of Strength. It inherits its parent’s vitality, growing and spreading at alarming speed. Its dark crimson body bristles with vicious spines that can shoot outward, making it a highly dangerous affliction body.