General Information
Name: Flaxroot
Class: Botanical
Type: Fiberplant
Colour: Pale tan to silver-gray
Smell: Mildly earthy with a faint dry sweetness, like sun-warmed straw
Description: Flaxroot is a low, spindly plant with thin, spiraled limbs. It clings to rocks, trees, or ruins and thrives in damp, shaded areas such as gorges, cave entrances, and forest undergrowth. Although its leaves are brittle and unremarkable, its true value lies in its bark. This bark consists of long, fibrous strips that run along its stems and roots. It is as tough as tendon but easy to peel once scored. When harvested and dried, the bark fibers can be split cleanly into threadlike strands. These strands can be twisted, woven, or softened by hand. Flaxroot is one of the few naturally occurring materials in Keldrath that offers both strength and flexibility without the need for tools.
Properties: Naturally fibrous and split-prone when dried. Mildly water-repellent when treated. With basic weaving, it produces coarse fabric suitable for clothing, bedding, tents, rope, and even bandages. When left untreated, the fabric has a faint shimmer under moonlight. Unpalatable to animals and resists decay for weeks, making it ideal for outdoor wear. Fine-treated threads are perfect for sewing.
Harvesting & Processing
Harvesting: Outer Bark Strips: Locate mature stems and surface roots that are at least finger-thick or larger. Use a sharp Veldstone knife or bone blade to score along the grain, then peel off long strips. To avoid killing the plant, harvest only one strip per limb, as Flaxroot regenerates slowly. Inner Sheath Fibers: For finer thread, soak the outer strips in lake water for 1 to 2 days. After soaking, pull the strips apart by hand to reveal a softer filament layer inside.
Processing: Drying: Lay bark flat across a warmed stone or hang in a shaded, breezy place. Avoid sunlight — it causes brittleness. Fully dry in one day. Softening: Pound lightly with a mallet or stone to break down stiffness; twist between palms to make it thread-ready. Treating: Lightly dip in Blackoil or lightly grease with Drak Grease and leave to dry in the shade.
Storage: Bundle dried bark into coils or thread skeins. Store in Drak Leather pouches or Rimeleek pots; they must remain dry. Treated fibers (oiled or greased) will last for seasons.