Void-Lotus

Nymphaea nihilis / “The Black Flower” / “Mind-Breaker”

“Void-lotus shows you everything. Then it takes everything. The trade is never worth it.”
—Alchemist’s warning

Quick Reference

Void-Lotus - The Black Flower

Description

Void-lotus is one of the most dangerous plants in the Aetherium—a black flower with silver centers that produces intensely hallucinogenic pollen. A single inhalation causes vivid visions, euphoria, and temporary dissolution of self. It is instantly addictive, psychologically destructive, and illegal everywhere. Yet people still seek it out, driven by desperation, curiosity, or the claims that it reveals cosmic truths.

The plant grows only in the deepest ruins of the Periphery, in stagnant pools of water that have sat undisturbed since before the Shattering. It blooms exclusively in darkness—the flowers close at the first hint of light and open only in complete shadow. The blooms are hauntingly beautiful: jet-black petals surrounding silver stamens that glow faintly, creating an eerie luminescence in the dark water.

When the flower is disturbed (touched, picked, or even breathed upon), it releases a cloud of pollen—microscopic silver particles that float in the air and are easily inhaled. The effects begin within seconds: reality fractures, time becomes meaningless, and the user experiences what they describe as “seeing everything at once.” Some claim to witness pre-Shattering memories that aren’t theirs. Others say they communicate with constellations. Many simply lose themselves in visions and never fully return.

The Constellation Clergy condemns void-lotus as “the Voice Beneath in flower form”—a corruption that destroys minds while claiming to enlighten. The Black Sky Cartel trades it at enormous prices. Alchemists study it carefully, seeking to understand its properties without succumbing to its effects. And addicts chase it desperately, knowing each use brings them closer to madness but unable to stop.

Physical Characteristics

The Plant

Aquatic Structure: - Grows in stagnant water (pre-Shattering pools, cisterns) - Roots anchor to stone underwater - Leaves float on surface (dark green, waxy) - Stems reach 1-2 meters from bottom to surface - Requires complete stillness (moving water kills it)

Leaves: - Circular, 20-30cm diameter - Dark green with purple veins - Waxy, water-repellent surface - Float on water surface - Faint sweet-rot smell

Flowers: - Only bloom in darkness (close in light) - Black petals (6-8, velvety texture) - Silver stamen (glow faintly) - 10-15cm diameter - Sweet, cloying fragrance (intensifies at night)

Pollen: - Silver, microscopic particles - Released when flower disturbed - Floats in air (remains airborne for hours) - Easily inhaled - This is the dangerous part

Seeds: - Tiny, black, viable for decades - Spread by water (rare) - Germination rate: Unknown (plant rarely studied safely) - Dormant until conditions perfect

Growth Requirements

Water: Stagnant, undisturbed Light: Darkness (flowers close in light) Temperature: Cool (10-15°C) Location: Deep ruins (specific conditions) Isolation: Undisturbed for years/decades

Why So Rare: - Specific requirements rarely met - Grows only in deepest, most dangerous ruins - Requires decades of undisturbed growth - Most populations destroyed when discovered

Effects and Dangers

Immediate Effects (0-30 minutes)

Physical: - Pupil dilation (extreme) - Elevated heart rate - Numbness in extremities - Loss of motor control - Collapse (usually)

Psychological: - Reality fractures - Time becomes meaningless - Ego dissolution (“self” disappears) - Synesthesia (senses merge) - Overwhelming euphoria

Visions: - Intensely vivid hallucinations - Often described as “more real than reality” - Content varies (personal, cosmic, terrifying, beautiful) - Users insist visions are revelations, not hallucinations

Peak Effects (30 minutes - 6 hours)

The Experience: - Complete dissociation from reality - Users describe “seeing everything at once” - Past, present, future blur together - Sense of cosmic understanding - Communication with “something” (constellations? Voice Beneath? Delusion?)

Common Visions: - Pre-Shattering world (memories that aren’t theirs) - The moment of Shattering (from impossible perspectives) - Constellations speaking (in languages they don’t know) - The Rot’s true nature (terrifying, incomprehensible) - Their own death (sometimes accurate prediction)

Physical State: - Catatonic or convulsing - Unresponsive to external stimuli - Dangerous to self (can wander off edges) - Requires supervision (or dies)

Comedown (6-12 hours)

Return to Reality: - Gradual, disorienting - Reality feels “wrong” or “less real” - Depression (profound) - Exhaustion (extreme) - Craving (immediate and intense)

Psychological Impact: - Permanent changes to perception - Some users never fully “return” - Personality shifts - Difficulty distinguishing memories from visions - Obsession with returning to experience

Long-Term Effects

After Single Use: - Instant psychological addiction - Permanent perceptual changes - Flashbacks (random, uncontrollable) - Depression and anxiety - Craving that never fully fades

After Multiple Uses: - Progressive dissociation from reality - Inability to function normally - Psychosis (in many cases) - Physical deterioration (neglect of basic needs) - Death (eventual, from various causes)

Addiction: - One use is enough - Not physical dependence (no withdrawal symptoms) - Psychological compulsion (overwhelming) - Users describe: “Nothing else matters after you’ve seen what void-lotus shows” - Recovery rate: <10%

Mystical Claims vs. Reality

What Users Claim

Pre-Shattering Memories: - See events from before Shattering - Memories that aren’t theirs - Accurate historical details - “Proof” of reincarnation or cosmic memory

Constellation Communication: - Constellations speak directly - Receive prophecies, guidance - Understand divine will - “True” religion revealed

Rot Understanding: - See Rot’s true nature - Understand Voice Beneath - Cosmic horror made comprehensible - “It’s not what we think”

Future Sight: - Visions of what will be - Some predictions accurate - Most are not - Confirmation bias strong

What Scholars Say

Alchemist Kael Greythorn: > “Void-lotus is powerful hallucinogen. The ‘visions’ are brain misfiring under chemical stress. Users interpret random neural activity as cosmic revelation. It’s not truth—it’s madness with delusions of profundity.”

Clergy Position: > “Void-lotus is corruption in flower form. The visions are lies from the Voice Beneath. Those who use it are opening their minds to darkness. It destroys souls while claiming to enlighten.”

The Uncomfortable Truth: - Some visions contain information users couldn’t know - Predictions occasionally accurate - Historical details sometimes verified - Explanation: Unknown (coincidence? Something else?)

Legal Status and Trade

Prohibition

Illegal Everywhere: - All major settlements ban it - Possession: Imprisonment (1-10 years) - Distribution: Death penalty (some places) - Use: Varies (treatment vs. punishment)

Enforcement: - Difficult (rare plant, remote locations) - Black Sky Cartel controls trade - Occasional crackdowns - Mostly ineffective

Black Market

Supply: - Harvested from deep ruins (dangerous) - Cartel controls sources - Supply limited (plant is rare) - Prices astronomical

Prices: - Single flower: 500-2,000 coins - Dried pollen: 1,000 coins per dose - Extract: 5,000+ coins (concentrated)

Buyers: - Addicts (desperate, will pay anything) - Wealthy thrill-seekers (stupid) - Mystics (seeking visions) - Researchers (studying effects)

Sellers: - Black Sky Cartel (primary) - Independent smugglers (risky) - Corrupt officials (occasionally)

The Cartel’s Role

Vex Shadowhand’s Operation: - Controls most void-lotus trade - Harvests from known locations - Sells at enormous markup - Morally questionable even by Cartel standards

Internal Debate: - Some Cartel members refuse involvement - Others see it as profitable - Vex’s position: “People will find it anyway. Might as well be us.”

Cultural Impact

Among Users

The Lotus Cult: - Informal group of users - Share experiences, locations - Believe void-lotus reveals truth - Most die within years - Recruitment through desperation

Famous Users: - Several scholars (seeking knowledge) - Some mystics (seeking visions) - Desperate people (seeking escape) - Most regret it (if they survive)

In Society

Fear and Fascination: - People fear it (rightfully) - Also fascinated by it - Stories of visions spread - Temptation despite danger

Moral Debates: - Should users be punished or helped? - Is prohibition effective? - Do visions contain real truth? - Personal freedom vs. public safety

In Art: - Depicted in cautionary tales - Symbol of dangerous knowledge - Paintings of black flowers - Always with warning

Research and Study

Alchemical Research

Kael Greythorn’s Work: - Studying void-lotus carefully - Never inhales pollen (observes effects on others) - Seeking to understand mechanism - Hoping to find antidote - Progress: Minimal

Challenges: - Plant is rare - Studying effects requires human subjects - Ethical issues - Personal risk (accidental exposure)

Findings: - Pollen contains unknown compounds - Affects brain chemistry profoundly - No known antidote - Effects may be permanent

Clergy Studies

Theological Questions: - Are visions from constellations or Voice Beneath? - Is plant itself evil or just dangerous? - Should it be destroyed or studied? - Can users be redeemed?

Official Position: - Void-lotus is corruption - Visions are lies - Users need spiritual healing - Plant should be destroyed when found

The Unanswered Questions

Origin: - Pre-Shattering plant? Post-Shattering mutation? - Natural or created? - Why does it grow only in deepest ruins?

Mechanism: - How does pollen cause such specific effects? - Why are visions so consistent across users? - Is there actual information transfer or just hallucination?

The Vision Content: - Why do users report similar themes? - How do they know things they shouldn’t? - Coincidence? Telepathy? Cosmic connection? Delusion?

Locations

The Black Pool (Deep Periphery)

Description: Largest known void-lotus population, 50+ plants

Location: Ruins of pre-Shattering temple, 3 days into Periphery

Access: Extremely dangerous (Rot-Beasts, unstable structures)

Status: Cartel harvests regularly

Danger: Extreme (location, plant, Rot)

The Drowned Garden (Glimmering Spire)

Description: Small population, 5-10 plants

Location: Flooded basement of Spire ruins

Access: Difficult but possible

Status: Kael Greythorn studies here (carefully)

Security: Kael guards location (doesn’t want others exposed)

Encounter Scenarios

The Addict’s Plea

Setup: Addicted friend begs party to help them get void-lotus

Complication: They’re desperate, irrational - Will they betray party? - Can they be saved? - Or is it too late?

Moral Choice: Help them get it (enabling) or refuse (they’ll find another way)

The Destruction Mission

Setup: Clergy hires party to destroy void-lotus field

Complication: Cartel guards it - Combat likely - Addicts will try to stop them - Is destruction right thing?

Challenge: Destroy plants without inhaling pollen

The Terrible Choice

Setup: Party member accidentally inhales pollen

Complication: They’re experiencing visions - What do they see? - Will they become addicted? - Can they be helped?

Aftermath: Dealing with consequences

Related Topics

• Black Sky Cartel - Primary traders
• Alchemist Kael Greythorn - Studying it
• The Periphery - Where it grows
• Vex Shadowhand - Controls trade
• The Voice Beneath - Possible connection

In-World Documents

Warning Poster (Skyport Eos)

VOID-LOTUS WARNING

BLACK FLOWER WITH SILVER CENTER
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS
DO NOT TOUCH
DO NOT INHALE

Effects: - Instant addiction - Permanent psychological damage - Possible death

If exposed: - Seek medical help immediately - Do not attempt to “ride it out” - Inform authorities

Possession is illegal.
Distribution is capital crime.

You have been warned.

Addict’s Testimony (Recorded before death, 284 S.)

I used it once. Just once. Three years ago.

I saw everything. The world before it broke. The moment of Shattering. The constellations screaming. The truth beneath the Rot.

It was the most beautiful, terrible thing I’ve ever experienced.

And I’ve been chasing it ever since. I’ve sold everything. Lost everyone. Destroyed my life.

For what? For another glimpse of something I can’t even describe. Something that might not even be real.

But it felt real. More real than this.

I’m dying now. Rot-corruption, malnutrition, doesn’t matter. I’m dying.

Was it worth it?

I don’t know.

Ask me again when I’m dead.

Kael Greythorn’s Research Notes

Day 234: Observed subject under void-lotus influence.

Subject reported seeing “the moment before the Shattering” and described specific details about Nexus Spire architecture that match historical records they couldn’t have accessed.

Coincidence? Telepathy? Genetic memory? Or am I seeing patterns that aren’t there?

The visions are too consistent. Too specific. Too accurate.

I don’t want to believe there’s real information transfer. But I can’t explain the data otherwise.

Note: Subject died three days later. Addiction, depression, suicide. The usual progression.

This plant destroys everyone who uses it. But what if it’s also showing them something real?

What if the price of truth is madness?

“Void-lotus is the most dangerous plant in the Aetherium not because it kills quickly—it doesn’t—but because it kills slowly while convincing you it’s saving you. It shows you visions of cosmic truth, fills you with euphoria and understanding, and makes everything else in life seem gray and meaningless by comparison. Then it takes everything: your sanity, your relationships, your future, your life. And you let it, because nothing else will ever feel as real as what the void-lotus showed you. That’s why it’s so dangerous. Not the visions themselves, but the fact that you’ll believe them. And once you believe, you’re lost.”
—Alchemist Kael Greythorn