Maiko's Note
The Nashun Kelujeva doesn’t shine on her own.
And yet, in the right grove, beneath the right moon, she looks like she could outshine the stars.
That’s her secret: she reflects. She bends the light of others—especially the luminous ferns beside her—and turns it into something new. A nebula in the undergrowth. A bloom of borrowed beauty.
Keith once said I’m the same. That I glow brighter when he’s near.
I told him that’s what makes it real.
And then I added two dried Kelujeva petals to the Valkyrie’s emergency kit. Just in case.
"Moon Growth" or Lunareth Bloom
Shindjal: Nashun Kelujeva
Faction:
Mama Gadun
"In the dark, the stars came down to bloom."
— Endulani healing chant
1. Overview
The Nashun Kelujeva is a reflective, star-like flower native to Madun. Though not bioluminescent, it shines in the night by refracting the glow of nearby flora - most notably the Vejalanin (Starspine Fern). It is admired for its surreal beauty and prized for its antiseptic qualities. Common across most of Shawadjan - except the storm-beaten Western Isles - the flower thrives in shaded forests, rocky cliffs, and even the crevices of the desert mountains.
2. Description
The Nashun Kelujeva is a luminous wildflower native to Madun and cherished across Shawadjan for both its medicinal and symbolic beauty. Though resembling terrestrial blossoms, it is in fact a unique species with no known Earthly counterpart. The bloom features long, silver-blue petals that arc gracefully and shimmer in the dark - not by bioluminescence, but by reflecting and refracting light, often from the glowing Vejalanin fields it loves to inhabit.
When these two plants share a grove, the visual effect is astonishing: the Vejalanin lay out glowing starfields across the forest floor, while the Kelujeva dances like colorful nebulae between them. This celestial display is most commonly witnessed in the damp woods of Endudjan, but Kelujeva are also known to bloom in the shaded crevices of the Kosuk Ùmbvakul, defying their harsh, stony surroundings.
3. Medicinal Use
Despite its delicate appearance, the Kelujeva is a resilient and versatile herb. When crushed into a paste, it has strong antiseptic properties and is widely used to treat open wounds. It is often applied in tandem with ground Vejalanin leaves, which help ease pain and swelling. The combination of the two is a staple in Endulani herbal medicine and highly sought after by traders and raiders alike.
4. Cultural Significance
Due to its broad tolerance for soil and shadow, the Kelujeva is a popular plant in medicinal gardens throughout Shawadjan, particularly in Endulani homes and healing circles. Its reflective petals are often likened to hope glinting in darkness, and it is a favorite in ceremonial offerings during healing rituals.
The Pashevalani, who cannot grow it on their storm-battered islands, trade or steal Kelujeva pastes from Endulani sources or imperial cargo. It is one of the few mainland goods consistently found even in the remotest corners of Pashevadjan.
5. Lore Snippet
When the moon is high and the Vejalanin glow like scattered stars across the forest floor, the Nashun Kelujeva answers without a flame of its own. Its silver-blue petals catch the light and fracture it, casting nebulous hues of violet, rose, and sea-green across the mist. Among Endulani healers, this phenomenon is called the "the garden of the goddess."
6. Medicinal Use (Summary)
Antiseptic Paste: Ground petals of the Kelujeva form a natural antiseptic.
Pain Relief: Often applied alongside brewed Vejalanin leaves.
Preservation: Dried Kelujeva is sealed in bark-paper wrappings in Endulani medicine kits.
Storage: In cool shade or wrapped in moss to retain potency.
7. Distribution & Trade (Summary)
Thrives in: Endudjan groves, shaded cliffs, mountain crevices, or in simple gardens
Absent from: Pashevadjan (Western Isles), open desert
Traded by: Endulani herbalists, often to Kosuklani and Empire healers
Sought by: Pashevalani pirates who either buy or raid to obtain it
Maiko's Note
The Nashun Kelujeva doesn’t shine on her own.
And yet, in the right grove, beneath the right moon, she looks like she could outshine the stars.
That’s her secret: she reflects. She bends the light of others—especially the luminous ferns beside her—and turns it into something new. A nebula in the undergrowth. A bloom of borrowed beauty.
Keith once said I’m the same. That I glow brighter when he’s near.
I told him that’s what makes it real.
And then I added two dried Kelujeva petals to the Valkyrie’s emergency kit. Just in case.
