Aloe Vera

Common · Aloe barbadensis Miller

Healing · Alchemical · Magical · Nutritional · Defensive

Terrain Desert, Grassland, Hills

Description

Wherever different species of aloe are found, the leaves of these plants are very thick, fleshy, and juicy. Their shapes are also similar; they can be lance-shaped, linearlanceolate, or sword-like. The edges of the leaves are usually equipped with strong, spiny teeth.

Location and Habitat

Various species of aloe are found in Southern and tropical Africa, on the islands of Madagascar and Socotra and on the Arabian Peninsula. Aloe prefers dry, sunny places— rocky soils, semi-deserts, savannas, and hillsides. Some species of aloe have successfully adapted to the Mediterranean, India, China, and other regions with warm climates.

Rarity and Availability

Most species of aloe are not rare plants. Aloe is widespread in its native habitats and is actively cultivated worldwide as an ornamental and medicinal plant, making it accessible to almost everyone.

Harvesting & Preparation

• Harvesting. Safely cutting the succulent leaves to preserve their juice is a DC 13 Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check or Wisdom (herbalism kit) check. On a success, you obtain 1d4 usable aloe leaves. On a failure, half of what you harvest is spoiled (round down).

Items & Effects

• Fresh Aloe Leaf (Raw Application).
  • Use (Applied Externally).
    • Soothing Gel. Applying the gel from one aloe leaf over 1 minute can heal minor burns or abrasions, restoring 1d4 hit points to a single creature. This can only be used once per creature per short rest.
    • Cooling Relief. If traveling through harsh sunlight or desert heat, applying fresh gel at the start of the day grants advantage on Constitution saving throws to resist the first level of exhaustion (PHB, p. 291) from extreme heat for that day.
• Aloe Tonic (Simple Brew).
  • Creation. Requires 2 hours steeping + 1 aloe leaf. A DC 12 Wisdom (herbalism kit) check yields 1d2 doses of tonic.
  • Use (Ingested).
    • Digestive Boost. The creature gains advantage on saving throws made to resist natural toxins or mild poisons (e.g., spoiled food) for 8 hours.
    • Minor Rejuvenation. The next time the creature spends Hit Dice during a short rest within those 8 hours, they gain an additional +1 hit point per Hit Die.
• Sabur (Dried Aloe Juice).
  • Creation. Requires carefully draining the leaf’s juice and evaporating it over low heat for 4 hours. A DC 14 Wisdom (herbalism kit) check or Intelligence (alchemist’s supplies) check produces 1 small pouch of sabur (3 uses).
  • Use (Ingested/Concentrated Dose).
    • Enduring Spirit. For 1 hour, the creature gains advantage on Constitution checks and saving throws (not including death saves).
    • Tough Drawback. After the effect ends, the creature must make a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or gain one level of exhaustion as the body recovers from the intense stimulant.
• Elixir of Longevity (Rare Aloe Mixture).
  • Creation.
    • Requires at least 3 portions of sabur plus exotic ingredients worth 100 gp. A DC 16 Intelligence (Arcana) check or Wisdom (herbalism kit) check is needed to succeed.
    • Each batch yields a single vial. Failure might destroy the ingredients entirely.
  • Use (Ingested).
    • Vital Surge. For 24 hours, the creature’s Constitution score increases by 2, to a maximum of 22. This increases the creature’s current and maximum hit points, as well as their saving throws and other related checks, for the duration.
    • Drawback—Overindulgence. Once the effect ends, the creature must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned (PHB, p. 292) for 1 hour. Each subsequent use within a month increases the DC by 2 (cumulative) to represent bodily strain.

Lore

Aloe is a genus of plants that are highly diverse in appearance. Among them are perennial herbs, lianas, shrubs, and even trees up to 20 meters tall. The genus Aloe includes about 350 species, native to southern and tropical Africa, the islands of Madagascar and Socotra, and the southern Arabian Peninsula.

Aloe has been known to humanity since ancient times. It is believed that in the Akkadian texts of ancient Assyria and Babylonia (dating back to 2000 B.C.), aloe is mentioned as a plant used to decorate house doors. The ancient custom of hanging aloe over the entrance to a house, especially a new one, was preserved in Egypt until the mid-19th century and, in some places, still exists. This custom is explained by the magical properties attributed to aloe. It was thought that aloe hanging above the doorway would promote a long and prosperous life for the home's inhabitants.

Amazingly, the plants hanging on houses lived without water for several years and even bloomed! In the Akkadian language (the oldest known Semitic language), aloe was called "si-bu-ru." From this word cames the Arabic "sabur," whitch means "patience" or "endurance." The Arabs considered aloe a symbol of patience; thus, the dried juice of aloe was also named "sabur," a term that has survived to our times.

From Witch’s Herbs 5E, p. 12 · Fern Flower Press