Verdantics
Verdantics are a powerful and secretive organization, known for their directive to preserve natural areas throughout Ivykeep. While their goals conflict with the Crown's general aim of industrialization, their wealth and chokehold on the foraging industry allows them to buy their way into possession of large swaths of the Kingdom for preservation.
Organization
Not much is known about their leader, leaders, or organizational structure. They are widely reported to operate under some kind of council system, headquartered at Lantern Hall. Their dealings with the government are known to be above the books and contractual, something which has helped them achieve their directive despite the potential of conflict with the Crown.
Practices
Their main practice is buying sections of land to naturalize, and then capitalizing off of the sale of flora which has troubles growing in more industrialized areas. They have strong business ties with Hagworth's and other smaller herbal outlets, something which has amassed them great wealth throughout the years.
Verdantia
One of their largest achievements is control over the territory of Verdantia, which is unusual as beyond their shared dealings they have no strong devotion to the Crown as other territory heads do. At around 15km^2, Verdantia represents a sizable portion of the Kingdom. It is characterized by its lush overgrown hillsides and valleys, sparse industry, and small villages known to be rustic and charming.
Control
Verdantics enact strict control over their properties, especially when zoning and permitting development. However they often allow citizens to travel, work and even live on their land, albeit under strict regulations so as not to damage the natural landscape. The group works closely with Pan-Optics, and much of their natural areas are under discrete video surveillance. Violations generally result in prompt eviction, or in some cases, more serious action.
Verdantic Foraging Chart
This classification system is one of the Verdantic's most famous publications, and it is often posted on roads and trails and even kept on pocket cards by the general population. It defines several classes of flora, lists plants which fall under that class, and details the legality, limits, rewards, and/or punishments for foraging these.
Classes and some example members:
| Class | Personal Limits | Buyback Limits | Action | Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U Unwanted | No limits | None | Reward | Weeds |
| FP Free-Plenty | No limits | N/A | None | Honey Ivy |
| FC Free-Controlled | As stated | N/A | None | Many grasses |
| BP Buyback-Plenty | Not permitted | None | Reward | Berries |
| BC Buyback-Controlled | Not permitted | As stated | Reward | Most wildflowers, Willow bark |
| W Wanted | Not permitted | As stated | High Reward | Bloodflower |
| P Protected | Not permitted | Not permitted | High Fine | Sunflower |
| S Sought | Not permitted | Not permitted | Imprisonment for harvest, High reward for location | Poppy |
| F Forbidden | Not permitted | Not permitted | Imprisonment | Orchid |
| X Unforgivable | Not permitted | Not permitted | Execution | Blackstool* |
*While blackstool is officially Class-X, in practice it is Class-S
The chart is not strictly limited to foraging, as some make a living from the intentional cultivation of BP-, BC-, and W-Class plants. This is actually encouraged, as it leads to an increase of green space and biodiversity on private land throughout the kingdom. Many houses will have small gardens or wildflower beds for such purposes.