For the Oz item, see Crimson Heart. For the New Enchanted Forest location with a similar name, see The Crimson Crow. |
The Crimson Crown, also known as Vermiculus coronam, is a magical fungus featured on ABC's Once Upon a Time. It first appears in the third episode of the fifth season.
Properties
The Crimson Crown is a magical toadstool that can be used to communicate through magical barriers. It does, however, have its limitations, such as it can only be used to contact Merlin by someone who was chosen by him, like the Apprentice or the Author.
It is possible to burn a Crimson Crown, but the toadstool only becomes charred and it is incapable of being completely burnt to ash. Additionally, even if it's charred, the crimson crown retains its magical properties and can still be used. ("The Bear and the Bow")
History
Prompted by Mary Margaret's suggestion that they need a way to talk to Merlin, who is trapped in a tree, Regina brings up information in a book about a toadstool called the crimson crown, which can communicate across magical barriers. To help herself remember its importance, Regina marks the page with a question mark on a sticky note. King Arthur has heard it is in the Forest of Eternal Night, but he cannot be sure the toadstool is real. Even so, David decides to search for it, and Arthur accompanies him there, with the unquenchable flame guiding the way. In the forest, the men see the crimson crown sitting on mossy land, but to reach it, they have to cross a water logged bridge. Since the bridge can only hold one person, David goes by himself. At the other side, he cuts off the toadstool, putting it in his belt satchel, but as he walks back across, he is attacked by reanimated dead knights. After taking out three of them, an unexpected fourth knight drags David underwater, but Arthur eventually pulls him to safety. Without David's notice, Arthur steals the toadstool, which David later believes was lost during the watery struggle. Although the quest is a failure, the mission builds strong ties between Arthur and David, resulting in Arthur knighting David and giving him the Siege Perilous seat. After the ceremony is over and everyone has left the room, Arthur unveils the toadstool to Guinevere, admitting that he didn't like lying to David, but he had to for the kingdom's sake. ("Siege Perilous")
Six weeks later, Emma transports her family, friends as well as some natives of Camelot to Storybrooke, with their memories of the last six weeks wiped out. When the curse takes effect, the crimson crown, presumably still in King Arthur's possession, is also brought over. Some days after this, Regina finds a book from Camelot that has a sticky note on the crimson crown page. She shows the note to David and Mary Margaret, explaining that she recognizes the question mark as her own handwriting, but she cannot remember why she marked it. Later in the day, after David is preparing to lock up Arthur's squire for stealing, he discovers the crimson crown in the woods near the Camelot natives' campsite. Arthur, not recalling what transpired weeks ago, doesn't stop David from taking it. Regrouping with Mary Margaret and Regina, David presents the toadstool to them, as they conclude that they were trying to use it to communicate with Merlin. ("The Dark Swan," "Siege Perilous")
Gathered in Regina's vault, the Storybrooke group wait for Arthur, as only a person chosen by Merlin can harness the crimson crown. When Arthur does arrive, he hesitates in throwing the toadstool into the prepared cauldron brew, believing it would be best that he talks to Merlin alone since the sorcerer only ever spoke to him when no one was around. Once everyone else leaves the room, Arthur tosses the crimson crown into the burning fire under the cauldron. He later reports to the group about the spell not working, but upon closer examination, David eventually finds the charred toadstool in the fire's ashes. As an alternative, Henry is called in to use the toadstool, since he was chosen by Merlin to become the Author. This time, the spell works, with the group seeing a hologram of Merlin, with a recorded message from six weeks ago, telling them to look for someone named Nimue if they wish to defeat the Dark One. ("The Bear and the Bow")
Trivia
On-Screen Notes
- The illustration of the fungus lists its species name as "vermiculus coronam,"[1] which is Latin for "crimson crown".[2] ("Siege Perilous")
- The book that Regina is reading (note that a few words are illegible on-screen, but can be read on a prop page which was auctioned off on eBay in March 2019;[3] the illegible text is set in fuchsia), says:[4]
its essence a moste pernicious poison that brings to pass an intemperate humour and can lead to the demyse [sic] o' the wight if remedye [sic] is not administer'd in time. There are other properties The Crimson Crown has Some associate this fungus There are a number of other appearance of a ring of |
ground is cause for either rejoicing or alarm. In The Southern Lands, these circles are known as fairy rings – and they are where the Fae come to dance and cavort after a rainstorm. Moreover, like many other In the Western Mountains, Enchanted Forest and the wetlands to the East, these rings are associated with sorcery and malevolent magic, and travelers are well-advised to steer clear of them. |
- Some of the information is adapted from Witchipedia.com's article "Magical and Spiritual Consideration," about the toadstool fly agaric. The original text reads thus:
- "Magic mushroom has masculine [sic] and is aligned with the planet Mercury and the air element. It may be used as a fertility charm. Some use this mushroom to aid with astral travel. However, it should be noted that using chemical assistance is never advised and can be dangerous. Some associate this fungus with Dionysus, mainly because of its intoxicating potential."[5]
- Other parts of the text are adapted from the following excerpts from the online article "Mushroom Magic and Folklore," published by About.com at the time the episode "Siege Perilous" was filmed,[6] but later moved to the website ThoughtCo.:[7]
- "In Holland, these rings are believed to be left when the Devil sets down his milk churn - once he picks it up, there's a big circle left in the grass. In some countries, such as France and Austria, these rings are associated with sorcery and malevolent magic, and travelers are well-advised to steer clear of them."
- "In many areas, the appearance of a ring of mushrooms on the ground is cause for either rejoicing or alarm. In Great Britain, these circles are known as fairy rings - and they are where the Fae come to dance and frolic after a rainstorm. However, like many other locations associated with faeries, humans who dare to enter such a ring may find themselves asleep for a hundred years, or worse yet, whisked off to the land of the wee folk, never to return."
- Other parts of the text are adapted from the following excerpts from the online article "Mushroom Magic and Folklore," published by About.com at the time the episode "Siege Perilous" was filmed,[6] but later moved to the website ThoughtCo.:[7]
Production Notes
- A piece of concept art by for "The Bear and the Bow" reveals an unused page of instructions on how to communicate through magical barriers:[8]
the
Crimson Crown
There is a Forme of
true Divination, for
speaking through
barriers, of both
material and that of
the spirit worlde.
For the workings, the adept will need the
Crimson Crowne toadstool which is then
renderede down into complete morsels.
The Nine Woods in the Cauldron go, burn them
fast and burn them slow. When is ebullient and
steaming, add some comfrey horsetail yarrow
and the umbilicus of a mooncalf. Mix well in a
deosil fashion.
Into theis [sic] melange the mushroom should be
thrown and soon thereafter a portal cloud will
start to forme. It is in ??? of the cloud that
the adept will speke [sic] and communicate with
those as according to her will.
- "Nine Woods in the Cauldron go, burn them fast and burn them slow" is taken directly from the Wiccan Rede,[9] an official statement that provides the key moral system of Wicca.
Appearances
Once Upon a Time: Season Five | |||||||||||
"The Dark Swan": | "The Price": | "Siege Perilous": | "The Broken Kingdom": | "Dreamcatcher": | "The Bear and the Bow": | "Nimue": | "Birth": | "The Bear King": | "Broken Heart": | "Swan Song": | |
Absent | Absent | Appears | Absent | Absent | Appears | Absent | Mentioned | Absent | Absent | Absent | |
"Souls of the Departed": | "Labor of Love": | "Devil's Due": | "The Brothers Jones": | "Our Decay": | "Her Handsome Hero": | "Ruby Slippers": | "Sisters": | "Firebird": | "Last Rites": | "Only You": | "An Untold Story": |
Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |
References
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