Listed Development: Kenashian Drugs

[Vice]

Chalice and the 'Fizz'.

Made from the plant known in Kenash only by the moniker of the 'Chalice', this drug is created through the infusion of granulated sugar into the naturally occurring liquid within the Chalice. The reaction is thought to occur due to the combination of chemicals within the interior skin of the plant, known also as the 'cup', the presence of rainwater, and sugar mixing together, though due to the lack of the ability to study the phenomenon firsthand, the actual science of the matter is unknown.

Philterers in Kenash have attempted to duplicate the process with potions and mixtures, though ultimately, the exact effect is, for the moment, unable to be replicated. This realization has caused the price of the Chalice to remain high, as it is a natural producer of the drug, lasting for a total of one year before re-seeding is needed.

Yield from the plant is a total of five doses, each dose comprised of a total of one ounce of liquid, which is spread over a flat surface, usually a saucer, then set ablaze. The liquid has an extremely low boiling point and the uppermost layer is flammable. When burned, it produces an extremely thick, heavy steam that is then wafted into the lungs by hand or with the use of a fan.

The Fizz is given its name due to the release of carbonation that occurs when the mixture reaches its boiling point.

Effects: The Fizz is a very powerful hallucinogen connected with the brain's perception of light. Effects vary with the body's tolerance to the drug, which, rather than increasing with use, lowers with use, the blood's ability to break apart the chemicals within the vapour weakening with time as the chemicals slowly turn themselves into a necessary component in the blood. This forms a powerful addiction. Those addicted to the Fizz tend to live a life in the midst of their hallucinations, struck between pleasure and terror with the rising and setting of the sun.

The hallucinations, with the increase of light, become incredibly pleasant, pleasure manifesting through the senses, breathing the sensations of serenity under cloud cover, excitement in ordinary sunlight, and powerful emotions such as lust, infatuation and obsession in summer's blaze. These effects are not spawned by sunlight, but by any sort of illumination. Being close to a bonfire in the night is equivalent to ordinary sunlight.

In dim lighting, such as moonlight or lantern light, effects begin to turn malevolent. In the moon's light, feelings of dread arise, fears dancing at the edges of one's vision. In pitch black, terror is unavoidable, and most avoid such feeling, doing their utmost to illuminate their world and stay in the light, which becomes their safety net.

Addiction grips at a user after ingesting a total of four ounces in the space of one season. Withdrawal is kept at bay by using a similar amount per season. Effects of withdrawal are an eternal feeling of thirst, the inability to sleep, and fear of the dark.

Effect Duration: 18 bells.

Cost of the 'Fizz': 10 GM per dose.

Cost of the Chalice: 250GM per plant, which produces a yield of five doses three times per season. Reseeding is yearly. L2 Herbalism is required to maintain and re-seed the plant.

[Adelaide Sitai]

Spectre and the 'Golden Pocket'

The Spectre is a luxurious and rare stimulant a plant that can grow only on the hottest days, and at an alarmingly fast rate - in the space of about a day. In order to be consumable, it's shoots (known as golden pockets) have to be picked at just the right moment, when their bulbous core turns a warm yellow that seems to shine. Once picked, each golden pocket can be stored for close to thirty days before it has to be consumed or two seasons before it must be smoked. The spectre's centre is filled with a sort of pale white liquid, like coconut milk glimmering with mother of pearl, but the pocket itself can be set fire to and the fumes inhaled. Each pocket on the plant has enough doses for about twenty people, for the pockets grow really quite large and it takes very few gulps of the liquid for the effect of the drug to take hold. The liquid itself tastes like a very watery honey, with a slightly bitter after taste.

Within ten chimes, the effect of the liquid will imbue the drinker with a feeling of complete warmth and happiness, of the simplest, purest kind. It makes the world look a brighter place and gives the person drinking it one single desire: to be happy and make those around them happy. Oddly enough, those who have ingested it tend to lose interest in things such as sex and food - or other basic instincts. Rather, they find pleasures in things they've never noticed before. The Spectre offers a return to childhood innocence and a simple appreciation for the world. However, even before the negative side of the drug takes hold, there can be a danger to this positive side. In a way, it is a hallucinogenic and the drinker will have very little notion of danger or enemies (In this state, the drinker is liable to walk up to enemies and expect them to have forgiven them their wrongdoings) and consider everything beautiful, so that it gives a distinctly warped vision of the world.

This side of the drug lasts for close to sixteen bells, and the drinker will not be able to sleep in that time or even be lethargic, filled as he or she is with an incredible energy, buoyancy and joy, completely at ease with the world. After the time elapsed, the drinker will immediately fall asleep - perhaps even while still feeling at the height of his elation - and this will herald close to twenty four bells of non-stop sleep, where the drinker will be plagued by very vivid and dark nightmares. The drinker will awake, feeling more than usually thirsty and very empty of all emotion.

Smoking the fumes of the burning pockets will produce a thick golden smoke that produces the same effect as the liquid, but only while in the direct vicinity of the smoke - and will subside as soon as the smoke has burnt itself out. Sleep will take over for exactly the same time as the smoker had been smoking for, and the nightmares are often based more on the unseen, fog and hallucinations rather than the sort of vicious and violent nightmares induced by the drink.

Cost of a dose: 15 GM per dose (for a smoke) and 20GM (for a drink)

Cost of the Plant: 400 GM for the plant, which tends to yield an average of twelve golden pockets once a year, each containing about twenty doses. L3 Herbalism is required to maintain and re-seed the plant.

[Adelaide Sitai]

Suvan Slumber - also known as Blue Quill
or Orange Quill

Suvan Slumber is an aquatic plant that can be powdered in order to make a drug that allows the consumer to relax and de-stress but that can also be a powerful, and potentially dangerous, sleeping draught. All depending on the quantity ingested. It grows well in the warm sea around Kenash but it is difficult to cultivate, for unknown reasons. Thus, it is a drug whose price is always fluctuating, depending on whether many plants have been found or not that year.
The powder can be smoked, but people often prefer to snort it. Since it is a powder and is not easily corruptible, it can also be added to any hot or cold drink or taken with food, even cooked into it. Unfortunately, if one overdoses on Suvan Slumber, it can easily prove fatal as the consumer tends to fall into a very long sleep - they might emerge out of the other end days later but, more often than not, they suffer a heart attack and die in their sleep. There is no way to wake someone who has fallen into the darker embraces of the Suvan Slumber... they're only chance is to wake naturally. There are currently two types of Suvan Slumber, known as Orange Quill and Blue Quill. Blue quill is stronger, cheaper, has been known to cause hallucinations and is linked with schizophrenia. There are also rumours of its use in orphanages or nurseries to keep children quiet, sometimes leading to death. Orange quill tends to be more expensive and less dangerous without the hallucinations and with more chance of waking up from an overdose. Some people also claim that it leaves a very tasty aftertaste, like citrus fruits.

A bell after consumption, the consumer will feel very relaxed, his muscles slackening and quite lethargic. This feeling of lethargy tends to last, depending on the size of the dose taken, between four and ten bells - a larger dose than that will cause sleep to overcome the consumer, which isn't necessarily dangerous, especially since Quill has been used as an aid for those suffering from insomnia in the past.

An addiction to Quill, especially cheap blue Quill is far from uncommon and has no side effects other than, of course, the increasing danger of an overdose.

Cost of a dose: Currently around 2 GM per dose (for Blue Quill) and around 20GM per dose (for Orange Quill)

Cost of the Plant: The plant cannot be bought. It has to be scavenged and this tends to necessitate a competent level in Swimming. The Quill can be powdered by those with a Competent level in Herbalism and a Novice level in Poison - and it is recommended that you check your dealer is reputable since only unskilled dealers are common and their products tend to be far more dangerous.