Drugs

Drugs are any substance (other than food) that, when inhaled, injected, smoked, consumed, or dissolved under the tongue causes a physiological change in the body. Drugs are a staple of many cultures and are used in various extents by plenty of people in Maíandir. The concept of drugs is commonly associated with the reward of some form of stimulus or performance enhancement, but carries the risk of addiction and overdose.

## Smoking

### Spindleweed

Spindleweed is a soft drug originating from Corlantis, made from the grassy herb of the same name after it has been steamed in salt water and dried. It is used as a recreational drug and is quite popular in certain cultures, especially amongst youth. The drug relaxes the brain and is said to induce hazy daydreams as if the user were asleep. It is not considered particularly addictive, nor harmful unless taken in drastic amounts.

Spindleweed is typically smoked in pipes but some prefer to smoke it directly as rolled cigars. The manufacturing process is easy since all that is required is to steam the plant leaves over salt water until shrivelled, and then dry the remains into flaky clumps. The plant from which the drug is made is commonly found in the warmer foothills of mountains, but is also easily grown in farms and plantations in more temperate climates.

### Nix

Nix is a drug first created in Samarkhet, sold in pale nuggets of brittle crystal that must be smoked through a bowl pipe in direct heat. The smoke from the dissolving crystals is said to induce a feeling of extreme internal warmth flowing through the bloodstream, and is widely popular in regions where extremely low temperatures are normal. The sensation can be uncomfortable at first but is useful when attempting to avoid hypothermia, poison, disease, or toxins, if at some personal risk.

Nix is made from the bean of the Dragon's Tail plant. The bean is boiled in hard alcohol under high heat until it dissolves, and the thick gelatinous liquid produced is left to crystallise before being broken up into small nuggets that can fit inside a bowl pipe. The quality and type of the alcohol will determine the colour and longevity of the crystals.

### Ndoto Vapor

Ndoto Vapor, known also as *Dream Mist*, is a hallucinogenic drug resulting from the smoke of a rare jungle herb that grows in western Almeras. It causes intense hallucinations, generally described as dream-like and calming, very rarely causing distress or discomfort. In some cultures, these hallucinations are construed as visions of the future, although the verity of such matters is debatable at best.

Ndoto Vapor, from the herb Ndoto, is quite rare and expensive. The herb grows behind waterfalls in rainforest climates, and will wither very quickly elsewhere. It is extremely poisonous by itself, but can be safely smoked without much danger of addiction. However, due to the thick cloying nature of the smoke, it is not advised to smoke it in places without appropriate ventilation, as it can fill the lungs and cause suffocation.

### Skein

Skein is a psychedelic drug in the form of fine greyish-blue dust, that is popular amongst shamanistic cultures in Wyldcrown. When scattered over flame, it causes the fire to flicker in shades of dark blue, and creates a smoke that acts as a powerful sedative when inhaled. During the ensuing sleep, users often will experience vivid dreams, that some believe to be visions into the weave of time. Shamans will often partake when seeking omens from their gods.

Skein is made by drying and powdering a particular type of fungus that often grows in mountain caves. It does not see common use in more civilised lands, but some soothsayers still have it imported, claiming it to be the source of their powers. Though not very addictive, it can have long-lasting effects on vision, causing dizziness or nausea even after the more vivid effects have worn off.

## Ingestion

### Wyrmroot

Wyrmroot is a drug that is made from a naturally occurring weed of the same name that is dried into the drug. It is used as a psychedelic and is particularly popular in more tribal cultures amongst shamans, oracles, or seers, since it is said to induce the ability to see visions from the gods. The drug looks like a shrivelled cinnamon stick, but smells earthy like fungus. It is not considered particularly addictive, nor harmful unless taken in drastic amounts.

Wyrmroot is generally ingested, either grinded up, boiled, and drunk, or else made into a paste and swallowed. The manufacturing process is simple, and involves taking the roots of the plant in question and drying them in heat. The plant is extremely resilient, and can be found almost anywhere, but typically grows in damp undergrowth or in the cover of rocky crags, often alongside fungus patches of other sorts.

### Agaric

Agaric is a type of mushroom that grows in boreal climates such as in Wyldcrown, and is often used as a performance enhancing drug that sends users into a transient ferocity that is particularly useful in combat. Though as a drug it is not very addictive, the effects are quite pronounced. The onset, which begins seconds after ingestion, typically consists of bodily chills, shivering, and teeth chattering, which is swiftly followed by a trance-like state of overwhelming clarity and cold rage. Once the trance abates, the user will often experience a bout of physical fatigue and numbness, sometimes lasting several hours.

Agaric toadstools are generally ingested in a raw dried form, purportedly having a smoky taste with an acidic burn that lingers on the tongue. They are easily distinguishable, with large white-gilled and white-spotted red caps. Mushroom patches are common and grow quickly, but need to be dried for several weeks before being easily ingestible. In large amounts, the mushroom is toxic, though deaths from overdose in this way are rare.

### Warmweed

Warmweed is a drug used by various cultures in Wyldcrown to fend off frigid temperatures and placate emotions. It is often given to slaves to avoid the necessity and additional cost of providing sufficient clothing and shelter. The drug does not actually make the user much warmer, but has some benefit in preventing the body from shutting down due to hypothermia or frostbite. The drug is very addictive, especially when paired with poor diet and working conditions, and completely deadens the spirit of the user, making them more pliable and likely to follow orders so long as they are completely dependent on the drug.

Warmweed is generally ingested in raw form, as a clump of moss-like fungus that typically grows on rock and bare stone and is scraped off and rolled into easily ingested clusters. When swallowed, it immediately provides the sensation of warmth and dulls the senses to the freezing cold. Extreme addicts can die from withdrawal very quickly if taken off the drug abruptly, exhibiting similar symptoms to late stage hypothermia.

### Droon

Droon is a potent, dull brown salve that originates from Domar. It amplifies sensation and proprioception when absorbed through one's pores, and can provide an exhilarating experience at the mere touch of mundane objects. It finds popular use in brothels and other similar establishments, but is also conversely used as a torture mechanism, and can be disorienting for new users. It is considered quite addictive, and regulated heavily to avoid overuse.

Droon is typically applied onto exposed skin wherever it is thinnest, such as forearms or the inside of elbows, where it is absorbed by the pores. The salve is made from the extract of a cactus plant local to the region from which the drug originates, often mixed with neutralising agents to prevent the natural sting of the plant gel when touched.

### Sannish

Sannish is a blue liquid that is distilled from a particular desert plant that grows only in southern Yuantica. It is a powerful euphoric that can also be used in small amounts to treat nausea and harsh fevers. Those that partake generally report uplifted moods and heightened optimism, but side effects can range from mild hallucinations to borderline psychopathy.

Sannish is made by boiling the plant in hard alcohol until the fleshy insides of the leaves dissolve and tint the liquid its distinctive bright blue. Due to the commonness of the plant, it is generally quite cheap, but is also quite addictive. It is a popular drug amongst many of the lower class in Salassar. Addicts can often be distinguished by their distinctly blue-stained lips and tongues, an effect that cannot be removed without magical means.

## Inhalation

### Desh

Desh is a drug made of golden-orange amber crystals powdered into a fine dust which is then inhaled through the nose to act as a temporary performance enhancing drug. The crystals are mined from seams or sifted through sand in desert climates, notably from the Kalahi Desert, and are widely illegal due to the highly addictive nature of the drug. There is substantial demand for the drug among soldiers and entertainers, the stimulant serves to quell nerves and fear and can increase reaction speed in users.

The process of making Desh is relatively simple, which increases its popularity. The mined crystals are purified by being dissolved in hard alcohol over high heat, before allowing the mixture to crystallise. The resulting crystals are usually how the drug is dispersed, for ease of transport. A user wishing to partake in the drug must first crush the crystals, typically with a mortar and pestle, before inhaling the powder. There are many different variations of Desh, depending primarily on the type of alcohol used in the solution, as well as on the original crystals. Effects may vary slightly between strains.

### Soot

Soot is a charcoal grey powdered drug made of the charred remains of Blackleaf Rose petals after they have been burnt in oil over low heat for a period of several hours. It is typically inhaled through the nose. The drug causes a heightened state of clarity and perception, while also boosting confidence and charisma for a short period of time. Unfortunately the drug also causes the craving for more of the drug, increasing the risk of overdose and/or addiction.

Blackleaf Roses are extremely rare and grow commonly in seaside caves where there is ample access to salt water spray, and a lack of direct sunlight. The process of retrieving them tends to be dangerous, and creating the drug is equally dangerous as the heat levels must be precisely managed for an extensive period of time in order to avoid burning the petals too thoroughly.

## Injection

### Fade

Fade is a highly addictive and dangerous milky-white liquid opioid that originates from Kyoshai. It is typically injected directly into the blood stream through means of a hollow needle or some similar equipment. The drug is used sparingly in a medicinal capacity due to its ability to temporarily dull pain, but the amounts must be carefully controlled as the drug can be deadly even in moderate amounts. More importantly, the drug is also very addictive and patients on whom it is applied often find themselves craving more quite rapidly.

Fade is made from the pressed flowers of the Arenaria plant. The resulting liquid after pressing is mixed with hard alcohol (ideally alcohol with no additives for the purest strains), and citric acid. The mixture produced is left to settle and can be used almost immediately thereafter. The longer it is left to settle the more potent the drug is, and by extension also the more dangerous.

### Vlathri

Vlathri is inarguably the most potent drug in Ygdren, and is outlawed in most places due to its deadliness and extreme addictiveness. Both as a result of this and as a result of the difficulty in producing it, it is typically extremely expensive, if at all available on the black market. When injected intravenously, it gives vivid visions and hallucinations, purported to be so life-like they may as well be real. Visions can reign from euphoric dreams to nightmarish horrors that can outright cause the heart to stop in fear.

Vlathri is made by dissolving a specific type of mushroom that only grows deep underground in cave spider venom. The result is a thick viscous purple-black liquid that, once injected, can be visibly seen travelling through the bloodstream and often causes thinner blood vessels, such as those in the eye, to rupture. This can cause a number of physical problems, particularly brain damage, but regardless the drug is frequently sought after as the ultimate thrill.