Harvest of the Sea

## Background

'Harvest of the Sea' is a hallucinogenic drug which first appeared in Yola, a major port city of the Alidasht Kingdom. It is derived from luminescent algae that washes up on Yola's beaches in vast quantities in an annual event. As these algae decompose, they release intoxicating fumes that, when inhaled, brings about feelings of euphoria and causes vivid hallucinations. Once the effects subside and wear off, it brings about a soothing calm and acts as a mild anaesthetic. It is thus believed that the first instances of 'Harvest of the Sea' were created by physicians and pharmacists hoping to isolate and enhance the latter effects for medicinal use. This is, however, an apocryphal tale and is supported by little evidence.

The production of the drug is exclusively carried out by criminal gangs operating within Yola. Both fresh and rotting algae are collected throughout the year's algae season in large quantities. It is estimated that the harvest of a single year is enough to keep every major city in Caesonia, Varian, and Alidasht supplied with 'Harvest of the Sea' for at least half-a-decade. The collection of algae is rarely carried out by the gangs themselves. Rather, they offer monetary or material rewards to members of the public who hand over any quantity of algae to them. The algae are then transported to either chemists working for the gangs, or a laboratory set up by the gang for the sole purpose of producing the drug.

Once the drug is produced, it is trafficked out of Yola by smugglers on blockade runners. These are fast ships with low freeboards and dark sails. On overcast or moonless nights, they are almost impossible to spot. Typical destinations would be cities on the southern Caesonian coast, although there have been incidents where smugglers have been caught attempting to approach the northern coast of Varian. The drug is also smuggled to other Alidashti cities. This would be done either wittingly or unwittingly by overland caravans, with Qishu being a popular destination due to its nature as a hub of trade and transport.

The price of 'Harvest of the Sea' varies from city-to-city. It is cheapest in Yola, and most expensive in Varian cities. However, it is still comparatively cheap to other drugs, and is thus a popular choice for the lower classes.

## Name and Appearance

'Harvest of the Sea' is most commonly encountered as a blue powder. The fineness of the powder, the brightness of the hue, and the smoothness of the texture are highly dependent on the creation process. Generally speaking, the finer the powder, the brighter the colour, and the smoother the texture, the higher the quality and thus the more expensive it would be. It can also be found in the form of a thin slab that would be crushed and powdered before consumption.

Although 'Harvest of the Sea' is by far the most common name of the drug, it is not its only name. 'Blue Dust', 'Algae Sand', 'Yola's Bounty', are just some examples of other names it has gone by. There are likely a myriad of local monikers, and it is unlikely that they would ever all be known.

## Production

The production of 'Harvest of the Sea' is rather straightforward.

First, the algae are dried until it is brittle. This is achieved by laying them in strips over tables in heated rooms or on roofs. Gangs which are more careful would simply have their members take turns fanning the algae until it is sufficiently dried. Then, it is broken into pieces and cooked in a mixture of water and quicklime. This extracts the raw chemicals that are responsible for the drug's effects. Strong spirits are also added. Once the mixture becomes a thick paste, it is poured out and pressed. The liquid that is extracted contains all the waste material and is discarded.

At this stage, the drug still contains a fair amount of impurities. The resulting slab is immersed in alternating dry baths of acidic and alkaline salts until it reaches the proper shade of blue. It is then baked until it becomes a hard, dry, and brittle slab. Further purification can be achieved by dissolving the slab in acid, sifting out the solids, and then repeating the drying process for as many times as it is possible.

At this point, the slab can be transported, or it can be broken up and ground into dust for distribution. 'Harvest of the Sea' is commonly inhaled through the nose. It is also mixed with water and drunk, or injected directly into the bloodstream. It is never, and should never be, taken in solid form.

## Effects

As a hallucinogenic, the most prominent effect of 'Harvest of the Sea' are its vivid auditory and visual hallucinations. These can range from simply hearing voices or seeing floating shapes and shifting colours, to experiencing delusions realistic enough to even engage the senses. Depending on the dose, and the number of doses one has taken, these hallucinations can affect the mind by creating false memories. In extreme cases, it can bring about chronic feelings of paranoia and dissociation.

Other effects include feelings of euphoria, surges of energy, and an excessive sharpening of the senses. Together with the hallucinations, this makes 'Harvest of the Sea' a popular choice for those seeking to prolong or enhance their experiences at parties and gatherings. However, depending on the level of resistance an individual has to the drug, and depending on the constitution of an individual, these effects may prove to be too overwhelming. It has been reported that some may have their senses sharpened to the point of sensory overload, or they may feel such euphoria that they lose all sense of self-preservation or necessary caution.

As mentioned before, the after-effects of 'Harvest of the Sea' are rather benign. It brings the user to a state of calm and lulls them into restful sleep. It is thus hypothesised that rather than the aforementioned effects, it is because of these soothing effects that makes 'Harvest of the Sea' such an addictive drug. Interviews with former abusers, however, have produced inconclusive results. Just as many claim that the energising effects and ability to see visions were the addictive factors as those who claim that it were the calming effects that made them desire more of the drug.

The algae from which 'Harvest of the Sea' is synthesised carries within it a lethal toxin. This toxin is not entirely removed during the drug-making process. Although some of it is expelled from the body during regular motions, a minute amount is stored within the body for longer periods. Over time, and with successive doses of the drug, this can build until it becomes lethal. The lethal limit is still not yet known, only that once it is reached, the calming after-effect would, instead of putting the user to sleep, pull them into a coma. Death would follow typically within the day.