Ghostsight
Cases about the Ghostsight have been in records for decades and the effects and safety of it have been debated. While others it is an unfortunate and scary side effect of misusing of a drug, for others it is a highly spiritual experience, that can guide their actions to a better direction.
Causes
Ghostsight is caused by an extract from the Ghost Tongue plant, which is most commonly used because of its calming effects in medical use. However, when used in raw form, in too big of a dose or enhanced with other plants, Ghost Tongue extract becomes almost a narcotic-like substance, that locks a person in vivid hallucinations.
Symptoms
Once the increased amount of the extract starts to take effect, the target will first experience deep calming feeling, that almost paralyses their body, making it feel heavy and cumbersome. Speaking and gesturing comes difficult, and the target starts to feel their spirit slipping out of their body. As that happens, their vision is filled with vivid hallucinations. These can be harmless and comforting, or nightmarish and terrifying, depending on the circumstance.
It is debated if all the visions are purely hallucinated. Some consider these visions prophetic, or glimpses beyond the visual reality, like to the ethereal plane.
Prognosis
Experience can be disorienting to the person experiencing it, and prolonged use can cause mental and physical side effects from restlessness and shivers to paranoia and heart attacks. Those prone to get good visions on this state can become addicted to the extracts. For these reasons, constant use of Ghost Tongue extract is considered as a bad idea, and even those using the extract for ritualistic purposes avoid overdosing too often.
Cultural Reception
Despite the risks involved, some of the people North Velkas purposefully overdose the Ghost Tongue extract to gain the hallucination stage. It is commonly believed, especially among the local orcs that the trance-like state helps in divination and connecting one with celestial beings. Similar believes are sometimes shared with mages of humans and druidic tribes in the area.
Overdosing is sometimes part of certain religious rituals, including ones with transitioning from a role to another, ceremonies of becoming part of priesthood or during celebrations between seasons to predict the future events. It is sometimes also a component of spell where one tries to contact the dead or travel through the astral plane.
"Don't you worry, girl. Just open your eyes and your heart. Don't let the terrors you see eat your bravery, so the truth shall give itself to you. through the visions you receive.
Think it not as a curse or nightmare, no child, it is a blessing you can use to serve and safe your clan.
I love that some intentionally take too much of this to enter into that state. Such a great idea. :)