Bloodthistle

"You'd best be careful dabbling in those plants, boy, Thistle can grab a hold of you early and not let you go,"
Bloodthistle is a plant native to Atlamoria, though it would be more apt to call it a weed. Shamans of old would crush the herb and smoke it, saying it revealed prophetic visions from the Gods, though in the more recent decades, the purposes have degraded from spiritual to common drug addiction. The widespread, wild growth of the plant has aided in this greatly: bloodthistle can be found all around the continent in any non-extreme climate, thriving in both sunlight and shade, wet and dry conditions.
The herb is characterized by its four broad, spiky green leaves speckled with red throughout. The center bud looks like a small round nut and is sour to the taste. If used properly, this can be ground down and added to food dishes as a flavor additive. Thistlenut, as it is called, is an export of Atlamoria to the other continents, and is considered a spice used in higher-class restaurants and by the well-off.
Bloodthistle leaves must be stripped from the stem and dried properly to get the full effect of their potency. Leaves that retain too much moisture will decrease the length of the high as well as dull the effects over time. After drying, the leaves can be crushed to dust (most commonly with a mortar and pestle) and smoked in a pipe. This causes a euphoric sensation and hallucinations, as well as bursts of energy lasting a few hours and a perceived higher-than-normal strength and stamina, perfect for getting through long and arduous tasks.
It is considered easy to get addicted to this drug. When walking through the slums of a city, it is not difficult to find some dealer of Thistle, be it a local thief or ruffian, a corrupt city guard, in whorehouses and back-alley inns, or even your local herbalist or farmer. It is widely used by the worker folk for labour jobs - the bursts of stamina and strength that the used feels can be just what the common man needs to get through a tough day, and thanks to it's widespread prominence, the costs of purchasing are usually rather low.
Those addicted to this drug are known as Thistleheads, and are frowned upon by polite members of society.

Item type

Drug / Narcotic / Medicine