Narcotics in the Underworld
"I don’t get it. You pour a man a beer, he gets loud, maybe takes a swing, wakes up with a headache. You pour him this filth, and he sells his boots, his soul, and his own mother for another taste. I’ve seen Shadowbliss turn lords into beggars, Phoenix Heart make heroes into corpses with a smile on their faces. And for what? A few hours of feeling like the world makes sense? It never does. Not in Bard’s Gate. Not anywhere." — Sir Sorek Redmarch
"Drugs aren’t just coin and powder. They’re chains. The only difference is whether you wear them willingly or not." — Smuggler’s Cant
Shadowbliss
A cheap but highly addictive substance, Shadowbliss is the choice of the desperate, the broken, and those who never planned to see another sunrise. It induces a dreamlike euphoria, heightening sensations to an almost supernatural degree—colors become brighter, sounds sharper, emotions deeper. However, the withdrawal is crushing, leaving users hollow and craving their next fix.
Street Price: $10 per dose
Addiction Code: Severe (15 points)
Effects: Intense sensory enhancement, light numbness, dreamlike euphoria
Withdrawal: Weakness, paranoia, intense cravings
"You don’t quit Shadowbliss. You just live long enough for it to quit you." — City Watch Informant
Phoenix Heart
The pinnacle of alchemical narcotics, Phoenix Heart is rare, expensive, and utterly destructive. A single dose sends the user into a burning high, where they feel invulnerable, fearless, and utterly unstoppable. In truth, their body is being pushed beyond its limits, and the withdrawal is agonizing—users describe it as burning from the inside out. Those who take too much risk permanent nerve damage, insanity, or worse.
Street Price: $100 per dose
Addiction Code: Extreme (20 points)
Effects: Overwhelming euphoria, increased pain tolerance, supernatural endurance
Withdrawal: Burning agony, uncontrollable shaking, internal organ strain
"You want to feel like a god? Take Phoenix Heart. Just don’t expect to live like one." — Alchemist’s Warning
Quickstep
A watered-down speed potion originally designed for messengers and scouts, Quickstep has since fallen into criminal hands. The effects are similar to the famed “Rush” drug used by enforcers and mercenaries, heightening reflexes and slowing perception of time. Unlike true potions of speed, however, Quickstep causes fatigue, paranoia, and muscle tremors when overused.
Street Price: $25 per dose
Addiction Code: Moderate (12 points)
Effects: Heightened reflexes, slowed perception of time, short-term stamina boost
Withdrawal: Exhaustion, paranoia, muscle tremors
"A warrior on Quickstep is a nightmare. A warrior coming down from Quickstep is just a twitching corpse." — Underground Healer
Dreamleaf
A mild hallucinogen popular among both hedonists and mystics, Dreamleaf induces lucid dreams, hallucinations, and deep relaxation. Users experience visions, out-of-body sensations, and a euphoric state of calm. While not as harmful as other narcotics, chronic use can lead to paranoia, sleep paralysis, and dissociation from reality.
Street Price: $5 per dose
Addiction Code: Mild (6–9 points)
Effects: Vivid hallucinations, relaxation, lucid dreaming
Withdrawal: Restless sleep, paranoia, emotional detachment
"It’s not the dream you should fear. It’s waking up." — Dreamleaf User
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