Areca Nut

Areca nuts, otherwise known as betel nuts, are the seeds from the areca palm. These nuts are psychoactive and carcinogenic, and prolonged consumption can lead to cancer of the mouth and oesophagus. They are typically sold wrapped in betel leaves along with a number of other spices, and are chewed to provide a burst of energy and a sense of alertness.
Despite the potential health risks, areca nut is manufactured into a tooth-cleaning powder and bad-breath cure, as well as being used to purge internal parasites. Fermented areca nuts are eaten as sweet snacks not unlikely a boiled sweet.
The chewing of areca nuts wrapped in betel leaves is a cultural tradition in some places, and is a deeply loved drug among certain settlements. In this places the areca nut and betel leaf are symbols of marriage, fertility, and sexual love, as they are considered to be a perfectly destined pair. The chewing areca nuts is an important rite in opening conversation between a betrothed couple's parents. Royalty in pro-areca settlements are customarily expected to have areca and betel leaf handy to chew whilst holding court. New couples are encouraged to chew areca nuts together as a bonding, calming, and refreshing experience. Offering a stranger an areca nut and betel leaf is, in some locales, a non-negotiable social custom that opens up good-willed discussion with that individual, if they accept the gift. In these places it is also considered a tremendous slight to fail to offer a guest an areca nut and betel leaf, so most homes will have some ready for surprise visitors. Voyagers and wayfarers native to these settlements would not dare travel without a pouch of areca nut, and would expect their crew to be similarly prepared. It is due to these cultural traditions that areca nut is still used as an offering in many religious ceremonies, particularly sermons by priests of pestilence.

Properties

Physical & Chemical Properties

Level 2 Properties

Damage constitution (consume)
Hallucinate (consume)
Abort (consume)
Bliss (consume)
Calm (consume)
Restore EP

Level 4 Properties

Cure disease
Resist disease
Resist poison

Level U Properties

Silence
Fortify insight
Fortify craft
Fortify luck

Level S Properties

Heat
Fortify alertness
Bless

Geology & Geography

The areca palm grows in the tropical regions of Dratora, namely rainforests.

History & Usage

Everyday use

Areca nuts are commonly eaten as a sweet snack or chewed to achieve a sense of clarity.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Areca nuts, along with betel leaf, are chewed with strangers, lovers, guests, or in religious ceremonies as a sign of unity and bonding. Royals in the tropical settlements near the areca palm's native range will not hold court without areca nuts on hand, and voyagers of the tropical seas will not travel without a pouch of areca nuts and betel leaves prepared.

Manufacturing & Products

Alchemists and mystics have actually found that, despite its harmful properties, areca nuts can be brewed into extremely potent antidotes and cure-alls. However, areca nuts are most famously manufactured into a drug alongside a variety of spices wrapped up in a betel leaf.

Hazards

Consumption of areca nuts is a considerable health risk, and those well-versed in alchemical practices advise against its consumption despite the huge cultural role it plays.

Distribution

Law & Regulation

Regional laws vary. Within the tropical regions of Dratora areca nut has not only been legalised, but encouraged as an ingredient of tremendous cultural significance. However, in areas further afield of the equator, but that see a lot of trade from the tropics, areca nut has been heavily regulated or even banned in light of the booming drug market that sprung up in its wake.

An

Type

Biomaterial

Value

67 silver pennies

Rarity

δs-tier ingredient

Odor

Refreshing and sweet unless fermented, at which point the odour becomes putrid.

Taste

Spicy

Color

Dark orange