Lissberry Wine
The Tallian served us a sweet-smelling, purple drink that they called angel's nectar. Once we were already two cups each, our host asked us if we knew what the beverage was made of, which we naturally denied. Imagine our shock when he told us it was made of fermented lissberries, which are known to cause vomiting, cramps and even death in the worst of cases. We must have looked comically terrified, judging by the hearty way our host laughed before he reassured us that his people have perfected a method of preparation which leaves the poison in the berries quite harmless and that he frequently drinks it himself with no ill effects. It has since become quite a favorite here at the estate, for its sweet taste and the gentle rush it provides, and we purchase a cask every time the Tallian ship makes dock.
From the diaries of Princex Majek of Dahl.
Lissberry wine, also known as angel's nectar, was an alcoholic and possibly narcotic beverage traditionally brewed by the Tallian people in the days of the Djere dynasty. Contemporary sources describe the drink as purple in color and sweet in taste and smell, and its effects as being a gradual but powerful intoxication combined with a rush of vigor. Some descriptions of the effects include sensations that allude to euphoric properties surpassing those of ordinary alcohol. At one point it was traded eagerly in large areas of the world.
The process behind its creation is a mystery which has eluded brewers and chemists in many lands over the centuries. The primary ingredient in the drink is the eponymous lissberry, a fruit well-known for being poisonous. The symptoms when ingested raw include vomiting, diarrhea, convulsions, dizziness, breathing difficulties, arrhythmia and, in some cases, death. The known methods for preparing the berries serve only to lessen these symptoms, not eliminate them. Yet, it seems the Tallians knew how to render the poison impotent, for none of the sources that mention it discuss any ill effects of its consumption. Unfortunately, their method for preparation were kept a tightly guarded secret, and has been lost to time. Many attempts to recreate it have been made but none have been known to succeed.
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What a beautiful bit of worldbuilding. I especially love your quote at the beginning, but the article itself is lovely and parallels many real life examples of dishes that would be dangerous without proper preparation. Well done! Did you know you can use quote tags to change the formatting some? [quote]QUOTE|AUTHOR[/quote] In case you want to use that.
Necromancy is a Wholesome Science.
I'm glad you like it! And thank you for the tip - I'm still very much a newb at formatting and stuff.
There are a lot of tools and tricks on WorldAnvil. I will *never* learn how to use them all. Just thought I would pass on one of my favorite ones. :)
Necromancy is a Wholesome Science.