The Niafell Genasi
Hailing from their native land of Niafell, these Genasi are specialized in spices. Getting their fame for being the only ones who managed to cultivate rare and exclusive spices, they are most famous for their variety of blue spices. Along with a Dragonfyre plant variety that is used as dye known for being exceptionally bright blue in colour, they are the only known region capable of cultivating Yatir.
"I was born with a hoe in my hand and a basket on my back. We grow up in the fields, learn to walk while helping our parents harvest the crops. We take immense pride in our spices, we work as a community to get the best quality we can. Often, we will have different jobs during the process; some of us are amazing at telling the soil quality, some can tell the perfect time to pick a flower for the best flavour, and it isn't always the same for all flowers on the plant. It takes a lot of dedication to do what we do every day of the year for our whole lives, but its in our genes to love it."
You can always tell if a Genasi has ancestral relations to Niafell, as they are the only known blue-skinned variety of this race. Myth says that they developed their blue skin after being born from the very blue spice they now cultivate, however it is more logical to assume that it just happened after many many years of being stained in the fields it became a genetic trait.
Geography
What is even more unique about their ability to grow these plants, is they are located in a desert. Spanning for many miles, this desert isn't what first comes to mind. It is neither sandy nor hot. This desert if you can call it that, is a region of the world that was lush with trees, plant, and animal life, but now is almost like a still photo. All of the features are still present, but none of the life. Trees and forests abound, but no leaves. What used to be ferns are now shriveled up, the word wasteland might be a more apt description for what is Niafell.
Spice Cultivation
Dragonfyre Blue
Dragonfyre is a unique variety of dyes grown and produces the most vibrant and rich colour of its respective type. Niafell cultivates the blue variety, even more, pigmented than bright indigo, this dye is sought after by the top of society for special garments, occasions, and items such as house banners. Dragonfyre has a built-in limit, to compensate for its extreme pigment, meaning not a lot is needed to achieve a rich colour, it has a very long growth cycle. Requiring careful attention and growing conditions, this is one of the hardest plants in Iedar Tegon to cultivate, making these Genasi even more special in their abilities.
Yatir
This is the spice that the Niafell Genasi are most known for. Spicy and sweet in nature, this is cultivated for the singular purpose of celebration and ritual feasts, such as the week-long festival for Soul in the Stars. Often, shopkeeps will order in bulk to be able to sell this spice for longer periods at a raised price after the given festival. This spice is only able to be harvested three times a year, planted in correspondence with the three main festivals in Iedar Tegon.
The reason this spice is so carefully cultivated is it is seen as an item with religious significance for the Niafell Genasi. Commonly referred to by them as the "mother spice", it holds a special place in all of the Genasi that live there. A bundle from their first harvest is kept in their home above the door, added to the first bundle of their family, passed down through generations.
Remove these ads. Join the Worldbuilders Guild
Comments