Glory Dust

"The effort needed to cultivate acceptance, a sense of belonging, is simply too much for some."

Glory Dust is a drug common throughout the lands of Zinruna and easily obtainable in Kedizlim as well. The drug is a depressant that is consumed via snorting and causes its user to enter a state of bliss with most users specifically mentioning the sensation of feeling loved, adored, and appreciated, hence its name. Due to its common effects, use of the drug is often associated with a sense of loneliness or dissatisfaction with one's achievements. Long term use of glory dust can cause a number of negative health effects such as depression, suicidal tendencies, weakened immune system, and heart palpitations. The dangers of the drug, along with its degeneration by the general public, has lead to it being banned in most places, though its benefits mean that eradicating its use is beyond the ability of any governing authority.

History

The early history of glory dust is disputed, with some saying that it had been used by humans throughout much of the later serene era and others claiming that the drug was not developed until after the beginning of the liberty era. Records of Knir Alganvi I's life indicate that he developed an addiction to a powder that most modern scholars agree must have been glory dust. This would suggest that the drug came about by the first decade of the liberty era at the very latest.
Following the Great Invasions and the growth of intercontinental trade in the early 3rd century LE the drug made its way from Zinruna to Kedizlim, likely by way of Tharsa or Tarshin within Demia before spreading out through the continental trade networks. By this time, the dangers of the drug were widely known and most governments between the two continents had banned its sale and use, at least in principle. Nevertheless, the drug remains widely used, particularly during times of social upheaval, such as wars or other great societal shifts.

Item type

Drug / Narcotic / Medicine