Rejuvenating Cream
The Rejuvenating Cream crafted by Ah'maran chemists has been used by the people of Ah'mara for centuries to prevent the signs of aging and protect their skin from damage. The formulation varies from island to island and chemist to chemist, but the base ingredient remains the same: kelp.
Treated as a household commodity on Ah'mara, the cream excelled in the Continental market shortly after it's introduction. Due to the difficulty of travel from Ah'mara to the coast (and the shrewd business sense of Ah'maran merchants), a vial of cream could easily sell for an amount equal to a month's wages for a day laborer. The expense associated with it only heightened the demand among the nobility of Preom Ecrana, with the cream serving the dual purpose of improving personal aesthetics and being a symbol of the family's wealth.
The essential ingredient for Ah'maran rejuvenating cream is an oil extracted from the kelp that grows abundantly in the shallow sea waters that ring the coast. The most common method for extracting it involves shredding the kelp, separating the broad leaves from the stem, and then pressing them. Depending on the scale of the production, pressing can be achieved in small batches using simple stones and seives or via large millstones. The resultant oil (a light red-brown in color) is collected in jars, with the solid portions remaining in the press kept for use elsewhere.
Other ingredients vary, including cocunut butter, honey, water, various flower petals and extracts, and wax. The resultant consistency is smooth to the touch but retains it's shape when peaked. The most common formulation is a soft brown in color and is traditionally sold in small containers fashioned from the abundant shells found on Ah'mara's shores.
In Ah'mara, the cream is used frequently (anywhere from weekly to daily) to prevent and reverse skin damage, including sun spots, scarring, and wrinkling. It is traditionally applied before sleep or just after waking, depending on the cultural practice of the owner's tribe.
On the Continent, the cream is only used as often as it can be afforded, and it is veiwed as nearly magical in nature. Nobles of all genders in Preom Ecrana have come to believe it not only makes them appear younger, but may actually possess the ability to reverse aging itself. This belief, informed by the near mysticism with which the people of the Continent view the elusive islanders, spread easily among the common people who look to it now as a elixir capable of granting eternal youth and curing even the most dangerous illnesses.
In the Northern island nation of Sonrye, this is actually the case. The rejuvenating cream peddaled by the Ah'marans is, as of the writing of this document, the only known effective treatment for the Lady's Touch. Daily applications of the cream to the affected joints and skin slows (and may even, in some cases, reverse) the progression of the petrified skin, allowing the afflicted to live for months and even years after the first onset of symptoms.
Treated as a household commodity on Ah'mara, the cream excelled in the Continental market shortly after it's introduction. Due to the difficulty of travel from Ah'mara to the coast (and the shrewd business sense of Ah'maran merchants), a vial of cream could easily sell for an amount equal to a month's wages for a day laborer. The expense associated with it only heightened the demand among the nobility of Preom Ecrana, with the cream serving the dual purpose of improving personal aesthetics and being a symbol of the family's wealth.
Production
The essential ingredient for Ah'maran rejuvenating cream is an oil extracted from the kelp that grows abundantly in the shallow sea waters that ring the coast. The most common method for extracting it involves shredding the kelp, separating the broad leaves from the stem, and then pressing them. Depending on the scale of the production, pressing can be achieved in small batches using simple stones and seives or via large millstones. The resultant oil (a light red-brown in color) is collected in jars, with the solid portions remaining in the press kept for use elsewhere.
Other ingredients vary, including cocunut butter, honey, water, various flower petals and extracts, and wax. The resultant consistency is smooth to the touch but retains it's shape when peaked. The most common formulation is a soft brown in color and is traditionally sold in small containers fashioned from the abundant shells found on Ah'mara's shores.
Uses
In Ah'mara, the cream is used frequently (anywhere from weekly to daily) to prevent and reverse skin damage, including sun spots, scarring, and wrinkling. It is traditionally applied before sleep or just after waking, depending on the cultural practice of the owner's tribe.
On the Continent, the cream is only used as often as it can be afforded, and it is veiwed as nearly magical in nature. Nobles of all genders in Preom Ecrana have come to believe it not only makes them appear younger, but may actually possess the ability to reverse aging itself. This belief, informed by the near mysticism with which the people of the Continent view the elusive islanders, spread easily among the common people who look to it now as a elixir capable of granting eternal youth and curing even the most dangerous illnesses.
In the Northern island nation of Sonrye, this is actually the case. The rejuvenating cream peddaled by the Ah'marans is, as of the writing of this document, the only known effective treatment for the Lady's Touch. Daily applications of the cream to the affected joints and skin slows (and may even, in some cases, reverse) the progression of the petrified skin, allowing the afflicted to live for months and even years after the first onset of symptoms.
by Chris Stenger
"A handful of the kelp rotting on Kiliri's shores, the detritus of a careless gatherer left in his basket's wake, could have given her six more months. I can smell the salt from where I sit now, and the wet-drowned-organic taste coats my throat. There is no shortage of it here. Lady Marte would faint to know that I've crushed the priceless yellow leaves beneath my feet and carelessly tossed handfuls back into the waves.
But why shouldn't I? I prefer my beach clean of such trash. The sand feels better between my toes."
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Oooh, I see where you're going to make the prompt connection! I like the mystical element that seems to surround the treatment and am looking forward to seeing what this counters! Also, I love how this is essentially something of a natural treatment, it's so intriguing when something present in the world can combat something rather deadly.
Seek out Fate in the world of Auriga!