Flake

Properties

Material Characteristics

Flake appears as small crystalline stones, similar to the composition of sugar. It is usually white in color, but also sometimes dyed to disguise it, or otherwise, colored to potentially enhance the psychoactive effects. Finer shavings or processing can reduce the flakes to a nearly fine powder, giving them their alternate name of Dandruff.

History & Usage

History

Flake was developed at some point early during the Second Halcyon. Primarily through Kobold communities, it was discovered that the various Pillars of Salt that had grown from the ground during the War in Heaven had a unique chemical composition, particularly at higher elevations and just below the surface of their hard outer walls. This material was gold or white, and it was discovered that when thrown into bonfires, produced a wide array of psychoactive effects for anyone near the fire. The material was summarily tested, and then mined on a wide scale, to be smoked and used as a psychoactive and aphrodisiac among goblinoid cultures. The substance was exceptionally addictive, forming its own industry naturally due to the demand for production. As this drug filtered through nomadic tribes, it began to wreak havoc upon Orcish and Human nomad populations. 
Eventually, however, the Pillars of Salt fell down over the period of several thousand years, and the chemical composition of the salt material changed, losing the psychoactive effects it once had. This set of circumstances provided an extreme problem for addicted communities, who now craved a substance that had become infinitely rare.
Goblinoid communities were the next to spearhead invention. In traditional large goblinoid clans or armies, all non-valuable loot gathered from a pillaged town would be collected and burned, usually as a method of pushing out the previous inhabitants from ever returning to the land, or frustrating countering armies by leaving nothing behind that could be used in reconstruction. These large bonfires, however, combined so many chemicals, that occasionally they would explode. Goblin alchemists began more carefully running experiments on their bonfires, and learned that mixing a mixture of oils and acids at high temperatures would sometimes result in these explosive effect, but also left a residue of small crystals that had a similar effect to Flake. Over time, a recipe was perfected as a mixture of acids, oils, with psychoid plants could produce a chemically identical version of Flake. The substance was more addictive than originally, and had more dangerous psychotic effects, but provided essentially the same physiological response.
This extremely cheap recipe once again quickly spread, first through nomadic communities, and then into city centers, further spreading Flake addiction and all manner of discontent and antisocial behavior that results from the drug.

Everyday use

Flake is generally consumed in small pipes by heating the crystals for their smoke, and then inhaling the smoke. The psychoactive drug immediately floods into the lungs and gives the user a near instantaneous euphoric effect. The sensation is generally described as transcendental. It can allow people to hear voices, presumed to be voices from a different plane; it can allow people to see into the Ethereal plane; it sometimes allows people to get visions of both the past and future, almost like a waking dream. This euphoria typically lasts anywhere between 1-2 hours before additional psychotic effects begin to alter the individual's perceptions.
Most frequently though, the consumption of the drug leads to "flaking out," which sends the individual into a semi-conscious psychotic wandering. The individual loses their awareness, and will often begin to shamble or run about nonsensically. They will interact with anyone and anything depending on how they perceive their surroundings (while hallucinating), leading to incredibly erratic and unpredictable behavior. Some people will go berserk, while others will collapse in a hyperventilating fit on the ground. Users consistently claim no memory of their actions when flaking out, or only brief images of things they believe might have happened. 
The drug is most commonly used recreationally, usually in poor communities with few resources, given the extremely cheap nature of Flake. It is also sometimes used as a method of prisoner management by some unethical groups, as this will reduce the cost of food provided to the prisoner, and also used to break the prisoner's will by forcing an addiction upon them and leaving them with the withdrawal methods as a form of suffering.

Hazards

The hazards of Flake are many and dangerous. Beyond it's enormously addictive properties, the actual use of Flake causes a long string of downstream concerns.
Firstly, the psychotic wandering that affects the user and anyone who may come in contact with them. A frequent concern is a user becoming berserk or aggressive while high on Flake. In their hallucinatory state, they are not acting rationally. This can lead them into violent and dangerous attacks on innocent passers-by. Further, attempting to calm down the individual is basically impossible, and due to their nonsensical state, magical charming or illusory effects are completely irrelevant to the user. Further, a berserk individual will not act in sensibility to their pain. A person may attack a wall with their bear fists until their entire hands are broken, or may run at a full sprint chasing something until their feet sustain permanent injuries. Users also completely lack empathy for their victims, and if found assaulting someone, will do so without remorse or concern for their actions.
Secondly is the health consequences. Beyond permanent injuries sustained, users are also completely incapable of caring for their well-being, namely hydration, but also food and shelter. Although some will find water and food in their psychosis, many will collapse from malnutrition and dehydration, or simply lack of rest. For those who do not begin to psychotically wander, they will often "flake out," and instead fall unconscious in random locations. This can result in individuals falling off bridges into rivers, dropping in an alley during a rain or snow storm, or collapsing in dangerous locations such as near open flames. For many, they will not even register any pain felt until their high ends; for others, experiencing high levels of pain can send them into a psychotic rage. 
Thirdly, the length of the high of the drug is a dangerous concern. The average length of psychosis from Flake is around 2 hours, but can last anywhere as long as 8-12 hours even on small doses. As many addicts of the drug are seeking the initial high during the smoking process, this leads many to consume large dosages all at once. Taking 3 doses can have the psychosis of the drug to affect the user for upwards of 2-5 days on average.

Environmental Impact

Production of Flake is incredibly degrading to local environments. The materials used are extremely flammable and explosive, which can start grass and forest fires if the alchemical brewing is not appropriately maintained. This is compounded if the material is being made in a residential area, causing large explosions in populated areas. 
Additionally, because of the effects that users suffer, communities are dramatically effected, especially if there are many individuals in an area who may be suffering either from addictions or withdrawals. Property damage and littering are extremely common in these areas, as are violent assaults or medical emergencies.

Distribution

Law & Regulation

Flake is strictly outlawed by all major empires throughout the globe. However, due to the ease of production and the ease of distribution, it is almost impossible to fully stop the spread of the drug.
Troupes of rogues may often create what is known as a "sugar mill." These are effectively drug dens that are hidden under strict guard, away from public viewing, where Flake users are invited to imbibe without legal risks. Some city centers value these locations as they reduce public crime, and will pay the rogues to maintain their sugar mills. Others abhor these practices, as the nature of their existence encourages new users of Flake be given easy access to the drug should they be able to find it.

Type

Composite

Odor

Chemical

Taste

Acrid

Color

White, sometimes light brown