Skip

Properties

Material Characteristics

Skip comes from a rare flower that features purple petals, and red and yellow stamens. When made into Skip, all of this material is taken from the plant, finely cut, and combined to be dried. It is then wrapped in paper to be smoked.

History & Usage

Discovery

Skip has always had a complicated relationship throughout history. It was always known as a rare and magical flower for its unique properties of time dilation. Traditionally, these flowers were grown and regulated by Druids, and primarily used for rituals and medicinal purposes. But upon the First Halcyon, Skip began to be grown in more systemic ways by Elven populations. With the more widespread growing of the flower, so too spread the ability to smoke the plant. With further botany research in conjunction with Gnomes, the ideal breeds of flower were created for the most powerful effects to be gained from smoking.

Everyday use

Skip is consumed through smoking. Once the user imbibes in Skip, their experience of time is significantly altered. A single puff of Skip can cause an individual to experience time-dilation of up to nearly six hours, and a second puff exponentially affects the amount of time that is dilated for the user. This continues for every subsequent imbibement.
During this time, the user is given a very distinct, very remarkable level of euphoria. The user is given a generalized blank sensation, known as "the haze" or "the smoke." Users report their mind to become clouded and fuzzy, and that they are given a general happy feeling during and as they are exiting the experience. The effect of the high can last from anywhere as short as an hour, upwards to multiple days of the user's life. However, from the experience of the user, mere seconds or minutes pass in this time, meaning extreme amounts of time can pass between the first and last puff of Skip.

Cultural Significance and Usage

Skip is a major social ill in all social and racial societies throughout Rakuen. Prohibition is impossible; although the flowers themselves are rare, and only grown in particular climates, every major nation has a region that is ideal for Skip growth, meaning each region has its own market. Further, since these flowers tend to grow in particularly rural areas, it can be nearly impossible to find and stop a growing operation.
Instead, imperial Elves generally tolerate the practice, and attempt to educate people away from a life of Skip, particularly from an early age. Heavy taxes are placed on legally run Skip dens, which generally operate themselves as premiere establishments for wealthy individuals, or those looking for a safe experience. However, illegal Skip dens are very common, and are operated in secret allowing for cheaper sessions of Skip, in more uncontrolled and dangerous environments. Human empires tend to allow only Elves, Gnomes, and Tieflings to run Skip dens, hoping to encourage similar establishments to the high quality ones pervasive in the Empires. However, these establishments are very uncommon in Human communities, and more frequently, Skip dens are grimy locations and are usually deeply intertwined with local crime syndicates.
Elves suffer the least effects. Due to their long lives, if an Elf becomes addicted for a time, it is simply wasted to them. Further, given the generally high quality of Skip dens in the Empires, users generally have positive experiences, and treat the drug more recreationally. It is the youngest races that are affected the most severely, with Orcs and Avians being the most susceptible, followed by Humans, Halflings, Half-Elves, and Tabaxi. A Skip addiction can waste away these individuals lives quickly. Orc tribes tend to ban the substance altogether, and Avians attempt to enforce it for only ritual or medical circumstances. But because of the prevalence of Skip, these prohibitions are almost impossible to maintain.

Hazards

Although Skip is not in itself addictive, it carries with it deeply compulsive behaviors that act as an addiction. The primary hazard is thus the time spent in the haze of Skip, primarily due to the very high length of time one can experience the high. Even a single puff of Skip can make an individual experience 6 hours worth of time in seconds, and most users often partake 2-4 times per act of consumption. This can lead to individuals being in the haze of Skip for anywhere between 6 and 72 hours, all which passes for the user in a matter of seconds or minutes.
The simple health hazards are that an individual can become extremely hungry and thirsty, to the point of starvation and dehydration. Many individuals die due to this when on extended binges, especially when the drug is consumed alone or without a support network. The term used to describe this is "timing out." Generally, if an individual is consuming Skip in a Skip den, the attendants there will attempt to feed and hydrate the individuals. This, however, is not regulated, and there is little incentive for these individuals to help maintain a user's high through a support system.
Beyond the practical concerns, Skip carries immense antisocial realities. Because individuals can lose days of their life to the haze, it can result in extremely detrimental effects to their life, their families, and their communities. Unlike an alcoholic - who may be consistently drunk but can sometimes function in a society - a Skip user simply wastes away their time from beginning until the end of their drug episode. And as many Skip users may often compulsively seek out a new haze, they may imbibe too much, or for too long, and lose track of their life and responsibilities. One cannot overdose on Skip, but this comes as little solace to individuals who watch loved once waste away in their haze for weeks or months at a time.
Finally there is the concern of bodily autonomy. An individual who is high on Skip will generally sit or lie down - usually transitioning between the two positions - where they initially consumed the drug. In this state, they lack all awareness of their surroundings, and are essentially relying on the individuals around them for food, water, safety, and shelter. While some Skip dens are amicable to their users, not all are, which can result in many horrible forms of abuse. Skip users are frequently kidnapped into slavery, physically or sexually abused while in their haze, and are prime targets for robbery. Additionally, disreputable dens may not value customers who cannot afford their bills. Many Skip users have died due to being thrown out of dens while in their haze, being left in the streets or in the elements to be forgotten.

Type

Organic

Odor

Floral

Taste

Floral.

Color

Purple and red.