Sunspot Honey

Jam-packed with Power

Written by Endrise

The blood of the world, the elixir of life for some around here.
I just like using it in my dishes cause it adds a nice flavour.

— Fire Plane Chef

Sunspot Honey is a product made by Solar Bees, known for its energy-rich properties. Used for food and fuel, the golden fluid is the cause of many conflicts across the realm.

General Information

Physical Characteristics

In a liquid state, Sunspot Honey is a viscous fluid akin to regular honey, having a mixture of gold and red tints. Its name comes from the black spots that naturally form during its processing. Not only is it warm to the touch, it also generates a small amount of light as well. Strong enough to be visible in the dark but too weak to be useful as a light-source.

People describe the odour as pungent as dried meat but with a sweet smell sprinkled throughout. Taste-wise it is similar with a very meaty flavour to it.

Properties

The honey is rich in solar energy. During its creation process, it absorbs large amounts of power. Given the right reaction, it can expel this energy to fuel all sorts of things.

It radiates small amounts of solar radiation, leaking more when exposed to heat. While the dosage does not cause major harm when digested, prolonged periods of excessive exposure can cause similar effects akin to sunburn and even cancer.

Digesting it causes an energising effect to the body, rejuvanating it. Extensive digestion can cause some side-effects similar to caffeine, making it ill-advised to do so.

Origins

Solar Bees are responsible for the creation of the honey. By breaking down the meat of carcases and dead animals, it creates the foundation of the fluid. The insect’s ability to absorb solar energy allows it then to store it into the honey, creating the substance inside its system.

Most honey gets stored within their hives, providing food and warmth to the colony.

Type

Biomaterial

Taste

Sweet

Color

Gold with redish tint

Common State

Fluid

Related Locations

• Plane of Fire

Related Species

• Solar Bee

Different Suns, different honey

Different suns across the Cosmic Hourglass produce different kinds of honey. A Solar Bee's diet can also influence how it tastes and smells, in both positive and negative ways.

Production proves difficult because of a colony’s sensitivity to temperatures. Either the honey produced is little or hives cannot survive long enough inside of the climate.

Cultural Significance

Beekeeping

Solar Bees are the only known species to produce Sunspot Honey, make it crucial to have them around. A big emphasis gets placed on beekeeping, providing places for them to settle and produce the honey freely. Trying to force them to stay is impossible, as domesticating hives is impossible as they seek whatever place they deem the most beneficial to their survival.

Beekeeping is a mutual agreement where the bees give off a portion of their honey for safety and a home. Beehives such homes, distinct by their spherical design. With removable cylinders, parts of the combs can be removed to extract honey with ease.

An additional benefit is that Solar Bees act as a disposal system for the deceased. Some even let their dead get decomposed by them as a funeral. Hence why burial sites get often built nearby the apiaries that the insects call home.

Products & Usage

One can find its utility everywhere across the Plane of Fire. From machinery to food, there are uses for everything involving Sunspot Honey.

Fuel

Many machines on the Plane of Fire use the honey as fuel, powering everything from cities to vehicles. While there are better fuels, its safety and easy production make it a more reliable source of energy.

To make it easier to have a constant power supply, hives get built into city generators. This allows for Solar Bees to refuel it with little to no interference needed.

Food

A long shelf-life and traits similar to caffeine make it a common ingredient in meals. Dishes made to help keep up energy and honey-glazed meats are famous there, even maintaining its properties while dried.

Others eat it pure, often used as a dip for snack to give it the sweet taste. Whether the honey is healthy is unsure, but in a modest serving size it does little to no harm.

Medical

Several medical treatments use Sunspot Honey as a basis for their cures thanks to its rejuvenating properties. Being vitamine rich makes it crucial for those with a deficiency, especially when sunlight is not as common.

In the right dosages, it helps treat tiredness and exhaustion. A drop poured in one’s drink can provide the energy needed to go through a day, but overdosing may cause insomnia.

Conflict

To no surprise, people fight over the resource in war and conflict, to fuel their own equipment and provide food to their citizens. A struggle as old as the plane itself, many battles fought over it, collectively nicknamed the Honey Wars in the local tongue.

The constant struggle to gather new hives for the production leads to aggressive expansion into enemy terrain. In an ironic sense, the bloodshed even helps amplify the production, providing food for the Solar Bees to make more honey, which makes areas more alluring to conquer. Such a viscous cycle ensures these conflicts never seem to end, while keeping the supply of Sunspot Honey never-ending.