Tebren Spice
The servant bowed deeply, keeping his eyes carefully averted as he relieved Avery of his overcoat and hat.
"I am new to Landing society and would like to find my way around without too much embarrassment," Avery began. "Who would you recommend as a guide?"
The servant hesitated a moment, almost glancing up in surprise at being addressed. He recovered himself, however, and motioned toward a lone gentleman seated near the club's fireplace, balancing a temptingly curved young red head on his lap and a nearly empty glass in his hand.
"Second peer, Lord Barman is a great favorite among the peerage and... generous with his knowledge."
Avery nodded and started toward the table. A gossip was just what he needed. Obviously the man was subject to certain vices as well. Well, at least one of those vices was about to play in Avery's favor. He seated himself across from the surprised gentleman and folded his hands on the tabletop. His first peer rings glinted in the light with the movement. Avery smiled disarmingly.
"I was told that you might be able to assist me."
"Of course, honored one!" Barman attempted a half bow from his seated position, pushing the female adornment off his lap in his hurry. She caught herself and dropped into a low obeisance, hers more carefully calculated to display her wares to best advantage.
Avery ignored the implied offer. "I'd be obliged if you'd see some drinks were sent over. Tebren spice wine. Dabaten’s Red, preferably.” He gave her a dismissive glance. “You need not accompany it."
The girl blanched and scuttled away.
Just to the north of New Padras lies the Tebren Void. Within this void is a wealth of spices, if one can find them. The ability to locate and retrieve the products of these precious plants lies only with the Void Breached of Tebren. They are therefore also known as Spice Trackers.
The Tebren spice trade is of course controlled by the Blessed of New Padras, most particularly the Dabaten family.
The Dabatens were the first to import vintners from the south lands to see if they could create some form of wine from the fabled spices. At least one of the vintners even traveled into the Tebren Void itself with a Tracker as guide, determined that he could not properly understand the properties and aesthetics of the ingredients he was expected to work with if he could not see the plants in their native habitat.
The successful creation of Spice Wine and the subsequent profits thereof allowed the Dabaten family to gain control of the industry by buying up nearly every resource and property associated with the processing and shipping of the spice.
Some of the spices are merely spices. But most contain hallucinogenic properties that a new branch of the Guild of Alchemists has begun to experiment with to create fascinating drugs, wines, and things of a like nature. Due to the spices rarity and desirability, it has become an extremely wealthy industry.
Basic Information
Ecology and Habitats
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Due to its hallucinogenic properties, Tebren spice is mainly used for recreational purposes. While there are those who prefer to ingest the various spices in their raw form--which produces a much stronger and, in some extreme cases, permanent hallucinogenic state--this is generally considered a reckless and uncouth practice. A practice that the Sciential has been lobbying to outlaw.
Most of the Feran elite prefer the more refined and less harmful, though still enjoyable, forms. The refining process allows for far more control over the potency and final disposition of the product. It is most often inhaled as snuff, imbibed in Spice Wine, or consumed in the elegant culinary creations of Tebren trained chefs.
As different spices induce different mental states, there is a variety or vintage for nearly every conceivable desire. But given the extreme expense of the spice, this luxury is available only to the wealthiest of the Feran elite.
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