Sulcairne (Sool-kay-ern)

Dreams to Reality

  A powdered hallucinogenic drug known throughout many locations in Arethel, though its discovery is credited to the Flamellen druid and wandering storyteller, Saul Sulcairne, whose stories are said to have been inspired through his use of the drug he eponymously named. Sulcairne is made by crushing several volatile mushrooms (frost sorrel) commonly found within colder northern regions, adding grapeshod leaf and hoarsbane extract (both equally potent drugs individually), and then pounding the contents into a fine powder that can be both snorted or taken orally to induce hallucinations.   Sulcairne colloquially is more commonly known as "gilp" by commoners, the Old Flamellen term for "powder". It is said that those who routinely abuse the drug begin to mistake their hallucinogenic dreamlike state for reality after a while, often finding greater and greater difficulty in leaving their high.   Depending on the mental state of the individual using Sulcairne, the drug has seen use within militaries as it is also said to induce an almost euphoric battle-lust if taken before combat.  

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Sulcairne Use in Flamellen Military

Although drug use of any kind is expressly prohibited in the Flamellen military, this has not discouraged its use as part of a soldier's toolkit in many conflicts. During the Second Flamellen-Castinian War, for example, Sulcairne use was rampant in divisions often called "Emerald Battalions" by fellow soldiers, as the powdered drug is often safely stored and carried in a emerald cut vial. Soldiers with such vials strapped to their packs or belts were known to use the hallucinogen to hype themselves up for battle alongside their comrades, and although forbidden, higher ranked officials would conveniently choose to look away if it meant progressing the war effort against their enemy.