The Blessed Wine of Parseil
A Glass of Potential
"If you had any idea how many curio shops sell the worst swill you could imagine as 'genuine' Parselian wine... I know the one who keeps track. We're on volume four."During the heights of Parseil's power in the Broken Spine region, their control of the region meant there were a number of small estates dedicated to producing goods for trade. Among those were two noble families who specialized in creating fermented foods and drink, and the results were known for excellent quality. After the fall of the Silver City, legends about the wines of Parseil have grown and changed from being merely exquisite to having magical properties. And since unsealed casks or bottles from that time are so rare, the legends persist to this day.
Summary
There once was a great city where magic was common enough to be woven into every aspect of life. The streets were lit by gems enchanted to glow after the sun set, and fresh water was brought to every household by springs located at common meeting points. Food was grown using the aid of magic to keep pests from blighting the crops, or disease fouling the meat of livestock. And among those were two families who were blessed by the gods with extraordinary talent.
The Senna family grew grapes and made wines, claiming they were capable of making wine which even the gods would praise. Such claims are tested, and failing the test never goes well for the boastful. Three gods paid a visit, claiming they were there to taste the famous Senna wine. Should any of the gods despise the offering, then the boast would be punished. But if all three agreed the wine was excellent, then there would be a reward. Carna Senna conducted himself with some reservations as he offered up a goblet of wine to each of the gods. One by one, he earned faint praise, and humbly accepted judgment. The gods departed, and the next batch of wines was said to be truly spectacular. Blessed by the gods, it would seem, despite only gaining a mild approval.
As the Senna family was not the only family involved, the Barra family was known to make meads and other spirits to please the local nobility. The gods who had visited the Senna family also paid a visit to the Barra distilleries, and were received by Pyrna Barra. Her offerings were varied, and her only claim was simple: "We make so many different things here, I have faith one of them will be of interest." The gods were indeed pleased and when they left the tasting cups turned to silver. Later products were also said to be exquisite in quality similar to the Senna's wines.
The two families would wind up uniting their houses into the Barsenna family, being bestowed the rights of nobility by the Silver King. The gods' blessings would ensure all products made by Barsennan scions would be of the best quality. As time went on, the production of wine was done to a greater degree than others and thus became better-remembered by those in the region.
The Senna family grew grapes and made wines, claiming they were capable of making wine which even the gods would praise. Such claims are tested, and failing the test never goes well for the boastful. Three gods paid a visit, claiming they were there to taste the famous Senna wine. Should any of the gods despise the offering, then the boast would be punished. But if all three agreed the wine was excellent, then there would be a reward. Carna Senna conducted himself with some reservations as he offered up a goblet of wine to each of the gods. One by one, he earned faint praise, and humbly accepted judgment. The gods departed, and the next batch of wines was said to be truly spectacular. Blessed by the gods, it would seem, despite only gaining a mild approval.
As the Senna family was not the only family involved, the Barra family was known to make meads and other spirits to please the local nobility. The gods who had visited the Senna family also paid a visit to the Barra distilleries, and were received by Pyrna Barra. Her offerings were varied, and her only claim was simple: "We make so many different things here, I have faith one of them will be of interest." The gods were indeed pleased and when they left the tasting cups turned to silver. Later products were also said to be exquisite in quality similar to the Senna's wines.
The two families would wind up uniting their houses into the Barsenna family, being bestowed the rights of nobility by the Silver King. The gods' blessings would ensure all products made by Barsennan scions would be of the best quality. As time went on, the production of wine was done to a greater degree than others and thus became better-remembered by those in the region.
Historical Basis
"Whatever was in that bottle was not like any wine I've ever had before."A Bit of Truth
Those who deal in curiosities have sometimes offered bottles of Parselian wine for sale, and in parts of Helenic they hold a high trade value which is useful. After all, it is easier to trade a bottle than a cart of gold bars. This means, also, there are plenty of bottles which are made to resemble Parselian wine - down to the label and sealing method. What has set the true Parselian vintages aside, however, is an unmistakable aura of magic which lingers around in the liquid. Some part of the process to make wine from the fruit seemed to imbue magic into the result, and the aging process had also intensified the magic within. Rather than turn to sour vinegar, these true bottles instead seem to convey an unusual (and unpredictable) range of effects on those who drink them.
Parselian wines were almost exclusively made by the Barsennia family, who would bottle their wines in blue-tinted glass and seal with an iron plug. Green wax was used, along with the family crest on top. With many records covering Parseil having been lost, hoaxes have been a common attempt with varying degrees of effort put in. The most commonly known true example of Parselian wine is a bottle kept by Kirtha Moonglow in Northrun, which she will show to the curious but never offers a price for purchasing. This is because she uses the bottle as a template to privately sell replicas to nobles who simply refuse to be told "no" about buying Parselian wine. Most high-quality fakes are thus the creation of Kirtha, and while many buyers have had suspicion after a few years there has been a greater benefit to avoiding admission of having been fooled.
Parselian wines were almost exclusively made by the Barsennia family, who would bottle their wines in blue-tinted glass and seal with an iron plug. Green wax was used, along with the family crest on top. With many records covering Parseil having been lost, hoaxes have been a common attempt with varying degrees of effort put in. The most commonly known true example of Parselian wine is a bottle kept by Kirtha Moonglow in Northrun, which she will show to the curious but never offers a price for purchasing. This is because she uses the bottle as a template to privately sell replicas to nobles who simply refuse to be told "no" about buying Parselian wine. Most high-quality fakes are thus the creation of Kirtha, and while many buyers have had suspicion after a few years there has been a greater benefit to avoiding admission of having been fooled.
Variations & Mutation
As with many stories, there are a number of permutations which have been found over time. The names of the families have changed, either being reversed or having other names substituted in. In older versions of the legend, the gods instead punish both families and they marry in order to make an offering of one spectacular offering, and remove the curse. More recent retellings use the names from the Rhyliss Pantheon in the place of other, older, deities. At least one version discovered instead makes the magic the doing of benevolent elves who gave special seeds to the families to start the vineyard. Other parts which have varied across tellings is whether the families (or even a singular family) was involved in only wines or other drinks as well. As with the elven-related version, sometimes wines only became a creation after special seeds were sown.
One of the more unusual versions told in the Broken Spine region involve the Knightly Order of Delos. In this one, the knights' Saint Delos was responsible for the blessing on the house of Barsennia in return for offering aid and shelter to his knights. Through this blessing, the field produced bountiful harvests and wine made from grapes grown in the field held mystical properties. And so House Barsennia became a stalwart ally to the knights until the destruction of the order, after which the family soon also fell into decline and disappeared.
One of the more unusual versions told in the Broken Spine region involve the Knightly Order of Delos. In this one, the knights' Saint Delos was responsible for the blessing on the house of Barsennia in return for offering aid and shelter to his knights. Through this blessing, the field produced bountiful harvests and wine made from grapes grown in the field held mystical properties. And so House Barsennia became a stalwart ally to the knights until the destruction of the order, after which the family soon also fell into decline and disappeared.
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