Riltraga

“Yeah, it’s the real deal - stinks right and everything. Crow’s got a supplier who’s got the whole process in house. You ever want to know what the Old World was like, he’ll hook you up.”

— Garen Dryson of the Slate Scarrs

Life in the crumbling remains of the megacities provides many opportunities for the bold and brave. One such opportunity made its way into modern times through the hands of a small band of Scrounger who found and looted old knowledge that was perhaps best left forgotten. Their discoveries brought a physically addictive substance to the forefront of civilization, which is utilized for what many regularly regard as the greatest pursuit of all- recreation.

Riltraga is the technical name belonging to a collection of drugs created using information and processes from the Old World. These substances are typically ingested, smoked, or injected to give the user subjectively pleasurable psychoactive effects.

Origins in Modern Eryia

In PJ 1997 scroungers belonging to the “Slate Scarrs” warband secured some territory in the Capital after a long and difficult turf war with their neighbors, the “Ironwoods”. Within the first two months, they managed to find the remains of the now-defunct Headquarters of the Department of Patents and Intellectual Property (DPIP). While no direct goods were salvaged from the trip (allegedly), a set of bound documents labeled “Riltraga” was found, and one individual, Renault Jackson had enough residual knowledge from his family and village to read and interpret the designs. Apparently, in the Old World, information, like material goods, could be owned, and the DPIP is a catalogue of such owned information. It is believed that “Riltraga” is either an individual or a group that was gifted in the field of substance manipulation far beyond our current means. With much difficulty, Renault was able to replicate the process of creating one such substance within the records, and the result was remarkable. Individuals who imbibed the powder, either loosely or in the form of a compressed pill would experience extreme euphoria and befuddlement for several hours. While the concept of inebriation is not new to humans, the raw, unadulterated potency of “Riltraga” has begun a new age of drugs among the megacities, the popularity of which has only been growing in recent years.

Forms and Addictive Effects

At the time of writing, Riltraga is the slang name for one of almost a half-dozen substances produced primarily by the Slate Scarrs, but now, due to the acquisition of the information on how to manufacture Riltraga, by competing warbands. These competing products have various forms, potency and effects. Just a few of the following are known variations and their effects:

• A grainy, violet crystal vaguely the width of a fingernail. When burned, the fumes are inhaled, it produces a sensation of peace and calm.
• An off-white, ultrafine powder. When ingested (either swallowed in its loose form, or when compressed into a pill and swallowed) the user reports a cessation of pain, both acute and chronic, for a period of (on average) 8 hours. This does not appear to be addictive except in those who have chronic pain, although bleeding in the bowls and even death can happen to those who use daily over long periods.
• A sharp semi-transparent collection of emerald slivers, each no longer than ¼” long. When boiled in an enclosed space, users who inhale the vapors report a euphoric, overwhelming joy, and improvement to their outlook and general demeanor. "Emerald tears" as they are called is extremely addictive and severe antisocial behaviors and self neglect resulting in death is common among unsupervised users. It is therefore not recommended except for end of life care.
• An opaque pink semi-liquid with a thick sticky residue. When swallowed, the user enters either a fully or partially comatose state in which they experience what they describe as “a waking dream” that they can fully recount upon waking. This substance is addictive if used for extended periods. Shortness of breath and heart problems can be experienced by users of this drug.

All Riltraga produced by the Slate Scarrs is reputed to have the same distinctive odor, pungent and somehow ‘as sharp and smooth as glass’ according to all accounts, regardless as to the particular type of Riltraga they came in contact with. Indeed, one of the main ways of detecting counterfeit Riltraga among the actively-using population is to demand to smell the product in question before purchase. This odor is likely intentionally introduced to the drug in order to allow customers to authenticate the drugs as being "pure" and "full strength".

Impacts

For Users

Outcomes for users of these substances can be quite favorable, but there can also be negative effects including sickness and even death from long term use, or even from deviating from the recommendations of the sellers. These negative effects can include digestive upsets racing heart, illness, bleeding, fatigue, pain, wasting, and a host of other problems. The Slate Scarrs and other tribes are blunt when users buy their product - they provide the instructions and inform them of the identified "side effects". Any risks or consequences of using the substances are on the buyer.

Although these substances can be helpful to many in coping with the hardships of life, there is a tendency for users to become obsessed with getting more Riltraga or seeing it as the solution to every problem. This can lead to extreme poverty when all available resources are spent , criminal activity, self neglect, and death even when "side effects" are not present.

For the Slate Scarrs

Due to its recent emergence and availability in bulk, Riltraga use has escalated, and as a result, the Slate Scarrs are the single wealthiest independent warband in Eryia. They control a region twelve times larger than they did when they first discovered the processes for creating Riltraga.

The warband has evolved by the necessity of having to protect their assets and the ability to manufacture and distribute Riltraga into a full competent military and governmental structure. The leader of the Slate Scarrs, Desmond Slate, is a well known and feared political power in Eryia. He governs the Slate Scarrs in rough and ready fashion and maintains a high degree of control over his governed areas. Renault Jackson is a highly valued researcher and member of the Slate Scarrs. He spends most of his waking time puzzling through DPIP documents and inventing manufacturing processes to replicate the drugs he finds. Both men are protected at all times as they are considered to be extremely valuable assets.

For Society

The societal impacts of Riltraga are mixed. When the regional warlord leadership first understood the economic impact that Riltraga could have, wars broke out as competing warlords attempted to wrest control of the discovery away from the Slate Scarrs. This continues at a lower level even today, though the dust seems to have settled with the Slate Scarrs in control. The growth through conquest and purchasing and treaty of the Slate Scarrs territory has extended their political reach enormously acting as a stabilizing influence in the region.

On a micro-local level however, there is no question that the introduction of Riltraga has increased the rate of petty crime including pick-pocketing, stealing, robbery, and mugging as scroungers look for opportunities to feed their Riltraga habits.