Riangh

The Divine Blossom of South Tyril

  The Riangh flower, sacred to the Priestesses of the Kah faith in Kahrilo, is an enigma wrapped in beauty, mysticism, and the harsh realities of a sprawling trade network. With male and female components in a single flower, it is seen as a divine symbol of unity and independence. Its parthenogenic qualities, allowing it to reproduce without fertilization, further amplify this mystique. Yet, behind the divine aura lies the tantalizing allure of the Riangh's hallucinogenic properties, a quality instrumental to its central role in the Kah's religious ceremonies.   Riangh thrives in the lush, verdant jungles of South Tyril, currently the territories of the Uvan Empire and South Beribon. Here, the native Akai̯de and Ongaul tribes have been cultivating the flower for millennia. Despite their simple tribal lifestyle and relatively low technology, they have an innate understanding of the flower's needs and the delicate balance required to maintain its growth. However, this tribal expertise hasn't saved them from exploitation. The powerful Sotih and Deri, lords of the Beribon, have established a coercive trade, compelling the natives to yield half their Riangh harvest for export.   The flower's destiny lies primarily in two distant lands. The first half goes to the Priestesses of Kahrilo, who continue a tradition nearly three thousand years old. They grind the flower, combined with secret compounds, into a potent incense, inhaling it in sacred rituals to commune with the divine essence of language.   The remaining portion of the harvest is destined for the noble lords of Rela, who crave Riangh as an exotic spice. When the Uvan Empire expanded its borders, it cautiously negotiated with the Priestesses of Kahrilo, ensuring the continued supply of Riangh to their sacred rituals. The empire agreed to grind only the plant's 'useless' stalk for trade, leaving the potent male and female components intact for the Priestesses. Although some Priestesses were skeptical, the majority agreed to this arrangement, swayed by visions of immense profits.   This decision, however lucrative, would not be without repercussions. Some believe that in their greed, the Priestesses bartered the soul of Kahrilo for material wealth. Additionally, the pipeline supplying Riangh from South Tyril to Kahrilo and Rela has faced threats from the Hex, a nefarious group of dark mages rumored to operate through the Aihoe Trading Company in Masatoyahi.   Through its journey from the humid jungles of South Tyril to the incense burners of Kahrilo and the spice cellars of Rela, Riangh remains more than just a flower. It's a symbol of faith, a source of hallucinogenic revelation, and a commodity in a vast, morally complex trade network, etching its indelible mark on the cultures and economies it touches.