Giant's Bile
A substance in daily Isturian life known for its powerful, pungent smell is a fossilized resin called Giant's Bile. The endless peaks and valleys of the Ironstone Mountains are comprised of not just stone, but also the fossilized remnants of colossal, ancient creatures that once burrowed through the rocky crust.
Over eons, a viscous, yellowish fluid within these creatures' immense bodies petrified, creating amber-like pockets within the rock. This substance, now called Giant's Bile, has a powerfully acrid, stomach-churning smell. It's a combination of sour, bitter decay and a sharp, metallic odor that assaults the senses. Isturians believe it's the last, fossilized remnants of the creatures' digestive fluids, hence the name.
The substance is not easy to find. It is only exposed when parts of the fossilized giants' bodies are fractured by the harsh mountain weather or extreme geological activity, revealing small, glinting pockets of the amber-like material. The pungent smell is a key indicator of its presence, and experienced miners and prospectors learn to follow the scent on the wind to locate new deposits.
History & Usage
Everyday use
Giant's Bile is an invaluable resource for Isturian people and has a high price. Primarily, it is a natural adhesive. When heated, the fossilized resin melts into a sticky, foul-smelling glue that is incredibly strong. It is used to mend broken tools, fasten spearheads to shafts, and repair cracked pottery. The smell, however, never fully fades, making these repaired items instantly recognizable.
The fossilized resin can also be ground into a fine powder and mixed with water to create a viscous paste. When applied to the tips of hunting arrows or spears, the pungent odor and bitter taste of the substance are enough to make a hunted animal sick, weakening it and making it easier to track and capture. The primitive poison also works on the blades of soldiers and assassins.
In some of the deeper, more treacherous caves of Isturoth, the scent of Giant's Bile is a suffocating presence. Isturians have learned that in these places, the constant fumes from the resin can ward off the most dangerous cave-dwelling predators, which seem to find the smell intolerable. A small pouch of the ground resin is often carried by those who must venture deep into these dangerous caverns, a small, stinking shield against the darkness.
Type
Biomaterial
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