Vulgromiis

Overview

The Vulgromiis is a dark and enigmatic plant found on Ûblai. Revered for its ability to suppress the Curse of the High Valorèin, the Vulgromiis is both a vital resource and a source of ethical and practical dilemmas for the Valorèin. Its true nature kept in secret. Despite its foul appearance and odor, it has become an indispensable tool for those battling rampancy.

Description

The Vulgromiis is a small, unassuming plant that grows rapidly under suitable conditions. However, its appearance and smell make it repugnant to most:

• Height: Approximately one foot tall.
• Coloration: A dark green stalk with spiny, sticky, and oily gray-green leaves.
• Odor: Emits a stench akin to decomposing flesh, making it unbearable for species with heightened senses like the Valorèin.

Vulgromiis is typically cultivated far from other plants due to its overwhelming smell and aggressive growth rate.

Preparation and Consumption

The preparation of Vulgromiis for medicinal use is a meticulous and unpleasant process: 1. The leaves are harvested and placed in a mortar. 2. Moisture is removed by hand, often using psionic manipulation. 3. The dried leaves are ground into a fine powder and placed in tea sacks. 4. When brewed, the powder produces a putrid, oily black liquid known as Vulgromiis Tea.

Valorèin typically consume the tea in five-ounce "shots," but the vile taste and smell often lead to severe nausea, even for seasoned warriors like Merik Teslek.

Effects

Vulgromiis Tea is a potent drug with both life-saving and detrimental effects:

• Curse Suppression: Temporarily halts the progression of the Curse of the High Valorèin, allowing users to consume normal food and suppressing their bloodlust.
• Dependency: Prolonged use creates an intense physical and psychological dependency. Ceasing consumption renders users unable to digest barreled blood, requiring fresh blood directly from a Free Species.
• Psychoactive Effects: Users often report a mix of side effects:
  • Delusions of grandeur or extreme self-confidence.
  • Increased appetite for both blood and solid food ("munchies").
  • Periods of depression or paranoia, particularly concerning their relationships and mortality.

These effects make the drug both a blessing and a curse, offering temporary relief while exacerbating long-term challenges.

Cultural and Ethical Considerations

Vulgromiis is shrouded in secrecy among the Valorèin:

• Secrecy Among Alchemists: Knowledge of the plant is closely guarded by alchemists like Voliina Altara, who fear its widespread misuse, particularly among young Valorèin seeking to avoid the curse's effects without bonding.
• Illicit Drug Perception: While technically legal in the Ten Valorèin Kingdoms, Vulgromiis is considered taboo due to its psychoactive effects on Tèrans and its dependency risks.

Alchemists like Voliina Altara provide Vulgromiis Tea only under strict circumstances, emphasizing its use as a last resort rather than a cure.

Role in the Story

Vulgromiis plays a pivotal role in the lives of Merik Teslek and Princess Mèra Ûrlek:

• After struggling with the effects of the curse, the pair turn to Vulgromiis Tea as a temporary solution to suppress their symptoms. However, the vile nature of the drug and its dependency risks introduce further complications into their already precarious situation.
• Merik, hardened by his experiences in war, tolerates the tea’s effects, while Mèra struggles with severe nausea and emotional turmoil. Despite its life-saving properties, the drug exacerbates Mèra's fears about their future, heightening the tension in their relationship.
• The psychological effects of Vulgromiis push both Merik and Mèra to confront their mortality and the fragility of their bond. It symbolizes the desperate lengths they must go to in order to survive, even as it forces them to grapple with difficult ethical questions.