Tabaxo (Ta-bax-oh)
Tabaxo in its natural form appears as a perennial desert plant that can bloom during the spring and summer seasons with bright flowers. These plants can be found in many warm open areas across Aetha'Shar, but its highest densities and plantations reside within Ankh'hera and the Pridelands of the Tabaxi. It has been mistakenly likened to a cactus during wet seasons as it soaks moisture in its leaves and expands out, storing it, then appearing with thick fleshy leaves in rosette-form and grow taller than the average man (up to 6ft tall). In its dried form, it appears like a thick and pointy stalk with dried drooping leaves.
Tabaxo has been given its name as it is synonymous with the Tabaxi of old - one of its defining plants in Ankh'hera, and one of the oldest crops and fertility plants in their culture. It has garnered many names over history - the Cats Mint, the Desert Respite, the Swarmbane, the Sacred Smoke, the Breath of Fresh Joy.
MONOPOLIZATION OF TABAXO
Over 75% of Tabaxo is grown, dried and manufactured in Ankh'hera, supplying the world with its favourable blends of pipe smoke. Many Pride Lords have controlled these plantations to grow prosperous in its rich trade across Aetha'Shar and overseas into other continents such as southern Lorthal & western Vangolia. It has proven necessary for the Tabaxi of Ankh'hera to control the distribution and spread of Tabaxo due to its relaxing and overpowering aphrodisiac effects on its race - fearing that it can be turned into a deterrent against their forces or incite a public riot and hedonistic practices. This has led to much competition and even skirmishes against the Bronzimm Concord & Spice Isle Archipelago where the Goblins, Halflings and Tortle trade alliance of the Silver Lining League has grown its own blends to enjoy it for profitable, luxury and resourcefulness.Properties
Material Characteristics
A orangey-white plant. Hardy, upright, perennial herb with sturdy stems covered by very fine hairs. Tabaxo bears thicky fleshy rosette-shaped, yellow-green leaves that spring out in multiple layers - almost appearing like a cactus. These plants can grow up to 6 ft (1.8m) tall. When it rains, it transforms its dry barren stems and becomes plump with moisture, lush leaves appear.
Geology & Geography
Typically found within warm temperate and tropical environments - found in areas with temperatures warmer than 21 degrees Celsius. It prefers sandy and loamy soals, preferring well-drained soil. It does not like shade and grows best in open areas, hedgerows, waste ground, near streams and border areas of fields. The plant thrives in soil with a pH range between 5 and 7.5.
Life & Expiration
After it has been harvested as a herb, it loses its consistency after 3-5 weeks without proper storage or sealed in containers. Otherwise, once turned into its tobacco form, it never goes bad - some lasting in containers for longer than 50-60 years. Once opened, it will lose its freshness and flavour within 2 weeks. In oil form, it is long-lasting, so long as it is properly sealed.
History & Usage
History
Since the beginning of Tabaxi civilisation in Ankh'hera it has been a staple crop and product since people arrived in the area. For many years it was only used in ritualistic ceremonies and for personal consumption by the Tabaxi.
However, during the mythical ages of Ankh'heras rise - Tabaxo gained an illicit reputation as the fields became prominent and overgrown across the lands of Vashara, prior to its desertification, leading to a time of hedonistic pleasure and frivolous sexual indulgences between the Tabaxi. When darkness spread over one of the Sphinx guardians of Ankh'hera, it transformed into the hated figure of the Lamias, cannibalistic hedons that enchanted the Tabaxi into its fields and lust-filled cults in service and adoration towards dark demonic powers, such as the Dark Prince Graz'zt. During the war between the Gods, many fields of Tabaxo was burned and the minty mists sent lustful waves across the kingdom, causing a shocking series of orgies and bloody battles between the Tabaxi Prides. Ever since then, the growth of their sacred plant has been limited to ritualistic practices and for fertility ceremonies amongst the Tabaxi in the presence of priests, so as to avoid the potential calling of the Lamias and their demonic master.
Only when the Great Halfling Migration occurred during the 1st-2nd century, during the Century of Broken Magic, that it became popular outside of Ankh'hera by those that utilised it as a crop for smoking and recreational use. As Halflings sampled the crops and used it as a recreational smoking product for themselves, the Ankh'herans grew furious and accused them of stealing their sacred plant to invite demons back into the world. However, other humanoid races did not have the same reactions to the drug as the Tabaxi, but still was seen as a popular substance. The demands reached a height to which then Ankh'hera limited foreigners and outsiders from accessing it, making it into a controlled substance, and used it as a prominent trade resource and grew rich from its multiple plantations - however, this has led to competition between the Ankh'herans and the Spice Isle Archipelago where the Silver Lining League has utilised and grown its own varied blends with Halfling ingenuity and distinct flavourings as the plant adapted to the natural island areas and the Fey Isles that appeared after the Elven-Fey Diaspora of 221 PD.
Typically, trade of the substance is largely protected within the Pridelands and much efforts have been made to isolate the plantations and protect it from those that seek to make their own fortunes from the stock. The criminal organisation known as the Requisition has stolen and grown their own stocks, influencing the trade and taking money from the Ankh'heran government over the years as the group has smuggled and grown their own versions and blends out into the public. It is largely popular during the wet season, growing and blooming properly from the Vernal Restoration until the end of summer.
Discovery
Its discovery has been told as an old Ankh'heran myth and tied with the life-giving bounties of the river deltas of Ississa and Bijeaune - that the first Ankh'herans discovered the rivers and its rejuvenating waters by the winds carrying the minty smell of an abundant field and savannah of Tabaxo plants. Following the smell of the mint upon the winds, they discovered a field of barren lands and were thought to be a curse. Then, as the wet season came and rain poured into the lands, the stems of the plants grew to the size of trees and stood above the first Ankh'herans. Flies, termites and cockroaches were repelled by the smell and were driven from the lands, and all places around the rivers suddenly turned green and prosperous, blooming with brightly coloured plants. The name 'Tabaxo' is believed to be a shortened phrase of what the first Tabaxi claimed to call the plant, as "Tabaxi Home", as the smell of the minty plant had guided them to their homeland - and would forever guide them back home.
Everyday use
Young leaves can be eaten raw. The mint-like flavour adds an aromatic flavouring to salads. Older leaves can be used as a flavouring in cooked foods. Tabaxo leaves and flowers can be used fresh or dried to make a calming and relaxing herbal tea. Seeds and roots can also be used in cooking. Its properties have been used in herbal remedies for centuries. The plant can be consumed as a tisane, juice, tincture, infusion, or poultice. As an ornamental plant, it's grown to attract house cats and butterflies. The plant is drought-tolerant and deer-resistant and has been used as a repellent for certain insects due to it containing nepetalactone (depending on the concentrations within the area). Oils isolated from Tabaxo by steam distillation is a repellent against insects, particularly mosquitoes, cockroaches, termites and flies - thus can be rubbed on furs and clothing to act as a chemical coat that protects them against mosquito bites. It is mostly utilised as a popular recreational pipe-smoking product - most particularly for humanoids, it can act as an aphrodisiac and give a sense of joy. Tabaxi mostly use this as it has a potent effect on them - an addictive substance that gives a sense of relaxing calm but also increased libido and sexual drive.
Cultural Significance and Usage
For Ankh'herans it is a potent recreational drug and aphrodisiac - it is commonly used during wedding ceremonies for when the two partners copulate together for the first time, or for the purposes of aiding in one having a baby. However, it is a controlled drug. It has been used as a fertility drug, despite it having no effect in aiding fertility between Tabaxi, for generations.
In the cases of rituals, it is more for a celebration of a social event in adulthood and protection against evil, provided that is, that the herb has been dried and hung upside down, as it will not exude the repellant scent to pests and insects. Hanging a wreath of Tabaxo the right-side up is considered taboo, except in cases where disease has spread to an area and is an indication of evil presence or death. Funerals use these wreaths hung up on ceilings the right way up as a sign of a recent death.
Refinement
The material can be used in its found state for domestic and cooking uses, but depending on its age it can be used as a food additive, minty spice or salad.
But to create it into a tea, it must undergo steam distillation, with the leaves finely chopped and then added into a boiling pot or kettle of water and left to steep for 10mins - 1 hour.
For its use as an oil, the leaves and stems must be cut from the main plant during the growing season, put trimmings into a basket or container. Then washed to get rid of dirt or sand, let it dry to avoid infusions that may potentially explode - then soak in olive oil until the Tabaxo is barely submerged. Bake the container in an oven fire or stove pot, leaving it for 2-3 hours. Let it cool for an hour, or sit it overnight, giving it time to infuse. Strain the cooled oil into a mason jar, store it in a cool dark place for up to 2 years. For essential oil, it requires a steam distilling apparatus - scoops the oil from the water, keeps it in a glass vial and store it in a cool dark place for up to 5-6 years.
For its use as a recreational smoking product, when leaves reach at least 5 inches (12.7cm) must be cut at the base, secured together by threads and hung upside down to dry in dark areas - wait for 4-8 weeks and then seeded and pruned before being utilised as a smoking leaf. Usually, once properly dried it is cut and compacted in parcels, palm leaves or paper wraps.
Manufacturing & Products
Tabaxo can be used to make and produce:
Smoking, edible and snuffing tobacco. Essential Oil. Cooking oil. Food additive. Salad. Consumable young or old leaves. Aromatic herb. Insect repellant. Perfume.
Hazards
As Tabaxo is grown in dry acres or fields with drained soil, it is prone to the potential of wildfires if lightning strikes the area - consuming the region in the fire. Also, it invites natural feline predators that are attracted to the plantations such as wild lions, jaguars, cheetahs, lynxes - but also the deadly displacer beast. Due to its selective repellant, it repels flies, cockroaches and termites, but it does not repel other insects such as beetles, scorpions or spiders, and thus they hide within the plants and can attack plantation workers leaving them poisoned by its deadly stingers or bites.
For Tabaxi harvesters, it has an adverse effect due to long-term exposure within close proximity of the fields. It raises their libido but also makes them reach a sensual state of nirvana - the most serious cases lead to unconscious states of seeking sexual partners or indecent public displays; and thus proper equipment must be taken and cleaning baths to remove the scent from the furs.
Environmental Impact
While not considered hazardous to most humanoids, the Tabaxi are directly influenced by these plants and harvesting them in the plantations has the effect of raising their libido and state of relaxation to high proportions - thus it is typically grown outside of urban areas and around the Pridelands. However, due to its nature of repelling flies and insects, it has both positive and negative effects upon the wildlife. It has a positive effect of allowing overgrowth of vegetation and the restoration of plantlife in areas in which Tabaxo is grown, as it repels natural insects that consume leafs and otherwise - but this has the adverse effect of inviting weeds and pest-plants to grow in place and take hold within areas without natural predatory herbivores to consume it. Due to the repelling of insects, it displaces groups of insect-eating birds, allowing other insects such as spiders and scorpions to swarm within these plantations unhindered. Not only this, it attracts predators such as lions, jaguars, lynxes into these areas - due to the nature of its feline-appealing pheromone and relaxing chemical. As the plants grow, the root systems also invade into other plantlifes spaces and drain the soil of moisture, leaving it barren and harder to grow other plantlife in its place.
Distribution
Trade & Market
The items can be sold in most markets within Aetha'Shar, most particularly in Aetha'Shar. Merchants and traders who are licensed to sell within Ankh'hera can distribute it as a luxury or staple compound in tobacco or herb form.
Storage
Often stored as a herb within cool dark places in baskets, barrels, wreaths, tied bouquets. As an oil, spice, additive it is contained within mason jars.
Law & Regulation
As a herb or plant, it is not illegal, but refinement and distribution as a smoking leaf is a controlled substance within Aetha'Shar. Anyone intending to grow this in large stock (in an acre) without proper licensing or permission from the local lord can face fines of up to 10-500gp. Anyone caught holding it in its recreational form without having purchased from a licensed trader or merchant can be expected to be fined 25gp. Anyone caught with the intention of distributing it or selling it without being a member of the Tabaxo Guild, or licensed under the agreed Tabaxo Distribution Statute can be fined up to 100-1000gp depending on the amount in possession or intention of distribution to minors, with punishments as serious as facing jail or even having a finger cut off.
Type
Organic
Value
Herb - 1lb of Tabaxo = 2cp. Tobacco - 1 lb. of Tabaxo = 1gp.
Rarity
Common
Odor
Herb: Minty and crisp -- Tobacco: Minty menthol.
Taste
Herb: Bittersweet, like minty-lemon grass. -- Tobacco: Dry and bitter, citrusy and like lavender.
Color
Herb: Orangey-white -- Tobacco: Orangey-yellow.
Common State
Growing in the wild in temperate or tropical regions, in open spaces, drained-soil or besides streams.
Related Locations
Related Species
Related Professions
