Dream Fruit

The Dream Fruit is a giant magical fruit that grows on The Great Tree in Arbor. It has a unique appearance, resembling a large two-chamber gourd with a dark green exterior that changes to yellow and then red when it is fully ripe. When it falls from the tree, it releases a blast of air from the lower chamber to ensure a safe landing. The flesh inside the outer shell is almost white and has a unique smell that can vary from person to person, sometimes resembling the scent of home-baked cookies or a favorite meal. When consumed, even a small bite of the fruit can make a person feel full and satiated, and those who regularly eat the fruit are said to become more hearty and hale.

"I don't mind working hard, but it's hard to make ends meet when I can barely afford to feed my family. The Dream Fruit is supposed to be this magical, nourishing thing, but I can only afford the thinned-down version. It's still better than nothing, but it's not the same. I wish I could taste the real thing, just once. Maybe if I had a better job, I could afford it." - Mary, Weaver

Appearance

The Dream Fruit from the Great Tree of Arbor is a large, two-chamber gourd that hangs from a single branch on the tree. It has a dark green exterior that changes to yellow and then red when it is fully ripe and ready to drop or be collected. When it falls from the tree, it releases a blast of air from the lower chamber to ensure a safe landing. Once deflated, the Dream Fruit looks like a large red peach. The flesh inside the outer shell is almost white and has a unique smell that can vary from person to person, sometimes resembling the scent of home-baked cookies or a favorite meal. In rare cases, there is a small seed at the center of the fruit. The fruit vary in size though most often they have a cicumfrance of 16-20 feet with a total length of between 20-28 feet tall. The total weight of each fruit is well in excess of 7 tons.

History

As the city of Arbor grew and became more industrialized, the Dream Fruit from the Great Tree became an increasingly important resource. The fruit's unique appearance, magical properties, and role as a food source made it highly valued by the citizens of the city. In order to ensure that the fruit was collected and distributed efficiently, a group called The Gatherers was established.
The Gatherers were responsible for collecting the Dream Fruit as it fell from the tree, as well as for storing and distributing it as needed. They worked closely with the Silver Council, which oversaw the distribution of the fruit and ensured that it was fairly allocated among the citizens of Arbor.
However, as the city became more industrialized and resembling a Victorian London-sized city, the demand for Dream Fruit increased, and the The Silver Council began to limit access to the fruit and implemented a tax on Dream Fruit, their initial justification was to begin to pay for things like the walls roads and city services such as The Green Cloaks how much ends up in the coffers of the ruling class is anyone's guess though. This sparked controversy and resentment among those who were unable to afford the tax, as they were denied access to a vital resource that was considered essential for good health and well-being.
For the working classes, who lived paycheck to paycheck, the cost of the Dream Fruit tax was often too high. As a result, they were forced to rely on thinned-down versions of the fruit, which was still nourishing but far less tasty. Despite these challenges, the Gatherers and the Silver Council continued to work together to ensure that the Dream Fruit was collected, stored, and distributed efficiently, providing the taxed citizens of Arbor with the benefits of this magical resource.

Discovery

The Dream Fruit was one of the first things discovered about the Great Tree when the First Ones arrived in Arbor. They were initially terrified of being crushed by the falling fruit, but quickly realized that it was a nearly limitless source of food. In fact, there are no recorded instances of anyone going into the tree to pick the fruit - it has always been there when the people have needed it, leading some to believe that the tree itself willed the fruit to the population to help feed them in those early years.

Usage

The Dream Fruit is a highly valued and sought-after food source in Arbor, due to its magical properties. When consumed, even a small bite of the fruit can make a person feel full and satiated. In addition, those who regularly eat the fruit are said to become more hearty and hale, enjoying greater health and vitality.
The peel itself can be used to make a material known as Dream Leather which is a substitute for leather items that exist outside of Arbor.

Harvest Quantity

While technically the fruits are not harvested they simply drop on to the city below where the Gatherers collect them the total quantity of fruit per year is measured in tons of edible fruit which is on average 39,055 tons of fruit dropped per year. This averages out to about 15 fruit drops per day all year round.

Hazards

There are no known hazards associated with the consumption of Dream Fruit.

Lifespan

It is unclear how long the Dream Fruit remains fresh and edible after being picked or falling from the tree. However, given its magical properties and the fact that it has been a reliable food source for the people of Arbor for many years, it is likely that the fruit has a longer shelf life than ordinary fruit.

Rarity

Common

Odor

Whatever the eater wants most

Taste

Whatever the eater wants most

Color

Bright Red when ready to eat