Nova

For every businessman who just needs that little extra edge, there's Nova. Every would-be business tycoon of the future is constantly seeking a way to be faster, smarter, and better focused, and Nova is the drug of choice to facilitate that. While no one in the inner circle of high-class and powerful business people would admit to it, a shockingly large proportion does take Nova, especially when deadlines and pressure loom. Such is its draw and potential. While Twist can lead to some nasty visible side effects that would not do in polite company, Nova is far more discreet in its long-term effects, at least until just before the end.

"Poor chap looks to have run out of money for the Nova; now he's little more than stardust..." - Green Cloak Constable at the scene of a Nova explosion

Appearance

Nova takes on the appearance of a beautiful dark blue starry night sky in its bottles, shimmering and shining, constantly moving in slow arcs as if the alchemist had captured the summer night sky in a bottle. Most are packaged discreetly and often among other bottles of a more acceptable nature, all bearing the same seal of the Collegiate Arcanum as they are the only known producers of the concoction.

Administration

Nova is a partially magical alchemical concoction, and as such, it administers itself to the person who opens the bottle. The moment the seal is broken and the cork popped, the contents of the bottle immediately seek out the opener, turning from liquid to gas in moments and entering the body of the recipient through the eyes, ears, mouth, and nose in a display that can be truly frightening for those not used to such things.

Primary Effects

Nova is used in much the same way as Twist to enhance the mental and physical capacities of those that take it for a time. During the period of its effectiveness, users will experience vastly increased cognitive function, enhanced reflexes, and far greater perception. In addition, they will find it easier to run for long distances, and they will cease to grow tired after strenuous activity.

Side Effects

Nova has two main side effects that users need to be made aware of:

1. Decreased Appetite - A user of Nova can forget to eat, becoming incapable of remembering that they are hungry. In the short term, this is not an issue; however, long-term usage is likely to run into issues of starvation.
2. Blue Eyes - The user's eye color will shift to blue for a few moments after initial ingestion. This will cease after a few moments in the first uses but will soon become permanent after long-term use and at some point will even shift the whites (if you have them) to blue as well.

Long Term Effect

Aside from the blue eyes, Nova has no other long-term side effects.

Withdrawal

This is where Nova becomes less appealing. Once a person takes Nova for a long enough period, they must continue to take Nova until they die. If they fail to miss a dose or try to take themselves off of Nova, the sudden aetherical disparity from where they are to their normal baseline will rupture them in a swirling explosion of blue light. Despite this obvious danger, many still take Nova as the increase in productivity and ability to compete at the highest levels are seen as too great a draw for those looking to claw themselves out of the bottom of Arbor.

Creation

The Collegiate Arcanum is the only one who knows how Nova is created, and despite attempts by other companies to secure or reverse-engineer the recipe, none have been successful so far. All that is known is the lab where it originates from comes from far below the College itself but seems to have direct access to the sky above—a very strange occurrence.

Components

Unknown at this time.

Item type

Drug / Narcotic / Medicine