Strip Jerky

In the blistering, unforgiving world of Ashrain, food sources are scarce and uncommon. Meat is even less so, and as such sources of protein are vital to human survival. As such, it is common for survivors who encounter viable sources of protein to dry them over fire in order to preserve them for future consumption. The practice of making jerky from virtually any scavenged meat source is ubiquitous throughout Ashrain, and survivors have found ways to successfully dehydrate the meat from a variety of sources, including coyotes, birds, ash lice, and (chillingly, as in the case of gangs such as the Carvers) other survivors. Jerky is a commonly traded item at survivor outposts and settlements, where butchers and hunters peddle their wares in exchange for water, supplies, or other survival resources. Because it can be preserved for many days and weighs little, it is ideal for carrying over distances and is a chief commodity among wanderers, travelers, and nomadic groups such as the Yellowstone Nomads, who make and store huge quantities of dehydrated meat in their wagons.
Since 'beef' as in the case of 'beef jerky' no longer exists, cows having gone virtually extinct as a consequence of the Great Cataclysm, the term 'beef jerky' is not normally used to refer to such dehydrated meats. Instead, given that survivors scavenge meat from carcasses and kills, the term 'strip jerky' caught on, since survivors will strip virtually every scrap of edible meat from carcasses to be used as jerky. Anything that can be dehydrated and roasted is consumed, from flesh and muscle to organ tissues.

Item type

Consumable, Food / Drink

Rarity

Common