A Griot's Guide to a Caripreet Summer
No need to make yer summer boring!
Statement of Intent
Every Cardinal Merchant to be must partake in a Caripreet Summer: it's tradition! As you travel your circle around the civilized world, it would be foolish to stay out of the loop. If you were to partake in political discourse, you wouldn't enter blind to the desires of your contemporaries, so why enter their bars without knowing the drinks? Not knowing the region makes you look a fool, and if you ask for a spirit in Urrlógun, the best you'll get is a banshee, so educate yourself with the Griot's Guide before your journey.
Stop 1, Authen Tur: Griot Malog's Experience
Authen Tur, renowned for its unique capture of strict gnomish culture, is incapable of growing most crops because o' the waterlogged soil. Luckily, where there's a will there's a way (will, in this case, bein' humans), and the robust bee population on the island has made way for some o' the best mead this side o' the continent. Much like the majority of the Nadlewood Strip, mead is the go-to amongst the gnomes. While there're sure to be plenty of geopolitical reasons, all I've heard is that it's easier to trick bees with a spell than plants. Not sure it's true, but if'n I go there again, I won't be complainin'.
Unlike other marshy islands, like that West Kiertorata in the Corkend, there ain't no tropical trees to make do, so flowers are the best they get, but it means your quality is gonna depend on the time o' year, given the temperate region. While most of these islands'll make spirits because of their low quantity o' exports, the gnome's make their product quick as can be, meanin' it's generally low concentration unless they've stored it for the winter.
Unlike their neighbors in Caripreet, who prefer a local vineyard and fancy wines, the gnomes just ain't got the space for such a expense. Quality over Quantity, all that (More money for less, we say in the trade).
Stop 2, Urrlógun: Griot Yskir's Experience
Hear me when I express shock... nay, pure befuddlement at the beverages in Urrlógun. Out of politeness, I drank the dank beer that citizens across Eldurgrund have grown accustomed to in their rations, but hear me when I say the beer is far and beyond the best alcoholic drink you'll find in Urrlógun. Unlike the fine malt whiskeys in central and Eastern Eldurgrund (or my preferred spirit of rye in Fjordstrond), the upper-class of this land drink a vile concoction they call "kumis." Sour, cheesy, and scarcely capable of inducing intoxication, I can only assume that drink's consumption is an annual joke the locals enforce upon me. Unfortunately, nothing of spirit concentration or quality pierces the borders of Urrlógun, so I recommend storing your own for the journey. However, should you be forced to drink their rotten milk, I recommend a "Lyslure Kumis." A specialty drink amongst the proper taverns, you simply pour the salty-sweet bowl of Lyslure jelly into the kumis before consumption. You should want the mix to leave the drink purple, not pink, so add more accordingly as you mix.
Stop 3, Kala: Griot Ri Purat's Experience
Us j'barri have reservations about alcohol. Generally, it's no good to keep around and it wastes the mind, but with so many humans in town, I figured why not capitalize? Kala is capable enough of producing wine from our jackleberries, but humans tend not to prefer things with such taste. Instead, we sell them their own goods. After they lost their maize to blight, we revived preserved seeds behind our own walls. Our shit soils aren't good for much else, and the humans adore it. thanks to all the travelers, bourbon is our best-selling alcohol, but a good J'barri always sticks to the wines. If you elect to add some class to your drink, a tavern is the place to avoid. Try our coffeehouses and order a Ferrehet's Jest. Coffee and bourbon's all it'll take to get you to relax without the drowsiness. If you're j'barri or elvish, take place in some discourse! If you're human... start another barfight. When the Rojans aren't breaking their backs transporting metals, they may bring down some vodka. Shit drink, but it gets the job done.
Stop 4, Poueir: Griot Evaya Reliner's Experience
Drinkers may find themselves in a bad way when visiting Poueir. I know as much as anyone that elves despise alcohol, but Poueir is relatively liberal with their legislation on alcoholic beverages (for easterners). In 1902 NG, they removed their ban on ale! While most other forms of alcohol or poppy teas remain banned, an alcohol-obsessed traveler can manage for a few days. Most of the products in the port nation may be imported, but farmers along the river to Ghei Wyl have begun growing hops and barley, due to our cousins ban removal as well. Most of what you get here is dark and works slower on the humans than the local population. Still, elves do their work proper, and every brew we've produced has been well-reviewed. Still, I prefer a good tea or coffee.
Stop 5, Silse Colonies: Griot Abdul's Experience
Can't say I've ever agreed with the invasions out west, but humans have a hankering for soiling any pie on the table. While we're out there though, it's courtesy to stop by our brothers' and help the morale. They mostly stick to their ale; same brew as they got up in Eldurgrund, bought and paid for by the Cardinal Merchants. The taste isn't much worth speaking of, but it keeps your fluids clean. Anyhow, the interesting work comes down south at the river delta. Couple of independent elves have started brewing up rice wine out of the brackish areas and selling it to any soldiers looking to forget their woes. The drinks are solid, though I prefer the flavored ones myself. Should you be in the area, nothing wrong with mixing in some strawberry flavor or somethin' a little more tropical.
Stop 6, Anomae: Griot Charlemagne's Experience
While I understand that this excursion is for political discourse, I can't help but be remiss whenever we enter Anomae. With such fertile land in every direction and perfect capability, it's a waste for the elves to never touch alcohol. Such a restrictive ban makes little sense to me, as any one individual could elect whether or not they wanted the risk of its effects.
The visits here are long and cold if you've already spent the last several months drinking day to day. I would say to store some alcohol on your person, but our interactions with the elves are already on thin ice as it is. I suppose you should simply enjoy the nature around you, as the locals do.
Stop 7, Vhan Kath: Griot Imatiri's Experience
I can't say I've ever been a fan of Mot D'nir. Since the very day they were brought into our great Augury, all we've heard is complaints. We should be the ones complaining about those drinks they make. For one, it's one of the few places that makes rice wine if you don't want to walk through a battlefield, but their methods are vile. They can't naturally ferment the rice, so they gotta chew it. They got Tara-Jhen they pay for the sole purpose of chewin' the cud!
Now I ain't one to complain without trying, and I'll tell you that it was far from what you'll taste in the colonies. I recommend you try it in small concentration to get your own opinions, but you should know well what it oughta feel like going down. While it doesn't help the taste, you can try one of their specialty drinks called a "Pole Popper." Nothin' but a bit of rice wine, thin mucilage, and a bunch of tadpoles (some invasive species control or what have you).
*All art generated by smokingbat7906 in Midjourney*
*All maps created by smokingbat7906 in Inkarnate*
This is super cool! I have a tradition very similar to it in my world!
Take a look at my Institutions of Learning challenge article.
Learn about the World of Wizard's Peak and check out my award winning article about the Ghost Boy of Kirinal!