Mel'i

Mel'i (T'au: proper noun) is a sweet condiment high in short-chain carbohydrates refined from the excretions of the Dumbledor (or Hummerhorn), a xenos insect native to T'au space. The center of production is the city of Malat'ya. It is calorificly-dense and has a complex taste which varies depending on which flora the insects have ingested. Humans find the taste pleasant, but T'au have an almost-addictive response to consumption. Additionally, Dumbledor venom contains peptides which denature globin proteins, but attack coboglobin (the cobolt-based oxygen-bearing compound in T'au blood) by several orders of magnitude compared to hemoglobin. This means that a sting from a Dumbledor is painful to a human but invariably fatal to a T'au. These two factors create a high demand for Mel'i among the T'au which can only be met by human industry. Some T'au have advocated for farming of Dumbledors by Earth Caste T'au wearing modified battlesuits, but other factions have opposed this - citing the risk posed by the deadly insects or even the pernicious influence of the quasi-addictive substance on T'au society. Because of this Mel'i is banned in certain areas of T'au space; much of the trade in Mel'i is therefore on the black market, carried out by unlicensed traders and unregulated and untaxed by the T'au.

Properties

Origin & Source

The xenos-insect species Dumbledors (or Hummerhorns) produce Mel'i through partial-digestion and regurgitation of floral nectar. It is stored within their hives and used as a food source.

History & Usage

History

Morphia with harvested mel'i

The T'au have eaten Mel'i for longer than their recorded history and gathered it from hives of wild Dumbledors during the hunter-gatherer phase of their civilization. The calorific value of Mel'i combined with its slightly-addictive properties made it an appealing foodstuff and great risks were taken to acquire it. As the T'au civilization advanced in sophistication attempts to semidomesticate the Dumbledors were made but the ferocity of the highly-venomous insects make such efforts dangerous and ultimately futile. Because of these dangers and the addictive nature of Mel'i on T'au physiology the Ethereals discouraged the consumption of Mel'i, but were never successful in eradicating its use.
When Rogue Traders and other humans crossed the Damocles Gulf they encountered Dumbledor hives and sampled the Mel'i within. Wary of the xenos insects, they were nevertheless at less risk because the venom was painful but not fatal. In addition while they found Mel'i very palatable and valuable it was not addictive to their physiology. Semidomestication of Dumbledors and harvesting and refining of Mel'i swiftly followed.
When the T'au encountered the humans during the First Sphere Expansion they traded for mel'i with them with the center of production being the settlement of Malat'ya. Harvesting was a cottage industry and production was deliberately kept low in order to avoid antagonizing the T'au. This changed after the Damocles Gulf Crusade when Morphia and Baudouin d'Châtillon began industrialized manufacture of mel'i in the city of Nouveau Châtillon and began to export it throughout T'au space.
The organized distribution of a quasi-narcotic threatened the Greater Good and the Ethereals could not permit it. They assaulted Nouveau Châtillon and destroyed the refineries. The production of mel'i was disrupted and never recovered; today it remains a cottage industry shipped via the black market once again centered on Malat'ya.

Everyday use

Ingested by humans and T'au as a condiment or cooking ingredient.

Hazards

While pleasant tasting to both humans and T'au, Mel'i is slightly addictive to T'au. Dumbledors (the insects which produce raw mel'i) have a venomous sting painful to humans and dangerous to T'au.

Type

Organic

Taste

Sweet, with a complex taste that varies depending on what flora the Dumbledors have eaten.

Color

Golden yellow, ranging from clear to cloudy.

Related Locations

• Malat'ya
• Nouveau Châtillon
• Ka'dheshe'a