Pearl Jam

The large, silk-producing worms (called Rilworm by the rustic peoples of Pax) are, in fact, a natural wonder of Tellus! They are detailed in this excerpt from Prof. Chase Tailbottom's eponymous (and ponderous) work entitled ' On The Origin of Inferior Species' ¹. Dwarves find top-sider customs, ways, and means to be uncouth and barbaric.

Rilworms are, quite simply, one of Moradin's greatest gifts to Dwarfdom, and by extension, the world at large. Lepidoptera Bombyx B. Mori, often just called "silk worms", or "silk grubs", do in fact form a chrysalis and emerge a large, greenish moth with sweeping wings that form a tail like a tuxedo. The moths emerge at the full moon only, hence the name 'Lunar Moth'. Once they do emerge, they are in a great hurry to mate, as their life span is numbered in days at that point.

However...

If preserved in a mixture of simple syrup and muddled mint, Rilworms will live indefinitely, ingesting the mixture at first, but then their metabolism does something magical; it excretes the thick, milky-white substance known as "Pearl Jam". The almost waxy material quickly breaks down into a liquid ingestible by humanoids, but more importantly, the substance sustains the Rilworm life until the next time the grubs meet air, when their transformation begins.

This "Pearl Jam" is a powerful intoxicant and a fair-to-middlin' internal combustion engine fuel. Also, it's a great stain remover for around the home and office, and clears clogs in the plumbing quite satisfactorily. It came under fire by some in the The Kingdoms due to its popularity among the fans of a popular Bard Group out of Stilton Head country called the "Gratefully Undead". A quintet of undeniably brilliant musicians, these mummies spread the "free love", "peace on Tellus", "make love, not war" message far and wide. I followed them to many concerts over a few months (doing research, of course), and came to understand the fulfillment their music provides. But the "salt of the earth" folk grew to hate them and their followers, back in the 5060's, calling them lazy and uncouth, or immoral sex fiends, or both. Over the years, the sentiment stuck. It has grown, and ebbed, like the tides, for over a hundred years now.
But i'll tell you this for free...the mild hallucinogenic effects of Pearl Jam opened this Dwarf's eyes to the reality of love, man! Peace, and blessed be, man.
Prof. Chase Tailbottom,
College of Lore, Archaeology Dpt. Head

Mechanics & Inner Workings

When served as an intoxicant, it is mixed with absinthe and poured from special bottles designed to dispense one Rilworm with each 1 ounce shooter. It is customary to lick some sugar off your hand before tossing this bad boy back. Called Dharak by bar keeps, inn-keeps and students, it is still quite popular today.

Significance

It is a multi use marvel; antiseptic, analgesic, hallucinogenic, homeopathic. Delicious. Soothes burned skin, and helps healing wounds to leave less scarring. It can alleviate depression when steamed in water, and rubbing just a little on the upper lip of cranky livestock can soothe bessie the milking cow's fragile nerves. The uber wealthy take baths in it to rejuvenate sagging skin and smooth away wrinkles.

¹ Dwarves live alongside their deity, Moradin, within their secretive city of Dwarvenholme. Many 'topsodders' do not believe Dwarves exist.

Item type

Consumable, Food / Drink

Related ethnicities

• All of them

Rarity

It is found in Eastern Craysilt, brewed almost exclusively by the monks at the Llank-Ryu monastery on the peaks of Mount Grey.

Weight

A 1-pint jar is about 16.5 oz.

Dimensions

It is a thickish liquid

Base Price

1 gp per shot...it is not the fare of the poor