Binddrought
Binddrought is a traditional brewed elixir used in Kivan binding ceremonies conducted for koza and the riders they are expected to have for the rest of their lives. The Kaolevne are respected and admired for their especially potent and effective drought, which is often bargained for by or gifted as a great honor to other tribes, and a tribe secret that they guard fiercely.
The drought is a thick syrup that is glossy brown-black in color, and consists primarily of prey blood in a carrier oil combined with steeped sedative and psychoactive herbs. It is used cold and is noted as having a strong stench.
Binding Ceremony
Applies to: domestic-born kits of around one year of age up to young adulthood, or older wild-born animals broken-in enough to not present a danger (but the younger the better), already-bound particularly spirited koza Does not apply to / rarely applies to: civilian koza (employed as rental transport), docile lines bred for non-Kivan militaries, domestically-reared kits that remain with their rearing family and are ascribed to an owner incredibly early, koza already bound to a rider, koza who have lost a rider (especially after several years), riders already bound to another koza Process: The koza must consume binddrought from the prospective rider's palm to simulate the sharing of a kill. In Kivan tradition this is typically followed with both koza and rider inhaling banefire to further simulate the experience and metaphorically blur the line between them, but this does not often happen elsewhere. The binddrought inevitably causes both to fall asleep, and they are left to sleep beside one another. The ceremony is considered complete when they wake. Although it is not a requirement for the rider to also ingest the drought, it is not unheard of. The taste is described as bitter and nauseating and as burning the mouth, throat, and gullet, and due to its ingredients has the quick effect of drunkenness, but also a strange addictiveness (though this could be explained as a side-effect of the banefire or moutervain).Mechanics & Inner Workings
The concept is that inclusion of prey blood simulates the bonding activity of sharing a kill -- this bonding is heightened by the psychoactive properties of banefire and/or moutervain, and completed by the pair sleeping beside one another peacefully (induced by sleeper's ivy and, if present, aided by aesrove).
Manufacturing process
Due to koza's preference for fresh kills, great care must be taken to keep the brew as fresh-tasting as possible while also 'fermenting' it for effective potency. If a tribe expects to be binding koza in the coming year, the binddrought is usually remade at the end of the year. However, the Kaolevne binddrought is rumored to be exceptionally potent because it is both older yet retains its freshness longer.
Significance
Important
Item type
Religious / Ritualistic
Rarity
Relatively common
Raw materials & Components
Blood of prey animals, aesrove, banefire and/or moutervain, sufferer moss or other carrier oil, sleeper's ivy
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