Harvester's Salt
Along the shores of the vast lake of acid at the heart of the Dead Basin Desert, the rocks nearest the lapping waves seem to sparkle and glisten. They are coated with mineral salts that are left behind when the caustic waves lap over them and then dry away. Salt has always been precious and sought after to preserve and flavor food, but no salt is as potentially valuable as the crystals coating these rocks. This is Milker's Salt, and it appears to have the ability to confer resistance to the acids of the lake waters as well as that spewed by the fearsome Spitter. The Harvesters know that their would could well be impossible without the salt.
There is one place along the shore where the Harvesters have set up a larger-scale and more reliable crystal growing operation. This is amid the ruins of a stone structure that was built along the lake before the Great Strife. The Harvesters have hollowed out the top surfaces of several of the larger building stones to form shallow trays. Lake water is then poured into these and allowed to evaporate. After repeating this several times, crystals large enough to scrape off the rock tray are produced.
It is not flavor alone that the Harvester's value, though. It is the fact that consuming a spoonful of the salt conveys a limited ability to withstand the acids of the lake - and more importantly of the Spitters. This salt is what permits the Harvesters to approach, subdue, "milk", and then release a Spitter in order to obtain the "Spitter's Milk" acid that is quite valuable to artisans in the jewelry trade.
Appearance
Small white crystals
Odor
faintly acrid odor of sulfur and acidity
Taste
extremely salty, with a fiery-hot pepperlike effect
Safety
safe to consume in small quantities; poisonous in larger amounts
Effects
confers limited acid resistance when the proper amount is ingested
Market Price
200gp / ounce
Source and Harvesting
Only one source of Harvester's Salt is known: the shores of the Dead Lake. When wind and storm-driven waves splash across rocks at the shore, crystals will be left behind after the liquid evaporates. Rocks that are continually inundated by waves will not show much crystal growth, as the acidic lake waters will dissolve the crystals as quickly as they can be formed. It is rocks that are only occasionally wet by the waters that provide quantities of naturally-occurring crystals.There is one place along the shore where the Harvesters have set up a larger-scale and more reliable crystal growing operation. This is amid the ruins of a stone structure that was built along the lake before the Great Strife. The Harvesters have hollowed out the top surfaces of several of the larger building stones to form shallow trays. Lake water is then poured into these and allowed to evaporate. After repeating this several times, crystals large enough to scrape off the rock tray are produced.
Usage
The Sandfolk Chittiki value Harvester's Salt for its unique culinary properties. It's "saltiness" is more pronounced than that of regular sea salt, but it also has a fiery character similar of the hot peppers favored by the Gobbin folk. In fact, it has a "pepper heat" that rivals that of the most powerful Gobbin peppers. Because of this, it is used sparingly as a flavor seasoning, and not at all as a preservative.It is not flavor alone that the Harvester's value, though. It is the fact that consuming a spoonful of the salt conveys a limited ability to withstand the acids of the lake - and more importantly of the Spitters. This salt is what permits the Harvesters to approach, subdue, "milk", and then release a Spitter in order to obtain the "Spitter's Milk" acid that is quite valuable to artisans in the jewelry trade.
Properties
Value
The first few times anyone consumes the spoonful of salt required to confer this protection, they tend to suffer some unpleasant side effects. In particular they find it difficult to focus on anything other than the sensation of a mouth filled with molten lava and the desperate need to relieve the discomfort.
Pathfinder, 2nd Edition Consumption Effects
Dungeons & Dragons, 5th Edition Consumption Effects
Pathfinder, 2nd Edition Consumption Effects
Consuming a spoonful of Harvester's Salt confers Acid Resistance 5 for a period of 1 hour.
The consumer must also make a Fortitude Save (DC20).
On a Failure, the consumer gains the Sickened 2 condition which can only be alleviated by consuming a milk/dairy product.
On a Critical Failure, the consumer gains both the Sickened 2 and the Stupefied 2 conditions.
The consumer must also make a Fortitude Save (DC20).
On a Failure, the consumer gains the Sickened 2 condition which can only be alleviated by consuming a milk/dairy product.
On a Critical Failure, the consumer gains both the Sickened 2 and the Stupefied 2 conditions.
Consuming a spoonful of Harvester's Salt confers Resistance to Acid Damage for a period of 1 hour.
The consumer must also make a Constitution Save (DC16).
On a Failure, the consumer gains the Poisoned condition which can only be alleviated by consuming a milk/dairy product.
On a Critical Failure, the consumer gains both the Posioned and the Stunned conditions.
The consumer must also make a Constitution Save (DC16).
On a Failure, the consumer gains the Poisoned condition which can only be alleviated by consuming a milk/dairy product.
On a Critical Failure, the consumer gains both the Posioned and the Stunned conditions.
Traditions
Part of the First Harvest rite of passage for young candidates among the Harvesters requires that they go down to the shore to collect their first salt crystals from the rocks. These are then ingested to offer some protection before the candidate attempts their first "milking" (but after the fiery mouth side effects fade to a point of bearability).Ah! You want authentic Sandfolk meat-pot dinner? You like spicy? I hope you like spicy - we make these with real Harvester's Salt. This is why they are so expensive. No... I will not make "mild"... Mild is not Sandfolk way... You want Sandfolk, you get spicy.
Entry for Worldbuilding Summer Camp 2022
Answering: "Α material only harvestable from nature"
Regional maps prepared using Inkarnate
Battle maps prepared using DungeonFog
(with many map assets courtesy of Caeora)
Artwork designated as being from Pixabay is governed by
Pixabay License
copyright© 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Robert O'Brien
Game Rules described herein are governed by
Open Game License version 1.0a
Descriptions of the World of Cartyrion, including, but not limited to its cosmology, deities, geography, political structures, religious sects, regional names, villages, towns, cities, and characters, are governed by Non-Commercial, Share-alike Creative Commonse License
Battle maps prepared using DungeonFog
(with many map assets courtesy of Caeora)
Artwork designated as being from Pixabay is governed by
Pixabay License
copyright© 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 Robert O'Brien
Game Rules described herein are governed by
Open Game License version 1.0a
Descriptions of the World of Cartyrion, including, but not limited to its cosmology, deities, geography, political structures, religious sects, regional names, villages, towns, cities, and characters, are governed by Non-Commercial, Share-alike Creative Commonse License
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