Other Spice: Azure Star

Santoro

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Azure Star

Affiliation:
DiCosta Cartel

Manufacturer:
DiCosta Cartel
Type:
Spice (addictive drug)

Composition:
A proprietary mix of chemicals and nanotech.


DESCRIPTION

Azure Star is a custom, designer spice developed by chemical and technical engineers funded by Alden DiCosta. It was designed with two primary goals in mind: to drive addiction and to provide a better, cleaner product that can piggyback on and eventually overtake the other criminal elements on Thyferra (and eventually the galaxy at large).

Not specific to a certain subspecies, it works on a broad spectrum of sentient beings (though its intended users are humanoid). In a broad sense, it uses a chemical compound to improve blood flow to the brain, stimulating the base of a mild natural high, similar to the calming effect of a human inhaling direct oxygen. Having little effect on its own, what makes Azure Star special is the nanotech within the drug and how it interacts with other parts of the body. Depending on the spice that it is mixed with, these nanobots form sturdy structures in the user's body (and more importantly their brains), keeping pathways that are activated by the companion drug open. To continue the human and oxygen analogy, Azure Star would keep oxygen pathways to the bloodstream and brain open, forcing the body to use more until the user's body runs low. The user would then have negative effects that are typical of oxygen deprivation, resulting in exhaustion, lower cognitive function, and general depression.

In short, Azure Star could enhance the cognitive effects of Muon Gold, improve the physical prowess gifted from Neutron Pixie, and increase the high of the finest Gunjack. The drug requires a slight buildup in the system so the nanobots have time to build their structures, so the average humanoid takes three to five doses before feeling the typical crash that spice causes - these crashes are worse than if the original spice was on its own, which helps drive repeat users.

Doctors have not yet found any long term negative physical or physiological effects from constant use of Azure Star alone, aside from the hunger for more and more each day. However, it greatly increases the odds of side effects or long term damage typically caused by other spices.

Azure Star naturally appears and can be used as a fine azure powder. It is often mixed with water where it dissolves, then is easily infused or coated onto other spices. It is manufactured and shipped in crystals, which is the most compact and easy to conceal method. The crystals are soft and can be scratched apart by fingernails, bits of metal, or sandpaper.

LEGALITY
Illegal across most of civilized space - some wild planets or fringe worlds without governmental oversight or the occasional inner planet may not explicitly ban narcotics, but such a region is rare.

INTENT
This was created as a vehicle for the character Alden DiCosta and his aspiring drug empire. It is intended to be sold as wide and as far as possible to help fund DiCosta's criminal enterprises. This is different because it can have a great impact on any criminal faction who partners with DiCosta, and can help give factions like the Five Syndicates more funding and a stealthier way to damage other factions by weakening their populations, addicting their soldiers, and potentially hurting their supply lines.

The character and concept of this chemical are tightly intertwined, and were inspired by the rapid and devastating growth of the Medellín Cartel led by Pablo Escobar starting in the late 1970's and through his lasting influence after his death. Initially thought of as a minor annoyance, cocaine use exploded in the United States. With the formation of the United States Drug Enforcement Agency, violence ripped across Mexico while Escobar consolidated his power. All of this came from clever and united logistics and supply and demand. Azure Star has the potential for huge demand, and while I don't expect a single character to have such a dramatic effect it could add a fun new avenue and different dimension of roleplay, like encouraging smuggling threads or driving players to create task forces or use unconventional warfare.

RESTRICTIONS
The manufacturing and composition is only done by the DiCosta cartel, which fiercely protects the formula as that is their potential market edge.

 

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