2025 Apr 28: Hashtar Flower

 Hashtar is a relatively unremarkable plant of small purple flowers, save for one hugely important characteristic: when consumed or brewed into tea, it induces divine visions. Many mystics and prophets used it over the ages, and in most temples there is at least one priest or priestess who specializes in receiving and interpreting these visions. Said visions are most often interpreted as showing other worlds, the Underworld or the dwellings of the gods.

Said to be both blessed and cursed by Ei-Hashtar, minor god of madness and prophecy after whom it is named, hashtar is not only addictive but quite toxic as well, and the effective dose for getting visions is quite close to the lethal amount. Habitual users gradually lose their vision, often ending completely blind in just a few years. Brewing the plant into a tea makes it easier to dose, but doesn't actually make it less dangerous.

An additional danger of hashtar consumption is that it reacts negatively with alcohol. For approximately six hours of using hashtar any amount of alcohol is immediately fatal, and for up to six additional hours it causes extreme pain, vomiting and diarrhea. This is usually explained by Ei-Hashtar's ongoing feud with the various deities of grapes, dates and malts.