Sludge
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- ⊰ Lore ⊱ -
Culinaria
The kingdom of Grimfeast is located in the most distant northeastern part of Culinaria.
Culinaria is a vast continent harboring a great variety of strange creatures and landscapes. From hungry gobblestones inhabiting the fungus mountains in the north to mozarella djinns traversing the vast parmejan deserts of the south - many dangers await an unprepared traveler.
There is also life beyond Culinaria, but few manage to survive the journey across the terrible deep milks surrounding it.
Culinaria's coasts are dotted with many tiny villages and towns while the central regions see powerful kingdoms vying for control over the six cauldrons - magical ruins from the ancient times.
Foodfolk
The surprising thing about Foodfolk is that they are not born but constructed or, perhaps, prepared. When living creatures on Culinaria decide to reproduce, they will usually embark on a journey to seek out the finest ingredients to craft their offspring.
Foodfolk can take on drastically different forms and abilities based on their ingredients. They can even replace some of the less important parts of themselves in order to heal injuries or for self improvement.
In all other aspects foodfolk function as you would expect any living being. They eat and sleep. In fact, cooking meals is an important part of their culture (of course using other foodfolk for sustainance is widely seen as barbaric but it does happen).
Food
How can someone possibly starve in a world made out of food? For foodfolk, sustenance comes not from the dish itself, but rather the intent and effort put into it's preparation. The spirit of the dish.
A tired traveler three weeks deep into a sleepless journey and covered head to toe in filth will not be in the best headspace to cook authentic Coq au Vin braised in red wine with mushrooms, onions, and herbs over an open flame. And, in this world, a dish made without emotion is the same as eating dirt.
Magic
Anyone can cast magic as long as they know the rite and have an ingredient of its corresponding flavor. Lets say sour embodies cunning, manipulation and deception. So a spell that creates a mirage image of yourself might require you to have a lemon seed on yourself which disappears in a puff of smoke after the spell is cast.
Stronger spells require rarer ingredients and best ingredients come from living things. The greater the thing was, the greater the magic.
Sweet
Might in its purest form. Represents desire, indulgence, and temptation. Those who seek its power will eventually find themselves consumed by their cravings... literally.
Sour
Embodies cunning and deception. A magic of acid mists and swift strikes. These spells burn brightly but make their casters tired and withered, until they shrink into a dry husk.
Salty
Symbolizes endurance and resilience. A firm crystal that can weather any storm. Overuse will lead to salt crystals forming inside the body, until movement is no longer possible.
Bitter
Essence of that which happens after death. This flavor was something greater once but now all that's left is mold, worms and putrid smells. Spreads rot and madness to its the caster. Will get its practitioners executed outside of Grimfeast.
Umami
Restoration, introspection and healing. The flavor of kindness. If such magic is cast while the user is not in the right state of mind the spells will reflect that by twisting the essence of what they are trying to restore into a grotesque mockery of its former self.
Spicy
Passion, intensity, and volatility. Fire of the soul, both as a metaphor and not. It is easy to get lost in this flavor and forget that its spells slowly burn the casters body as long as they are active.
Artifacts
Sometimes strange things are found in the world. Weapons and items that can do wondrous things and are made from materials that do not rot. Things that are not food.
If you happened to get your hands on one, be careful. These artifacts are highly coveted and many will dye their hands in jam to take it from you.
Grimfeast
A distant land walled off from the rest of the world by a tall mountain range.
Once a great and powerful nation. Its true name is now lost to time but the stories of its last ruler remain. A king who had everything but wanted more. The Insatiable King.
