Hesperidean Cider

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"WHOSO THIRSTETH AND DRINKETH OF THIS, SO SHALL HE NEVER DIE."[1]

Hesperidean Cider is a drink said to grant everlasting life. It is sold by the firkin in the Bazaar, for a very steep price indeed.

Effects

"Did you really see the Boatman thrash away at his oar like he was in a boat race? As if he was desperate to get away from you?"[2]

Upon being drunk, Hesperidean Cider is known to restore all physical wounds.[1] Moreover, the cider seems to repel and quite possibly scare the Boatman, who can sense the presence of the drink in a person's veins;[3] this allows one to immediately return to life after dying, rather than spend time on the Slow Boat.[2]

The cider also banishes distasteful smells, and has a strong life-fostering effect, even on inanimate objects, and even when not in direct contact with the liquid.[4]

An Elder Source

"You dream of a place of tremendous beauty."[5]

Hesperidean Cider is brewed from the golden Hesperidean Apples, collected from the Garden at the center of the Mountain of Light, or from a single tree in the Mirror-Marches.[6] In fact, the golden cider gives visions of the Garden to whoever consumes it, revealing part of its appearance[5] but also conferring certain associated emotions and thoughts.[7]

The golden apples themselves taste, perhaps disappointingly, quite like regular apples, though the effect is still rather potent. Indeed, consumption of Hesperidean Apples not only restores all wounds (much like the fermented brew they produce), but also induces a golden haze and hysteria - which is a good thing, apparently.[8]

Brewing

"'Why don't they have my cider? They never have my cider. I made it and […] it gave me such lovely visions. And I followed the visions and... and why don't they have my cider?'"[9]

The Masters of the Bazaar can produce Hesperidean Cider from the Garden's fruits.[10] More specifically, Mr Apples is the Master that deals in immortality.

However, the Capering Relicker also knows how to brew the drink,[9] and often seems to be drunk on the stuff; he may sometimes smell of cut grass, apples, or an orchard,[11][12] or sing about the Garden and the cider itself.[13]

In the Sunless Skies timeline, Mr Apples (now called the Chiropterous Hoarder) still has Hesperidean Cider, but its supply is dwindling.[14]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Firkin of Hesperidean Cider, Fallen London
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Are you lost?, Fallen London "Did you really see the Boatman thrash away at his oar like he was in a boat race? As if he was desperate to get away from you? It doesn't matter. You're back now."
  3. ↑ Discuss your Firkin of Hesperidean Cider, Fallen London "I sense it in your veins. Gold. Fire."
  4. ↑ Administer a sip of Hesperidean Cider, Fallen London "Uncorked, the firkin banishes all foul odours […] mildew spreads across the bed […] There is life everywhere, gorging on the gold beneath his skin."
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Drink, and luxuriate in your bed, Fallen London
  6. ↑ Rarest fruit, Sunless Sea "In the farthest South, [...] a garden blooms. In ages past, birds stole the seeds from that garden. One bird hid here, in the Mirror-Marches."
  7. ↑ Sip, and write notes on the taste, Fallen London "The flavour makes you think of boughs laden with golden fruit; makes you consider the sacredness of flying things. It tastes of vitality, it tingles with flavours of eternal life."
  8. ↑ Hesperidean Apple, Sunless Sea "When the gold is gone from your eyes and brain, you take stock. Your clothes will need repair. No one seems to have heard your wild laughter[...] Your heart is still pounding [...] Your cabin is scrawled with poetry. [...] The apple still tastes like something out of any ordinary Surface orchard [...]"
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Hand over a multitude of scraps for... something secret, Fallen London
  10. ↑ Hesperidean Apple, Sunless Sea "The Masters of the Bazaar know how to ferment [Hesperidean Apples] into an elixir of immortality."
  11. ↑ Hand over a small collection of scraps for Amanita Sherry, Fallen London "The Capering Relicker [...] heaves [your scraps] onto his rickety cart. An odd smell accompanies his exertions. […] Is that cut grass? Autumn woodland? Apples?"
  12. ↑ Recertify an armful of scraps 2, Fallen London "Is that an orchard you can smell?"
  13. ↑ Hand over a sack of scraps for Muscaria Brandy, Fallen London "'And we'll drink and we'll drink and we'll never fall down. And we'll dance our way to the garden!'"
  14. ↑ Ask about the Hesperidean cider, Sunless Skies "'Gone. What he wants is gone. No, not gone. But almost gone. Little more than a sweet swallow'"
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