Tea

Among all known resources within the universe, tea from the Valley of Tea Dragons occupies a central place not only in the lives of the Villagers, but also among the Travelers themselves. For many years — perhaps even centuries — it has remained not merely a foundation of everyday life, but also an essential part of culture, tradition, and one of the most effective means of achieving the concentration required for work or travel.

According to translated records, all tea has long been cultivated by the Villagers within the Valley and originates from the Great Tea Tree, grown throughout the surrounding Fields. For this reason, the inhabitants regard tea not as an ordinary plant, but as something far more valuable and deeply connected to the existence of the Valley itself.

In the daily life of the Villagers, tea is consumed almost constantly. It is drunk during work, rest, gatherings, and long conversations within the Tea Home. Different methods of preparation are used for different states of mind: some varieties help preserve clarity and concentration during labor, while others are intended for rest and calm after difficult periods of fog or long days spent in the Tea Fields.

Particularly noteworthy is the attitude of the inhabitants toward the exchange of tea itself. Within the Valley, tea is often used not only as a beverage, but also as a form of value. Certain varieties possess far greater rarity and may function as a kind of currency during exchanges of goods, services, or special agreements between Villagers.

Despite the Valley’s isolation, part of the tea continues to regularly leave its borders. This responsibility belongs to the Villagers involved in trade and exchange with the outside world. Using paths known only to them, they depart from the Valley for extended periods in order to trade tea for provisions, materials, tools, and other goods necessary for the survival of the settlement.

It is also through these trade routes that the tea of the Valley gradually spread far beyond the region itself. Because of this, a portion of every harvest is obligatorily sent to the Tavern for Shen, so that she may brew and distribute it among the Travelers as well.

For the Travelers, tea likewise remains an inseparable part of daily life, a medium of exchange, and most importantly, one of the best ways to attune oneself before the next journey.

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