Vice In Republic City

[Zuka]

Red Ash

Aka: Lava Dust, Dragon Breath or Sozins Comet

Red Ash is a red powdered substance that comes from a red poppy, found only in the warm and damp climate of the Fire Nation. When snorted this powder can induce feelings of extreme alertness, overconfidence, excessive talkativeness and sociability and an over abundance of energy. The effects are intense but short lived and you can often see long term users constantly snorting the substance to maintain their high.

Short term side effects of Red Ash are nervousness, paranoia, anxiety, outburst of violence and violent behavior, insomnia and blurred vision and fever. Long term and more serious side effects include increased heart rate, tremors, convulsions and increased body temperature,and even death.

Often dealers of the narcotic will offer a "sample" to prospective buyer. Giving him just enough to have him wanting more as the drug is highly addictive and in high demand by both the wealthy elite and working class citizens despite the drugs illegality.

Căo

Aka: Jade Sticks, Spirit Grass or Smoke Root

Căo is a plant grown only in remote regions of the Earth Kingdom. Most claim to experience a sense of relaxation and a an overall mellow feeling. Some people claim that it can be used to ease pain or to help induce appetite. Căo is more psychologically than physically addictive. Long term users often build "tolerance" for Căo an experience the need for more of the drug over time just to feel the same original effects. While Căo is not necessarily illegal in Republic City limited supplies and higher tariffs in both in The United Republic and the Earth Kingdom has made the distribution of Căo expensive to sell in reputable herb shops and is often in very limited supply. Because of this limited output people often resort to buying it illegally from "tax free" dealers found just about anywhere in the industrial district.

While not as dangerous as Red Ash or Black Fin, Căo does have some side effects such as lapses in memory and problem solving, Loss of coordination, anxiety and distorted senses. The most severe side effect is the infection of the lungs but this is extremely rare and only comes with years of constant use.

Black Fin

Aka: Spirit Tears, Serpent Water or The Northern Lights

Black Fin is derived from a fish toxin found only in the arctic climate of the Water Tribes. The poison is then applied to acupuncture needles and is applied directly to any pressure point on the body. Once in the blood stream its effects occur rapidly. Users claim to feel a cold sensation flow through their body as the drug enters their system and it causes an extremely relaxed, floaty and detached feeling. The poison also acts as a heavy muscle relaxer so users often claim to feel no pain.

Initially the drug only produces psychological side effects ( many users will find that coping with the everyday stress of day to day life is no longer bearable) However if use is prolonged; teeth will start to rot, veins can collapse and many people find themselves feeling and looking sickly and weak. Long time use can lead to severe depression and sometimes it can even lead to the user lapsing into a coma or even death.

With Black Fin rising in popularity and its addictive qualities taken to parsing out the drug the Triads have upped their prices, making the purest form of the drug available only to those that can afford the higher price. Those that can't afford the price are often sold a cheaper and more polluted variant. While the cheap variant gives the same high, the come down is harsher, the effects last less and the risk of serious side effects increase.

Xiānjìng

Aka: The Elixir, Spirit Juice, or Harmonic Highball

Xiānjìng is golden hued liquor that is brewed and distilled in the Spirit World. It is a very strong drink with a notably sweet after taste however its unusual and mysterious properties lead to very different effects than your average liquor A few sips of the liquor can cause the drinker to experience euphoria, radiant colors, objects and surfaces appearing to ripple or "breathe", and an altered sense of time (time seems to be stretching, repeating itself, changing speed or stopping) Half a glass can lead to the drinker experiencing synesthesia, wherein they perceive colors upon hearing particular sounds as well as morphing objects, a sense that one's thoughts are spiraling into themselves. A full glass leads to the users physical body falling into a deep sleep and their spirit is the projected directly into the Spirit World.

However, thanks to the liquors euphoric effects it allows the user to often view the strange sights with "rose colored glasses" often more caught up in the majesty of the place to be concerned with any dangers that might lurk.. While the effects only last for an hour due to the altered sense of time drinkers can often feel like it lasts hours, before the effects where off and the users spirit "snaps" back inside their physical body.

Many users claim to experience revelations about themselves while under the effects while others claim that it jump starts their creativity. Whether or not this is true, the fact is that the feelings that one gets under its influence is quite addicting. However it is not without side effects as prolonged indulgence in the drink can lead to loss of time, visual hallucinations, nightmares,and sleeplessness. Prolonged usage can also build up a tolerance that can lead to the liquors euphoric effects wearing off leading to experience their often dangerous surroundings "sober". Prolonged over usage can lead to your spirit being trapped between worlds unable to interact with either and leaving your physical body in a coma-like state.

This liquor is illegal but is rising in popularity with the wealthy (seen as a status symbol),those that are curious about the spirit world or just want to have some fun in this New Spiritual Age and you can often find most bars and high society functions have a bottle or two for those willing to buy it "under the table." However this liquor can not be produced by any human distiller and the only distributors of this liquor are actual spirits that seem to have assimilated to the more seedier sides of the city. These spirits have bottles of it smuggled in from one of the Spirit Portals into Republic City where they then sell it on to various bars, wealthy people and even Triads.

Blossoms

Aka: Jade girls

These women specialize in male entertainment.  The 'entertainers' offer the men that visit their clubs female companionship that can range from simply sitting with them while they drink and laughing at their jokes to more private meetings behind closed doors. You can find a girl to fulfill just about any fantasy you might have, as long as you are willing to pay.