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BRISTAR MEAD

DRINKS OF BRISTAR During its long history, Velethuil, known today as Bristar, has had incredible importance to the elves of Cormanthor, and arguably to the whole of the Elven Nation. Today, Velethuil is one of the few enclaves of practically undiluted elven life and culture remaining in the mainland of Faerûn. Helping the efforts of preservation, it is fortunate that the elves of Velethuil have a wonderful relation with the folk of Deepingdale, perhaps exhibiting the model of what a peaceful coexistence between Tel’Quessir and N’Tel’Quessir could be. The elves trade regularly with the folk of Highmoon and the smaller hamlets of Deepingdale, both to acquire raw materials (such as iron ore from the Iron Peak Mountains to the east) as well as to foster good relations between the various communities. Not surprisingly, some of the most sought after products in the dale are elven-made goods, priced for their superb craftsmanship and quality. Of these, the most prized items visiting merchants and locals alike seek to buy constantly are the amazing drinks produced by the Velethuil elves, being these some of the most exquisite drinks ever produced on Faerûn, with recipes that date back to the days of Myth Drannor. The secret of all these drinks is one particular ingredient: a small, deep red wild berry found only in the immediate area of Velethuil, known simply as Brightstar berry. Centuries ago, when the Brightstar clan of moon elves migrated to the area from Semberholme, they found the berries reason enough to settle. Immediately they set out to create a magnificent berry wine that became famous throughout the host of the Elven Nation. And even though the particular ingredient is known, the particular methods of creating these drinks are one of the most guarded secrets of Velethuil. Brightstar berries are small, about the size of a strawberry, and indeed look like a cross between a strawberry and a blackberry. They have a deep red color, almost maroon, and are divided into three sections, each one with a pit inside. The skin is somewhat rough and just a tad too tough for such a small berry, which makes them last on many forest creature’s menu. They can be eaten, but their sharp and bitter taste makes them an acquired taste. When used in the creation of foods and drinks, however, the berries imbue the products with a taste that is both sharp and semi-sweet, a unique taste unequaled throughout the Heartlands. Here, then, are the three most famous drinks produced from these berries, including the unique kind of mead created by the Velethuil elves, a recipe almost impossible to reproduce, and one of the few to give Evermead any competition in flavor and quality.

BRISTAR MEAD Northwest of Velethuil, in the area once known as Evertrees, a colony of giant bees make their home, searching that area of the forest for their pollen (which they take from nearby fields of flowers, or from giant-sized versions of regular flowers that bloom in the forest) and producing a particular type of honey unlike anything ever tasted by anyone outside the area. The particular pollen types, coupled with the size of the bees, create a honey with a flavor that is somewhat comparable to a combination of clover and orange blossom honey, with an added tart sweetness to it. From this honey, collected by a small group of elven druids and rangers that watch over this area of Cormanthor, then traded to the other elven communities of the area, a very special kind of drink is created once every decade. Bristar Mead is arguably (next to Evermead, the fabled mead created in Evermeet) the best mead brewed in the continent of Faerûn in the last millennia, and many elves will attest to its quality. Bristar Mead has a deep golden yellow hue with just a hint of ruby red, giving the liquid a specific coloration that has become its trademark. When seen against the light, the mead shines a golden-red that dances with inner brilliance. Its aroma is sweet and a perfect combination of the earthy scents of berries and honey, with just a hint of cinnamon, to give it that extra kick when served warm in cold winter nights. Bristar Mead, as mentioned, is brewed exclusively from the giant bee honey collected by the elves of Evertrees. In addition, only the berries collected at a particular time of the year, when the sixth full moon of the cycle bathes the berry grooves in it silver light, are used. The berries collected during this time are then blessed by priests of Corellon Larethian and stored yearly (kept fresh by means of magic) until the time of brewing comes around, once every decade. The honey and berries are then transported to the houses of Velethuil’s five Master Mead Makers, the only elves (along with their apprentices) who know the process of creating the mead. The Mead Makers then take the ingredients to a secret location deep in the forest, where they toil for about a month until the mead has been brewed and bottled. During this time, the previous decade’s batch is unearthed and brought back to Velethuil, ready for consumption. This is a time of feast in the town, and every single elf drinks along to the glory of the Tel’Quessir, to the memory of elves past and to the future of the race. Bristar Mead is bottled in one-quart glass bottles made by the elves of Velethuil specifically for this purpose. The vintage is then stored and used as the village and its leaders see fit, with portions reserved for popular, political and religious feasts, especially any kind of feast that celebrates the cycle of life, such as wedding celebrations and funerals. While not as revered a symbol as its wine counterpart, Bristar Mead nonetheless carries much of the same symbolism as Brightstar Wine, seen by the elves as a gift from the Seldarine, signifying the past, present and future glory of the Tel ’Quessir. Bristar Mead is never sold, and on the rare occasion that a bottle has appeared in the market, the elves have done everything in their power to recover it, even resorting to the use of magic and adventuring bands when honest negotiations have been ineffective. Where Brightstar Wine is seen as a legacy of the Tel’Quessir, Bristar Mead is seen as a gift of the Seldarine, and as such it must not be in the hands of those the Seldarine and the Tel’Quessir have not wished it to be. Other regular meads are brewed in Velethuil using common bee honey, and while not even near the quality or fame of Bristar Mead, they are quite excellent in their own right, with a great variety of flavors, and produced regularly throughout the year.