In Seregon, the Black Lotus is a forbidden flower, its allure overshadowed by the destruction it has wrought in the distant city-state of Al-Strahal, next to the Sultanate of Sahar. The flower's toxic allure lies in its ability to produce Black Milk, a narcotic that induces vivid, intoxicating dreams. This substance has decimated ancient Al-Strahal, transforming it into a city of dream-addicted elves, whose lives are consumed by their pursuit of rarefied pleasures.
The flower is native to the Island of Moog and traders are forbidden to deal in it or its milk.
The once-great elves of Al-Strahal, known for their intellect and magic, have become cruel and capricious under the influence of Black Milk. The highest castes of Al-Strahal's nobility now shun the waking world almost entirely, choosing to spend as little time as possible in conscious reality. Instead, they succumb to the embrace of sleep for up to 18 hours a day, lost in the vivid dreams induced by the narcotic.
Ordinarily, elves do not sleep or dream in the traditional sense, but Al-Strahal's decadence has reversed this natural state. The noble families have become prisoners of their own minds, trapped in a cycle of self-indulgent slumber. The introduction of Black Milk to Al-Strahal is not an accident; it is a deliberate act by agents of Nyarlathotep, the sinister being who has long had designs on the city.
The precise reason for Nyarlathotep's interest in a city of dreaming, sorcerous elves remains a mystery, but his influence is undeniable. New temples to Nyarlathotep have risen across Al-Strahal—the first new buildings in the city in nearly 2,000 years. Strange, winged creatures now flit between the city's marble towers and alabaster spires, feasting on the dreams of the sleeping elves.
However, not everyone in Al-Strahal is under the thrall of Black Milk. A caste of half-elves, valued for their elven blood but immune to the drug’s effects, keeps the city functioning. These half-elves, though technically slaves, hold significant sway over their drowsy masters. They are the ones who maintain the city's infrastructure, manage trade, and ensure that Al-Strahal does not entirely collapse into oblivion.
The spread of Black Milk and its devastation in Al-Strahal have made Seregon's leaders wary. The banning of the Black Lotus in Seregon is a precautionary measure, a desperate attempt to prevent the city from falling into the same fate as Al-Strahal. The ban is strictly enforced, and any who are found dealing in the flower or its narcotic byproducts face severe punishment. The lesson of Al-Strahal serves as a grim warning, a testament to the dangers of unchecked indulgence and the seductive power of the Black Lotus.