Kumiss or koumiss (pronounced: /ˈkuːmɪs/ KOO-miss[1]) was an alcoholic beverage made from soured or fermented mare's milk that was common in the Hordelands and Zakhara.[3][1][4][5]
Description[]
Kumiss was either sour[6][4] or bitter, but either way it was an acquired taste.[7][5] It was thin[8] with a curdled yellow-white color.[9] It smelled of curdled milk.[5] Hordelands kumiss was considered only mildly alcoholic[3] whereas Zakharan koumiss was known to be very potent.[1] The lama Koja said it warmed the blood and purged cooling humors;[4] though he struggled to even tolerate it,[5] he eventually developed a liking for it.[4]
Among the Tuigan, "black" kumiss was made from the milk of the khahan's own mares. It was considered to be the highest quality.[7]
In the Hordelands, it was stored in leather skin bags[10][11][6] and drunk from cups[6] or bowls[12][10] or direct from a serving ladle.[9]
Geography[]
In the Hordelands, kumiss was commonly drunk among the nomads[1] especially the Tuigan. To share kumiss was a sign of hospitality and friendship among them.[6][12][7][9] Yamun Khahan viewed it as a symbol of the Tuigan and even that it was like their blood.[7]
In Zakhara, koumiss was drunk in various drinking establishments[8] and served with evening meals[13] but it was forbidden in areas controlled by moralists[1] such as the Pantheist League.[13]
Efreet took their koumiss and wine boiling hot.[14]
Prices[]
A half-gallon (1.89 liter) pitcher of koumiss sold for 3 sp.[2]
Significance[]
In a prayer to Teylas, the Tuigan poured a small amount of kumiss on the ground when facing east, south, and west (avoiding the north) and sprinkled it on the horsetail banner.[9][15] They also sprinkled kumiss on the idols of their spirits.[16]
Magic[]
A sprinkle of kumiss could be used as a material component in the Sunlight After Storm sutra.[10]
History[]
In the Year of the Turret, 1360 DR, after the Grand Army of the Tuigan invaded Thesk and were opposed by the Army of the Alliance, King Azoun IV sent two emissaries to Yamun Khahan. They were offered kumiss, but a Theskan soldier named Kyrok feared it was poison and refused to drink. Yamun and his generals were angered at this disrespect of their customs and insult to the khahan, and had him beheaded immediately.[17] In a later meeting, Azoun drank kumiss—from the skull of Abatai, a former enemy of Yamun—and conducted their meeting.[5]
Appendix[]
Appearances[]
- Adventures
- Black Courser • Blood Charge
- Novels
- The Empires trilogy (Horselords • Dragonwall • Crusade) • Realms of Valor: "Patronage"
- Referenced only
- An Opportunity for Profit
External Links[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 93. ISBN 978-1560763581.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 86. ISBN 978-1560763581.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 David Cook (August 1990). “Volume I”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 10. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 David Cook (February 1993). “Patronage”. In James Lowder ed. Realms of Valor (TSR, Inc.), p. 127. ISBN 1-56076-557-7.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4 James Lowder (January 1991). Crusade. (TSR, Inc), chap. 12, pp. 212–213. ISBN 0-8803-8908-7.
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Troy Denning (August 1990). Black Courser. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 6–7, 39, 41. ISBN 0880388587.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 David Cook (May 1990). Horselords. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 1, pp. 13, 17. ISBN 0-8803-8904-4.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Jeff Grubb and Andria Hayday (April 1992). Arabian Adventures. (TSR, Inc), p. 30. ISBN 978-1560763581.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 David Cook (May 1990). Horselords. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 4, p. 72. ISBN 0-8803-8904-4.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 10.2 David Cook (February 1993). “Patronage”. In James Lowder ed. Realms of Valor (TSR, Inc.), pp. 141, 144–145. ISBN 1-56076-557-7.
- ↑ David Cook (August 1990). “Volume I”. In Steve Winter ed. The Horde (TSR, Inc.), p. 51. ISBN 0-88038-868-4.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 Troy Denning (May 1991). Blood Charge. (TSR, Inc.), pp. 5, 7, 9, 10, 11–12, 13, 14. ISBN 0880388897.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Adventurer's Guide to Zakhara). (TSR, Inc), p. 14. ISBN 978-1560763291.
- ↑ Jeff Grubb (August 1992). Land of Fate (Monster Sheets). (TSR, Inc). ISBN 978-1560763291.
- ↑ David Cook (May 1990). Horselords. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 16, p. 295. ISBN 0-8803-8904-4.
- ↑ David Cook (May 1990). Horselords. (TSR, Inc.), chap. 10, p. 194. ISBN 0-8803-8904-4.
- ↑ James Lowder (January 1991). Crusade. (TSR, Inc), chap. 11, pp. 196, 203. ISBN 0-8803-8908-7.