This was a Thursday. A day for teaching. The Church was divided into several small groups as the Clergy shared their skills.
Nash had the largest following. Many women both young and old, plus a few men, are learning how to prepare food that satisfies. With winter around the corner, finding exciting ways to use their more limited options was the name of the game.
"Now, soup is yer staple for a cold wenter night. Tenden to dah fire keeps her warm and gives yah plenty to do. Bit dry rations can get mighty borin. So 'ere are a few tips to brighten thins up."
Nash pulls out several clear glass bottles each with a different colored liquid on his table.
"We got plenty oh sour flavors with vinegar and sour cabbage. But savorie is harder to git. Meat or Fowl broth be the best, and it be very expansive because uh that."
Nash lifted some of the bottles full of a dark black liquids.
"This garum is popular aroun habors, though tis mighty expensive round here. Souya sauce has started comin in from the far east. Need a few years before its gets cheaper. Mushroom Ketchup is mighty cheap and easy to make at home. Course if yeh ain't got dah patience we sell em here fer a few coppers. Now, if you are really adventurous…"
Nash went under the table and hoisted up a strange large red ball wrapped with butcher string.
"Tis a Giant Pillbug. Called Swamp pigs by some. They been a Zaytrus staple fer Generations. Starten to make their way round these parts. All yeh gotta do is rub em down with fat and herbs, bake low n slow fer a few hours, and…"
Untying the twine, Nash gave the ball a tap. It opened up, unrolling out releasing a pungent smell. Inside was a brown meat that was soft and crumbles easily coated in a gravy like liquid. There were murmurs from the crowd at this strange new dish.
"Pretty ain't it? Could suck it up with a straw. But if yeh ain't use to it, and most of yeh ain't, just scoop it out inta a bowl with a slotted spoon. Squeeze out dah liquid, and make sure tah save it. Many a use of Dat. Take yer meats, mix some more flavors, I like minced garlic, and you can spread it on a cracker. Yeah got a swamp pâté. Take tah shell and boil with veg for a strong, aromatic broth that will vary yer diet. Now, who's got teh guts to give dis a try?"
Many of the man kin and animal kin began shifting and looking around, waiting to see if anyone else would get up first. No surprise, a yellow scaled Lizard Kin ran straight up to the front. She practically snatched a spread covered cracker and chewed it violently. Nash just laughed.
"Miss dah taste ah home, eh? Eat up, we got plenty. Anyone else wanna taste?"
There was still hesitation, despite the Lizard Kin gorging herself. Rosen decided she had little choice and made her way to the front. She took a cracker smeared with a generous amount of the brown meat. The smell was strong and pungent, not helped by the garlic. It's not hard to see why most are hesitant. Luckily, Rosen knew better. Nash would never serve a meal he though wasn't worth eating. So she took a bite.
The garlic hit first and hit hardest. What followed was a mellow fishy flavor with powerful sweetness unlike honey or sugar. Long ago, Rosen had visited a harbor town that specialized in creatures known as crabs. The flavor was very similar, though the texture was much more smooth. It really was a tasty little treat.
Taking Rosen's lead, the gallery made their way up. Passing around the crackers and spread, their faces lighting up once the hesitation had passed. Few things make Nash smile as hard as a good meal being shared. Though on the equally small list of things which can ruin such a mood, one made their way to the front.
"Well now," Nash tried his hardest to hide the irritation in his voice. "If it isn't Samantha, come to reject more of me Hard work?"
Much to his surprise, Sam held out a hand asking for some swamp pig. Even more enthusiastic, he obliged and handed a well covered cracker. Sam bit into it without hesitation. It was gone quickly, though Sam still refused a second. Progress as far as Nash was concerned, however small.
That's when Blush came running up to talk to Rosen.
"We need more clay for my pottery class. More people came than I expected and… are you serving Khdash?"
"Right we are. Real hit if I can say. Wanna taste?"
"Oh no, I couldn't. It's not… wait. Are you serving it to women! You aren't supposed to do that! Women only eat Khdash on special occasions!"
"Blush, please, it will be fine." Rosen tried to calm the Kobalt with garlic still on her breath. "We are sorry if we broke a tradition of yours. We just don't have the same culture. Forgive us for this."
"No, no, you don't understand!" Blush started pulling at her little horns. "There is a reason we only serve it women at weddings and fertility festivals!"
"Fertility festivals? Wait! Do you mean-"
"Yes! It's a powerful aphrodisiac."
Nash was so distracted with his food pride he didn't notice that the yellow lizard kin had stopped eating. Draping herself against his arm, pulling his hairy hands between her modest chest and down her slender belly. Tail wagging and knees rubbing against each other as her pupils widened in animalistic desire. She raised a claw, jerking an imaginary shaft while her tongue wrapped around an imaginary head.
"Huh. So that's why dah merchant was given me dirty looks."
Nash is yanked away, being dragged off to a private room.
"Save the rest! Don't waste FOOOD." was the last thing heard before the door slammed. Rosen looked down at her third cracker, half eaten.
"Does this effect everyone?"
"No." Blush couldn't hide her worried tone. "Only females. Males eat it all the time."
"And how long does this take to kick in?"
On cue it kicked in. The feeling was not too different from the Holy Broth, except far more intense. Her legs buckle, her womanhood flooded, her hands groped of their own volition and her lips yearned for forbidden tastes. Compared to this the Broth is mild. A simple lubricant for perverse desires. The Swamp Pig was like fire burning across her whole body, which can only be put out by the seed of another. The Broth was for fun, this was for pure breeding.
The rest of the women were feeling it as well. Rosen was well versed in the art of desires, they were not. Some grabbed a man, any man, and dragged them away like Nash was. Others rushed off to private rooms themselves hoping to control their urges on their own. A couple even started masturbating right there, in the open for all to see. Totally overcome by their urges.
Rosen wasn't doing much better. Lucky she had a trick for this. Pink magics surrounded her body and the urges almost dissipated entirely. She stood straight again, her mind clear enough to do her job.
"Blush," Rose spoke with her normal conviction. "Please see to the leftovers. I need to take care of these two right here."
Rosen picked up the two women, half dressed and enraptured with their own bodies, and carried them off to the private rooms. Blush bowed and went about her given duty, quickly scrapping the scraps into a basket. To her surprise, Sam helped, with not even the slightest look of desire invading that perfect, pious face.