Skip to main content

Food and Drink

Ambra​

Overview​

Ambra is a warm, grain-based drink consumed throughout Wendmor, most commonly in taverns, public houses, and communal halls such as the Wyrm’s Wing. While technically brewed, Ambra is non-alcoholic in custom, effect, and social role, occupying a place closer to coffee or cocoa than to beer or ale.

Ambra is not a finished drink but a base. It is intended to be prepared at the table and shaped to taste through added infusions. These may include herbs, powders, sugars, salts, spices, and other substances people prefer not to dwell on too closely. Different infusions produce different effects: some calm, some protect against illness, some encourage creativity or harmony, and some are quietly reputed to loosen the truth (Azar keeps rejecting those).

Luna always drinks Ambra with her own herbal infusions, which she carries with her at all times.

Few drink Ambra uninfused. It is an acquired taste. Taren prefers his Ambra nearly pure and syrup-thick, with very little added water.

Preparation & Serving​

Ambra begins as a slightly roasted and gently fermented grain mash, produced in large quantities in Stoneport and in smaller operations across Wendmor. The fermentation is arrested early, developing depth and bitterness without intoxicating effect.

The base is transported in sealed tubs, where it continues to settle and mature slowly. When served, a portion is ladled into a tankard and topped up with hot water to drinking strength. The ratio varies by house custom and personal preference.

Ambra naturally froths when diluted. In pubs and taverns, most people stir it thoroughly to bring up the foam before drinking, though some prefer to sip through it. Ambra is always served warm. Tankards are standard. Cups are considered impractical.

In cafés, the custom is different. Bella serves Ambra with carefully balanced, often sweet infusions chosen to complement the cakes she bakes. When Ambra is taken with cake, stirring is generally frowned upon, as it disrupts both the froth and the intended balance of flavor.

Culture & Trade​

Despite being brewed, Ambra is not treated as alcohol. It is acceptable at any hour, does not excuse poor behavior, and does not signal intoxication. Ordering Ambra is a declaration of time, not appetite.

People gather for Ambra the way others gather for coffee: after work, before long conversations, during negotiations, or on cold evenings with nothing urgent to do. Refusing Ambra is never rude. Accepting it implies you intend to stay.

Stoneport produces the most consistent and widely distributed Ambra base, and its product is considered the reference standard. Elsewhere, local producers use different grains, roasts, and thicknesses, resulting in recognizable regional styles. Debate over whose Ambra is best is common and never resolved.

In common speech:

  • “Put the kettle on. I’ll have Ambra.”
  • “Let it settle, then stir.”
  • “Too strong—cut it with more water.”

Ambra does not change what people think.
It changes how long they are willing to talk about it.

Kelar​

Overview​

Kelar is a cold, herbal–fruit drink taken for refreshment rather than comfort. It is served ice cold and consumed quickly, valued for its cooling effect and sharp, lightly sweet taste. Where Ambra slows an evening, Kelar restores momentum.

Kelar is thin, never syrupy, and always ice cold. It is drunk in gulps rather than sips, and is most commonly taken during the day, after exertion, or in heat.

Preparation & Serving​

Kelar is made from a cooling herbal infusion combined with fruit, light sweetening, and cold water. It is stored chilled, either over ice or in stone cooling cabinets, and served immediately.

It is always served cold, never warm, and never in tankards. Tall cups or bottles are standard. There is no froth, and stirring is unnecessary.

Culture & Variations​

At the Wyrm’s Wing, Azar serves a standard Kelar: pre-mixed, pre-bottled, consistent, and functional. It is meant to refresh and move people along, and Azar sees no reason to complicate it.

Luna also serves Kelar from her apothecary, but prepares it to order. When asked for Kelar, she always follows with:

“Ice cold. Which fruit?”

Fruit options vary by season and supply, and subtly alter sharpness, sweetness, and aftertaste. Nothing is labeled or explained.

If asked to “surprise me,” Luna selects the fruit herself, choosing quietly and without comment. Regulars learn to trust the result.

In common speech:

  • “Get me something cold — Kelar.”
  • “Cut it sharper.”
  • “Save the Ambra for later.”