Classic and Exotic Cigars and How To Create and Enjoy Them
11-13-2021, 10:09 PM
Across the many settlements of Esshar, a singular notice is posted upon the boards for any and all interested. The person who places it is noted to be a particularly odoresque Kitsune girl, whom apparently smells of smoke and dirt, carrying always a lit cigar in their mouth despite their relatively young age. The notice depicts a rather inviting photograph of two cigars, one layered over the other, packed to the brim with brown plant matter. Thusly, titled;
Classic and Exotic Cigars and How To Create and Enjoy Them
Classic and Exotic Cigars and How To Create and Enjoy Them
A Field Guide by 'M'
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![[Image: 0a12771d571726ae30683acd8ddfc0cd.png]](https://i.gyazo.com/0a12771d571726ae30683acd8ddfc0cd.png)
Hello, kind friends! My name, or at the very least my Alias, is simply 'M'. This is to keep my identity relatively secret as I dive into the depths of the making and enjoying of fine cigars, as well as perhaps some that are.. Not.. So fine. And some that might outright be dangerous! This letter is entitled to those who enjoy the finer things in life, or perhaps those who find solace in the little enjoyments. Fuck knows we all need some happiness every now and again. With war and famine and the stress of the academy right around the corner, a cigar or two can take the edge off and form a lifelong accompaniment to those lonely, cold nights spend gazing under the stars.
Or create a horrific addiction if you put the wrong stuff in it.
Of course, you could just buy a store-bought cigar or cigarette and simply enjoy those. This is entirely reasonable, and likely much easier; However, the sterile and sometimes bland taste of nicotine or soothing reed, the medicinal taste of plants wrapped in paper, can be enhanced in a thousand ways.. And that, of course, first starts with preparation. This first article will simply be about what I, personally, smoke; A simple combination, but quite a delicious one that will leave you wondering, "wow, that sure was a cigar!"
When one is intent on making and enjoying a cigar, the most important step, first and foremost, is simple; Ingredients and preparation. Therefore, we move to part one.
Requirements
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Hello, kind friends! My name, or at the very least my Alias, is simply 'M'. This is to keep my identity relatively secret as I dive into the depths of the making and enjoying of fine cigars, as well as perhaps some that are.. Not.. So fine. And some that might outright be dangerous! This letter is entitled to those who enjoy the finer things in life, or perhaps those who find solace in the little enjoyments. Fuck knows we all need some happiness every now and again. With war and famine and the stress of the academy right around the corner, a cigar or two can take the edge off and form a lifelong accompaniment to those lonely, cold nights spend gazing under the stars.
Or create a horrific addiction if you put the wrong stuff in it.
Of course, you could just buy a store-bought cigar or cigarette and simply enjoy those. This is entirely reasonable, and likely much easier; However, the sterile and sometimes bland taste of nicotine or soothing reed, the medicinal taste of plants wrapped in paper, can be enhanced in a thousand ways.. And that, of course, first starts with preparation. This first article will simply be about what I, personally, smoke; A simple combination, but quite a delicious one that will leave you wondering, "wow, that sure was a cigar!"
When one is intent on making and enjoying a cigar, the most important step, first and foremost, is simple; Ingredients and preparation. Therefore, we move to part one.
Requirements
You will need:
1x Rolling paper of your choice. More on this later.
1x Soothing Reed, the later you pick it from ripeness the better, but do not let it get rotted or infested with insects. (1x Crimson Reed can be substituted, but will need slight changes)
1x Sugarcap Mushroom, just the cap. The stem can be used for broth or eaten raw. (2x may be required if you are using Crimson Reed instead of soothing reed)
2x Algernon's Leaf, or if not available due to its scarcity, 1x Alessa (we will be diluting this plant, do not worry!)
1x Pestle and Mortar (or a bowl and a rock)
Optionally:
A cigar roller, so that you may simply put your finished product inside and roll it more easily.
A small amount of nicotine, if that is your craving.
A drying rack to place your soothe reed, although letting it dry in the sun after spraying it down with water is effective as well.
If you are unable to procure a soothing reed, a crimson reed will work as well, and I will discuss this later.
1x Rolling paper of your choice. More on this later.
1x Soothing Reed, the later you pick it from ripeness the better, but do not let it get rotted or infested with insects. (1x Crimson Reed can be substituted, but will need slight changes)
1x Sugarcap Mushroom, just the cap. The stem can be used for broth or eaten raw. (2x may be required if you are using Crimson Reed instead of soothing reed)
2x Algernon's Leaf, or if not available due to its scarcity, 1x Alessa (we will be diluting this plant, do not worry!)
1x Pestle and Mortar (or a bowl and a rock)
Optionally:
A cigar roller, so that you may simply put your finished product inside and roll it more easily.
A small amount of nicotine, if that is your craving.
A drying rack to place your soothe reed, although letting it dry in the sun after spraying it down with water is effective as well.
If you are unable to procure a soothing reed, a crimson reed will work as well, and I will discuss this later.
Ingredient Preparation
When preparing the ingredients for your cigar, it is important to start at least a few hours before you intend to smoke, and even then you will need to have the sun out or a source of heat or light readily available. When choosing a rolling paper, I recommend looking for something with little to no flavoring, lest it be rid of the natural flavors you will be looking for in a quality cigar. Likewise, the rolling paper is not simply all you will need to pack; The 'filler', as is what goes inside of the wrapper, will be created using either the Algernon's leaf or the Alessa.
If using the Algernon's Leaves, you will need to bind the leaves together through a nature magi, or through a binding agent that should be either slightly bitter or tasteless, many of which are available in tobacco or smoking stores. Algernon's Leaves require drying for a few days ahead of the time so that they develop a dryness that is not quite 'crunchy', and is still malleable. The leaves will naturally begin to turn brown, but you want to stop them and take them right after they begin to lose their orange-brown colorations. You will know you have the correct consistently when you are able to pick the leaves up and they are able to be twisted and moved, but retain very little of their moisture. This may take a few attempts to get a good consistency, but once you learn, you'll understand the exact coloration you are looking for.
If you are using the Alessa, and wish to dilute it so you do not experience the severe aphrodesiac effects, you will need to dilute the leaf itself. First, you will need to carefully remove the veins, either through cutting them away entirely or very carefully removing the strands they are attached too. While a difficult process, this is where the more severe 'toxins' reside that produce such an effect. Secondarily, you will need to soak your de-veined Alessa in a tub of water for an hour or two. The water will turn a light green color, similar to a lust potion. I do not recommend you drink this water. An Alessa will take a few hours to dry, much more quickly than an Algernon's Leaf, making it more ideal if you are strapped for time. Simply place it or your Leaf under the sun or on a drying rack, and when the Alessa fades from its bright, vibrant green to a dull brown, you will have the perfect consistency for your cigar filler.
The filler for my personal favorite cigar is soothe reed, although it is not always widely available. A common replacement ingredient is crimson reed, and they are both prepared the same way, although there is a secondary step for the crimson reed. First, the reed will need to be dried, just as before. A drying rack or merely leaving it in the sun for a full day will cause the needles of the reed to expel their moisture, and can be expedited by adding salt to the plant beforehand, though this may cause the flavor to be a bit.. Salty. There is no easy way to tell when the plant is properly dried aside from touch- If it is sticky, then it still has water to expel. Take your reed and pluck or comb the needles off of the soothe reed and place them within your pestle and mortar. If you are using a crimson reed, it is very important to take the red tip off of the plant first and put it aside, as the flavor from the red bit is very medicinal and can ruin a cigar instantly. Grind the needles until you get a powder- It will not turn into a paste due to a lack of water. This will be what goes inside of your 'filler'.
Your sugarcap mushrooms will need to have the cap removed, but be careful not to damage the gills. The spores of this mushroom are incredibly sweet and is where the flavor mostly comes from. Destroying the gills will still result in a sweet flavor, but may result in your mushroom losing much needed flavor. Likewise, this is going to go inside of your pestle and mortar, but does not need to be dried- This mushroom does not easily release water, and will shrivel and rot instead of drying properly. A water magi or nature magi may circumvent this, but it is not required as the paste will enable the filler and reed to properly bind together.
With this, your ingredients have been properly prepared. Keep them stored in a cool, dry environment if you are not using them right away- Somewhere that moisture will not easily be able to get into, or else your powders and dry ingredients may turn back to pastes.
If using the Algernon's Leaves, you will need to bind the leaves together through a nature magi, or through a binding agent that should be either slightly bitter or tasteless, many of which are available in tobacco or smoking stores. Algernon's Leaves require drying for a few days ahead of the time so that they develop a dryness that is not quite 'crunchy', and is still malleable. The leaves will naturally begin to turn brown, but you want to stop them and take them right after they begin to lose their orange-brown colorations. You will know you have the correct consistently when you are able to pick the leaves up and they are able to be twisted and moved, but retain very little of their moisture. This may take a few attempts to get a good consistency, but once you learn, you'll understand the exact coloration you are looking for.
If you are using the Alessa, and wish to dilute it so you do not experience the severe aphrodesiac effects, you will need to dilute the leaf itself. First, you will need to carefully remove the veins, either through cutting them away entirely or very carefully removing the strands they are attached too. While a difficult process, this is where the more severe 'toxins' reside that produce such an effect. Secondarily, you will need to soak your de-veined Alessa in a tub of water for an hour or two. The water will turn a light green color, similar to a lust potion. I do not recommend you drink this water. An Alessa will take a few hours to dry, much more quickly than an Algernon's Leaf, making it more ideal if you are strapped for time. Simply place it or your Leaf under the sun or on a drying rack, and when the Alessa fades from its bright, vibrant green to a dull brown, you will have the perfect consistency for your cigar filler.
The filler for my personal favorite cigar is soothe reed, although it is not always widely available. A common replacement ingredient is crimson reed, and they are both prepared the same way, although there is a secondary step for the crimson reed. First, the reed will need to be dried, just as before. A drying rack or merely leaving it in the sun for a full day will cause the needles of the reed to expel their moisture, and can be expedited by adding salt to the plant beforehand, though this may cause the flavor to be a bit.. Salty. There is no easy way to tell when the plant is properly dried aside from touch- If it is sticky, then it still has water to expel. Take your reed and pluck or comb the needles off of the soothe reed and place them within your pestle and mortar. If you are using a crimson reed, it is very important to take the red tip off of the plant first and put it aside, as the flavor from the red bit is very medicinal and can ruin a cigar instantly. Grind the needles until you get a powder- It will not turn into a paste due to a lack of water. This will be what goes inside of your 'filler'.
Your sugarcap mushrooms will need to have the cap removed, but be careful not to damage the gills. The spores of this mushroom are incredibly sweet and is where the flavor mostly comes from. Destroying the gills will still result in a sweet flavor, but may result in your mushroom losing much needed flavor. Likewise, this is going to go inside of your pestle and mortar, but does not need to be dried- This mushroom does not easily release water, and will shrivel and rot instead of drying properly. A water magi or nature magi may circumvent this, but it is not required as the paste will enable the filler and reed to properly bind together.
With this, your ingredients have been properly prepared. Keep them stored in a cool, dry environment if you are not using them right away- Somewhere that moisture will not easily be able to get into, or else your powders and dry ingredients may turn back to pastes.
Assembly
![[Image: cigar-leaf-structure-e1527624856424.png]](https://staragritech.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/cigar-leaf-structure-e1527624856424.png)
Having a cigar mold or an automatic roller will make this part much easier, but there is something to be said, as well, about binding and creating your own cigar through hand-made means. That something is probably "i wish i had an automatic roller or a cigar mold", but the taste will be there all the same. This part is tricky and will likely take many attempts, but do not worry; Even if it falls apart, you can simply try to combine these ingredients back together and reform the paper. A single failed try is simply that, and practice will make perfect. Some leaves are more resilient than others. Some ingredients will be more difficult to work with. THe key to a good cigar is simple; Do not give up until you find the perfect balance.
The first step is to carefully remove your filler (the stuff you're smoking!) and the binder (the stuff holding it together!). In a singular container, combine the algernon's leaf or alessa, and the sugarcap mushroom paste. Rolling it together will cause a very light brown colored paste to emerge, though it is still malleable enough to move around. The sugarcap offers a sweetness that you will just barely taste due to the alessa or leaf diluting it, but two are required if you are using a crimson reed instead of a soothing reed due to the medicinal taste. After combining the binder, roll it out onto a flat surface using your hands or whatever tool you have available until its roughly an eight of an inch thick and as long as you want your cigar to be- I recommend a few inches, at the VERY least.. Though no more than a foot, as the thing might break apart very easily at this length.
Take your filler - Either your crimson reed or soothe reed powder- and very delicately spread it across the flat binder layer. You'll want to pack in as much as you're able while still being able to roll it, so a layer of roughly a quarter inch thick, leaving room on both sides (but not the ends) of roughly the same length is generally how I prefer to go. This allows you to roll it without losing too much off the sides, and gives you a good margin of error to work with. After the layer is spread across the binder, you will then curl one longside of your cigar, roll the butt end up into a small ball, and then drag the curled end over the entire thing. Drag the filler layer back with the curled binder layer, and once you have formed a circle, roll the entire thing until it resembles a cigar tube. It will still be very mushy, offering you a very malleable 'stick' of mushroom paste and reed powder, but should offer you very easy movements when it comes to rolling it. These instructions may be confusing, but after the first time or two, it's as simple as riding a bike. Maybe easier.
Third, you will take your wrapping paper. I tend to use 'Osronan Gold' as this is what is mostly available to me, as it is very cheap and does not have a flavor that offends, but you may choose whatever you like. Good alternatives to Osronan Gold are 'Organic Alessa' for a tingling sensation within your mouth, or 'Gehennan Skunk' to hide any unpleasant aromas that may occur from within your cigar due to the smoking process, as it is a very thick and absorbent paper. Osronan Gold, however, is the most smooth paper I have found and the one I highly recommend(please sponsor me). Removing a single sheet of paper, you may find it is too long for your cigar, but you may cut these freely with little to no issue. If it is too short, you have simply made your cigar too long; The end that isn't curled into a ball can be cut down to size and smoked later.
The end piece of Osronan gold even includes a small tip carved of wood to allow you to smoke easier, without requiring you to make your own 'smoking' nub. Wrap the paper around your binder layer, making sure the nub is placed behind the 'ball' created to give it less of a chance to break apart as you smoke it. If you need to pack the tobacco tighter, simply use both your index finger and thumb on both hands to roll both sides of the paper up and down until the filler is pressed further down into the tube. Do not squeeze the filler, as this could release moisture making it difficult, if not impossible, to smoke. Simply take one side of the rolling paper and tuck it down into the tobacco, and then roll the rest of the paper upwards until it meets the top end of the other side of your paper.
Sealing it is simple. Moisten with your tongue, and close the paper together. You may light this at any time and smoke it, or leave it to dry for any sort of time. You may leave this particular type of cigar for up to a week before the mushroom paste will begin to rot, and even then, the 'rot' is still sweet, and the rot will only make it more and more sweet as time goes on. If you wish, you may leave your dry ingredients packed together for up to a few years before any type of change will need to be made, and this offers a more severe flavor the longer you let it go.
The flavor is this cigar is simple; The soothe reed offers a calming and gentle taste that, if prepared correctly, will be almost entirely lacking of the medicinal taste that even crimson reed is known for. The sugarcap mushrooms offer a sweet, earthy taste that the Algernon's Leaf or Alessa merely exemplifies, and if you are using Alessa, one can expect the diluted herb to offer a tingling sensation within their mouth, something like a cool mint taste. The flavor is not uncommon of store bought cigars, but enhanced through the natural flavors you can find in the woods- And as someone who's had to forage all their lives to survive, it's a taste that reminds me of living life.
It's not delicate, it's not gentle, and it packs a punch, especially for a newcomer.. But it's how I got into smoking, and it's a good first step, as well. It's also only moderately addictive!
![[Image: d238d62eda861e420a2b6b581866f978.png]](https://i.gyazo.com/d238d62eda861e420a2b6b581866f978.png)
The final step is simple; Enjoy.
If you have any suggestions or requests for any other cigar types you'd like me to try, simply send a message my way or leave a request on the board of which you found this message. Remember; Some things are dangerous, if not deadly, to smoke, but with the right process, most anything can be enjoyed. Just be sure if it's illegal or expensive to send a bit of money my way, too!
-M (send a message to An Mouse#3466 on Discord, or to 'Marissa' in game if you have a request or a comment!)
The first step is to carefully remove your filler (the stuff you're smoking!) and the binder (the stuff holding it together!). In a singular container, combine the algernon's leaf or alessa, and the sugarcap mushroom paste. Rolling it together will cause a very light brown colored paste to emerge, though it is still malleable enough to move around. The sugarcap offers a sweetness that you will just barely taste due to the alessa or leaf diluting it, but two are required if you are using a crimson reed instead of a soothing reed due to the medicinal taste. After combining the binder, roll it out onto a flat surface using your hands or whatever tool you have available until its roughly an eight of an inch thick and as long as you want your cigar to be- I recommend a few inches, at the VERY least.. Though no more than a foot, as the thing might break apart very easily at this length.
Take your filler - Either your crimson reed or soothe reed powder- and very delicately spread it across the flat binder layer. You'll want to pack in as much as you're able while still being able to roll it, so a layer of roughly a quarter inch thick, leaving room on both sides (but not the ends) of roughly the same length is generally how I prefer to go. This allows you to roll it without losing too much off the sides, and gives you a good margin of error to work with. After the layer is spread across the binder, you will then curl one longside of your cigar, roll the butt end up into a small ball, and then drag the curled end over the entire thing. Drag the filler layer back with the curled binder layer, and once you have formed a circle, roll the entire thing until it resembles a cigar tube. It will still be very mushy, offering you a very malleable 'stick' of mushroom paste and reed powder, but should offer you very easy movements when it comes to rolling it. These instructions may be confusing, but after the first time or two, it's as simple as riding a bike. Maybe easier.
Third, you will take your wrapping paper. I tend to use 'Osronan Gold' as this is what is mostly available to me, as it is very cheap and does not have a flavor that offends, but you may choose whatever you like. Good alternatives to Osronan Gold are 'Organic Alessa' for a tingling sensation within your mouth, or 'Gehennan Skunk' to hide any unpleasant aromas that may occur from within your cigar due to the smoking process, as it is a very thick and absorbent paper. Osronan Gold, however, is the most smooth paper I have found and the one I highly recommend(please sponsor me). Removing a single sheet of paper, you may find it is too long for your cigar, but you may cut these freely with little to no issue. If it is too short, you have simply made your cigar too long; The end that isn't curled into a ball can be cut down to size and smoked later.
The end piece of Osronan gold even includes a small tip carved of wood to allow you to smoke easier, without requiring you to make your own 'smoking' nub. Wrap the paper around your binder layer, making sure the nub is placed behind the 'ball' created to give it less of a chance to break apart as you smoke it. If you need to pack the tobacco tighter, simply use both your index finger and thumb on both hands to roll both sides of the paper up and down until the filler is pressed further down into the tube. Do not squeeze the filler, as this could release moisture making it difficult, if not impossible, to smoke. Simply take one side of the rolling paper and tuck it down into the tobacco, and then roll the rest of the paper upwards until it meets the top end of the other side of your paper.
Sealing it is simple. Moisten with your tongue, and close the paper together. You may light this at any time and smoke it, or leave it to dry for any sort of time. You may leave this particular type of cigar for up to a week before the mushroom paste will begin to rot, and even then, the 'rot' is still sweet, and the rot will only make it more and more sweet as time goes on. If you wish, you may leave your dry ingredients packed together for up to a few years before any type of change will need to be made, and this offers a more severe flavor the longer you let it go.
The flavor is this cigar is simple; The soothe reed offers a calming and gentle taste that, if prepared correctly, will be almost entirely lacking of the medicinal taste that even crimson reed is known for. The sugarcap mushrooms offer a sweet, earthy taste that the Algernon's Leaf or Alessa merely exemplifies, and if you are using Alessa, one can expect the diluted herb to offer a tingling sensation within their mouth, something like a cool mint taste. The flavor is not uncommon of store bought cigars, but enhanced through the natural flavors you can find in the woods- And as someone who's had to forage all their lives to survive, it's a taste that reminds me of living life.
It's not delicate, it's not gentle, and it packs a punch, especially for a newcomer.. But it's how I got into smoking, and it's a good first step, as well. It's also only moderately addictive!
The final step is simple; Enjoy.
If you have any suggestions or requests for any other cigar types you'd like me to try, simply send a message my way or leave a request on the board of which you found this message. Remember; Some things are dangerous, if not deadly, to smoke, but with the right process, most anything can be enjoyed. Just be sure if it's illegal or expensive to send a bit of money my way, too!
-M (send a message to An Mouse#3466 on Discord, or to 'Marissa' in game if you have a request or a comment!)
![[Image: edbae8adc4cdc657c7307971b838ad95.png]](https://i.gyazo.com/edbae8adc4cdc657c7307971b838ad95.png)
if anyone asks i got banned for sending /messages to people
![[Image: il_300x300.2279044834_skc1.jpg]](https://i.etsystatic.com/5574243/r/il/717545/2279044834/il_300x300.2279044834_skc1.jpg)
![[Image: amIICOU.png]](https://i.imgur.com/amIICOU.png)