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The Gender Potion: From Sunset to a New Dawn
Introduction
Throughout history, some Aislings (fewer than 1%) have reported distress associated with their gender. In scholarly terms, we call this condition "Gender Dysphoria." Gender dysphoria is a condition where an Aisling's internal image does not match their external image (e.g., a man believes they are a woman, or vice versa, or something in between). Many modern scholars believe that gender is a spectrum; however, for the sake of simplicity, this paper will operate on a binary scale. That's not to say that people who exist between A and B are not valid, it's simply beyond the scope of this paper.
In layman's terms, imagine you woke up tomorrow in the body of a slug. You can no longer speak, you have no hands with which to write, no feet with which to run, you have no mouth with which to scream. This is not the experience of a person with gender dysphoria; however, imagine the horror you would feel being reduced to such impotence. How would you feel about your existence? Knowing that you do not have the tools to make any meaningful changes. There are no solutions for you. You cannot create or enact a plan to change your lot. You are stuck, forever, knowing that you will never live up to the potential of what you know in your * heart * you are supposed to be.Your core would fundamentally be mismatched with what you are.
This horror is an unrelenting one for sufferers of gender dysphoria.
Now, imagine a potion that could instantly change your gender, allowing you to experience the world in a way that aligns with the identity you feel internally. This, in essence, is "The Gender Potion," a transformative item embraced by almost all Aislings and mundanes everywhere. I say almost all, because there are still naysayers amongst the population: Aislings who believe that we are what we are, and no potions can change that. For many of those naysayers, no amount of studies or arguments will change their minds on the subject. This paper is not an attempt to change minds, but to inform you, the reader, of the history and effects of the Gender Potion. This potion is currently the best solution we know of for sufferers of gender dysphoria.
The potion wasn't always as easy to obtain as it is today, and early adopters were marred by severe side effects. Even today, there are mild side effects to consider when one takes this potion. However, the relief found by Aislings suffering from gender dysphoria is almost entirely alleviated by the medicinal properties of this magical substance. This paper aims to explore the origins, effects, and impacts of the Gender Potion. It will discuss the challenges presented to Aislings by both past and present-day iterations of the potion and attempt to convey the importance of the potion in addressing gender dysphoria.
Origins of the Gender Potion
The Gender Potion was once colloquially known as the 'Sunset Potion'. It was introduced, mostly in secret, by the mundanes and given to very few individuals who were determined through professional screening to most need it. The name 'Sunset Potion' stemmed from the vibrant hues of orange, red, purple, and pink that swirled within the clear vials, reminiscent of a setting sun. Beyond its visual appeal, the name also held metaphorical significance. Taking the potion was like beginning a journey through the night, where if one emerged unscathed, a new dawn and a new life would greet them. Nowadays, the potion is much more stable, presenting as a silvery, almost metallic substance, and has far fewer and less severe side effects. During the pioneering days, however, anything could have happened to the consumers of this miracle drug.
While the potion's ingredients are mostly known, there is a secret ingredient, kept under mundane lock and key, fundamental to the potion's ability to function. Without it, the Gender Potion would not exist in any form, making it impossible to produce via Aisling means alone.
The following is the modern recipe for the potion as we know it. Keeping in mind, it is impossible to reproduce a functional Gender Potion without the secret ingredient provided by the mundanes.
Ingredients:
- Dochas Bloom - 3 petals
- Eidheann - 5 leaves
- Cactus Flower - 2 blossoms
- Kobold Tail - 5 leaves
- Hemloch - a splash
- Blue Powder - 1 phial
- Glamour Water - 4 phials
- Distilled Water - 3 drops
- Spring Water - 3 phials
- Unknown Ingredient (provided by the mundanes) - 1 vial
Instructions:
1. Cactus Flower Essence:
- Carefully remove two blossoms from the stem.
- Place them in a crystal bowl and cover with 4 phials of glamour water (water enchanted by followers of both Fiosachd and Gramail).
- Let the flowers steep for one double-moon. Strain and collect the essence.
2. Dochas Bloom Extract:
- Gently crush 3 petals in a mortar.
- Add 3 drops of distilled water to form a paste.
- Heat the paste over a low flame until it takes on a deep purple, almost black hue. Allow to cool.
3. Eidheann Essence:
- Bring 3 phials of spring water to a gentle boil and simmer the 5 leaves for 15 minutes.
- Strain the liquid and collect the essence. Discard the leaves. Allow the extract to cool.
4. Kobold Tail Solution:
- Cut 5 leaves into small pieces.
- Place the pieces in a copper pot and stir in 1 phial of blue powder with an oak stick.
- Heat the concoction over a high flame for 20 minutes. Scrape as much of the solution as possible from the pot.
Combining Ingredients:
- In a medium cauldron, combine the cooled Dochas Bloom extract, Eidheann essence, and Cactus Flower essence.
- Add the Kobold Tail solution slowly while stirring with an oak stick. While stirring, add a splash of hmloch, ensuring not to exceed 5 drops.
- After 10 minutes, the potion should take on a teal color. Carefully add the vial of the unknown ingredient provided by the mundanes. The potion will quickly turn from teal to an almost glowing silver.
Maturation:
- Distribute the potion into vials and allow it to mature for one season.
Usage Instructions:
Use the potion under supervision, as even with the modern iteration, unexpected side effects can occur. Administer by drinking a single dose (one vial) before bed.
Modern Side Effects:
This is the safest iteration of the formula we have. While this version of the formula is vastly improved from earlier versions, it still has some mild side effects, including headaches, growing pains, stomach cramps, irritability, and mood swings.
Early Side Effects and Challenges
In the early days of the formula, the Gender Potion had much more severe side effects. The most severe of these included extremely vivid hallucinations, with users often losing touch with reality and describing the experience as "living in their nightmares". They would find themselves in entirely new biomes inhabited by strange creatures. While under the effect of these hallucinations, they would sometimes wander into hostile areas. The transformation process was much longer, more painful, and appeared to occur in stages, reflected in said hallucinations. Users reported sometimes feeling encased in stone, petrified as their skin changed texture. Users also reported extreme tension throughout their bodies and heads before the sudden sensation of getting smaller or larger. This is just a few examples of the experiences of early users. A more complete, although perhaps a bit embellished, account of one user's experience can be found in the Loures Library under the title "Something in the Woods." These risks highlighted the necessity of proper supervision whilst using the potion, leading to numerous backroom discussions by the mundanes, and interventions aimed at mitigating these dangers. Because of these discussions, and the dangers associated with the side effects of the potion, the official widespread release of the Gender Potion was delayed until the more modern version of the formula that we see today was researched and created.
Gender dysphoria was also much less understood during the initial testing of the Gender Potion. It was widely frowned upon, as it was thought to occur due to personal choices, rather than an affliction of any physical kind. Through scholarly research, we've since discovered that indeed this condition occurs through no fault of the Aisling which it affects. This same research has yielded little to no alternatives for the treatment we currently widely use to alleviate gender dysphoria. That is, of course, transitioning to the gender more closely aligned with the user's internal identity via use of the Gender Potion.
The Role of Ingredients in the Gender Potion
We know that a great deal of the process of changing one's gender is handled specifically by the cactus flower essence, and more specifically, the glamour water in which the cactus flower blossoms are steeped. The enchantment of Fiosachd does much of the work rearranging our physical forms in a sort of illusion, while the enchantment of Gramail bends the laws to make these changes more permanent. Many of the other ingredients are used for symptom management, mitigating a vast majority of the negative side effects that plagued users of the potion in the past. However, cactus flower essence by itself does not yield any results without the mundane ingredients. Conversely, the mundane ingredients by themselves also yield no results. It is only when these two specific elements are combined that the magic takes effect!
Theories About Mundane Ingredient
While we don't know exactly what is in the vial provided by the mundanes to complete the formula of the Gender Potion, there have been several theories. One of the most prevalent theories is that the vial contains bits of Aisling tax money. This may sound humorous, but there is some merit to this theory. This is the main reason why an exorbitant amount of additional funds must be provided when purchasing a Gender Potion. Some people believe that Aisling tax money is infused with a sort of blessing of its own. We don't know what the mundanes do with the money when they get it, but we do know that it is used for various rare materials which we cannot obtain otherwise. Fiosachd's blessings are thought to be very much involved in these processes, suggesting that our taxes are literally blessed or enchanted by a god.
Another theory is that the materials are so dangerous that they simply cannot be allowed in the hands of the common folk. Aislings have proven in the past, time and time again, to be dangerous people. We are both a terrible and glorious society simultaneously. While we can do great things, many of us seemingly enjoy the suffering of others. That is why it is said that the materials used in secret by the mundanes are likely to be capable of powerful magicks. We are not privy to the specifics because we must be protected from ourselves.
I personally enjoy this theory more than the former, because I believe it requires powerful magic to rearrange the very vessels we inhabit without inflicting some damage on our minds or souls.
Conclusion
Gender dysphoria is a tricky thing. Even with this potion and all the advances we've made, even after socially and physically transitioning, gender dysphoria never goes away completely. The potion itself isn't perfect; biological functions are cosmetically present but otherwise dysfunctional. Yet, despite these imperfections, there is no substitute for the peace of mind one gets when they meet a stranger who calls them by the gender they feel inside.
Some people can't live with gender dysphoria. They will do anything it takes to get away from it, to destroy the thing that feeds the thoughts that keep them awake at night. If this potion stops just one of those people from doing something drastic, isn't it worth it? Regardless of what the naysayers think?
The Gender Potion represents hope and relief for many Aislings who struggle daily with their identity. It is a testament to our ongoing efforts to understand and address gender dysphoria. Though it may not be a perfect solution, it provides a vital sense of alignment and recognition that can profoundly impact an individual's well-being. As we continue to refine and improve the potion, we move closer to a world where all Aislings can live authentically and comfortably in their own skin.
Thank you for reading,
Moogle