Somnus
Somnus is a highly addictive soporific drug made out of the milk of dream flowers[1].
About
The dream flower, from which Somnus is made, is highly illegal[2]. The substance can be sniffed[3] or smoked[4]. Soporific means that it is sleep-inducing, especially in medicines or drugs[5]. It is said that those who overindulge on it will fall into an eternal slumber, or even death[6][3].
An somnus addiction can be hidden, but ultimately will change the addicts life. Nothing but the substance matters for them[7]. Though somnus withdrawal treatment exist, it is rather expensive[8].
The effects of somnus are similar - though mostly reduced to the drowsiness factor - to those of opioids[9]. Dream flowers and the production of somnus with their milk is similar of producing opium from opium poppies[10].
Smuggling
Smuggling and creation of Somnus is part of some side-story content, especially in Thanalan. There the Alacran are mostly known for smuggling somnus. But it is also documented that the Amalj'aa have been involved in smuggling somnus[11].
Etymology
The latin word "somnus" is inherited by the proto-italic "swepnos", and has the meaning of "sleep, slumber", "drowsiness" and "death"[12].
References
- ↑ Lost Hope Landmark description
- ↑ Journal entry for Scream Blue Murder:"... dream flowers─highly illegal and used in the production of somnus[...]."
- ↑ a b Making a Name, Ahldskyf after the herbs are delivered: "a substance whose fragrance is said to lull the sniffer's mind into the sleep of death.".
- ↑ Initiating dialogue of the FATE Hungry Hobbledehoy, when speaking with her: "and my older brother lies all day in the corner with his somnus pipe"
- ↑ Dictionary.com, meaning for "soporific", 16.10.2026
- ↑ The Spirit Is Willing, Chuchuto, after delivering the toad legs to the Black Brush Station: "Somnus... That's the mind-warping substance made from dream flowers. Those who overindulge are said to fall into an eternal slumber.".
- ↑ For Better or Worse, when Sophie speaks about Oriel:"She's a somnus addict. Once it takes hold, it...changes you. [...] and somnus was her only escape. Nothing else mattered to her, not even her own child."
- ↑ Journal entry for Gunblades of the Patriots: "... although paying for Oriel's somnus withdrawal treatment has drained their limited finances and they have barely been able to make ends meet [...]."
- ↑ Wikipedia.org, article about Opioids, 16.10.2026
- ↑ Wikipedia.org, article about opium, 16.10.2026
- ↑ Still Waters Thancred, when speaking with Fufulupa: "I just took a brief excursion to the east to check up on our Amalj'aa friends. [...]I have never seen such a prodigious quantity of somnus. The Blades were calling it one of the greatest hauls they've ever seen."
- ↑ Wiktionary.org, "somnus", 16.10.2026
