Elfbark is a tree bark that is crafted into hypnotic tea. It is often used by slave-owners in Chalced to increase stamina but dull the mind, so they do not try to escape.
Fitz uses elfbark to help dull his Skill-hunger, but it does not kill the craving for that connection. It does, however, deaden his ability to skill, which was not true of Chade.
It is a stimulant
Elfbark, more specifically delventree bark, is a stimulant used to increase stamina. It increases the work hours that a slave can perform while dulling their minds and making them less likely to try to escape. However, it can also make the user feel suicidal and eroding their self-worth.
Despite the dangerous side effects of this herb, it is often used to drug slaves in Chalced as it increases stamina while dulling their minds and preventing them from trying to escape. While it does provide stamina in times of need, it is a dangerous substance to use too frequently and can alter a man’s temperament so that he is suspicious and defensive even with his closest companions, eroding their sense of trust.
Fitz recalls elfbark from a time he tried it, finding it helped him to dull his Skill-hunger while also helping to suppress the pain of skilling. But Kettle warns that it actually deadens the ability to Skill for those who consume it.
It dulls the mind
Elfbark is a black, bitter tea that Fitz uses to dull his thirst for skill. Kettle is a bit thrown by his long use of the herb, but it does the job.
The best quality elfbarking.com is obtained by incising along the edge of the twig, then slicing around it to free the bark. Once the bark is free, it can be grated into a powder and infused as tea.
It is also worth noting that while it is a good idea to drink elfbark, it may not be the best way to do so. A better option is to brew it into a fine wine or ale, which will be more beneficial and less likely to lead to a mishap.
There are other herbs to brew in a tea or mix into gruel that might also float the boat, although they probably won’t be as pronounced as the elfbark. Among the more notable ones are:
It deadens the ability to Skill
Elfbark is a painkilling drug derived from the bark of the elf tree. It has a long history of use as a medicinal herb. It is usually used for easing pain, but also to dull Skill-hunger and headaches.
Kettle explains that a small amount of elfbark can be helpful in dulling the mind, but overindulging on it can stunt or even obliterate a Skill’s ability to function. She also points out that it can be addictive. She says that it is said that elfbark can extinguish the ability to Skill in the young and that it can cripple its growth for older Skill-users.
Fitz is horrified to find out that he was using elfbark, but Kettle tries to persuade him to stop. She explains that if he does not take elfbark, the pain will continue to mount and it will be harder for him to get rid of his Skill-hunger. She offers more elfbark for him to drink, but he declines.