Dragonfire of the Draska

I swear if one more cook tries to feed me something violently spicy...

— Nian

The ancient Draska were secretly servants of the Shadow that took the form of a great Dragon. As befitted his servants, these people loved to eat spicy food, characterized by anything containing Dragonfire peppers.

When cooking with these fiery peppers, it is important to remember to add Star Anise to the recipe to bring the Symbol of Light into the mixture, removing any trace of Shadow.

No one knows the origin of this myth. Once Draska returned to the country, they violently regected this claim, stating that they prefered plain food whenever possible.

Some believe the myth was created in Kingstown by a merchant trying to sell food as magic that had accidentally been over-spiced.

In the Draska lands of Summerstown under the realm of Trillia, the myth was embraced and spicy food was often served to her court without the additon of Star Anise.

Sample Recipe: Dragonfire Honey Glazed Chicken Wings

Ingredients:

• Chicken wings
• Honey
• Dragonfire peppers (or tasty hot sauce)
• Garlic
• Soy sauce
• Ginger
• Cinnamon
• Cardamom
• Star Anise
• A splash of mead or mirin
• Additional powdered sweetener (sugar, dried honey, etc.)

Preparation:

1. Make the Marinade: In a large bowl, mix honey, finely chopped dragonfire peppers (or hot sauce), minced garlic, soy sauce, grated ginger, and other spices including at least one Star Anise flower to represent the Symbol of Light. This will counteract the natural evil of the dragonfire peppers. Add a splash of mead or mirin for an extra layer of flavor. Bring the mixture to a boil, adding a little bit of water to make sure you have enough sauce to cover the chicken. Once the flavors have merged, remove the Star Anise.
2. Marinate the Wings: Soak the chicken in the sauce mixture for at least an hour.
3. Dust: Add a little bit of dragonfire pepper dust mixed with sweetener of your choice on the chicken pieces to encourage the wings to caramelize.
4. Bake or Fry: Cook the wings until they are crispy and golden brown. You can bake them in an oven or fry them in a cauldron over an open flame. Baste as needed with the left over marinade. Try to get the edges to blacken a bit.
5. Reduce: Boil the left over marinade until it becomes sticky and caramelized. Taste and add honey if desired.
6. Glaze: Once the wings are cooked, toss them or baste them with the reduced sauce. Return to the heat if needed to get the glaze to brown.
7. Serve: Garnish with fresh herbs, celery, or other cooling vegetables. Serve with dipping sauce of your choice.