Plea #66: "Odd" 'Taters "Odd" potatoes aren't very common, but you're bound to find at least a few every fresh harvest.
These are potatoes that grow with a strange black skin and appear almost shriveled up, in a way.
The taste is a bit saltier, and their skin flakes off, but they're still pretty much edible.
Some people even prefer them! *Some*...
Most are put off by their appearance or different taste, and stick out like a sore thumb when compared to the rest.
That's why, oftentimes, farmers call alchemists to treat any sprouts found producing 'em.
What these magicians do is they apply a potion known as Viscouna to the roots.
This "cures" them in a way, forcing them to produce what is widely known as a "normal" potato.
This treatment doesn't come without its drawbacks, though.
When the plants are "fixed" with this stuff, their lifespan is reduced a bit, and they produce potatoes at only about half the speed of the rest.
The "Odd" plants also need regular treatments throughout their life, needing them more and more often as they continue receiving them.
You might wonder why they even bother, and while it may seem like a waste of resources on the surface, the potato is actually more valuable than the quantity of potion needed to "cure" it.
You can't tell an "Odd" potato plant from a "normal" one until after they've set down roots and begun growing crop, and by that point, each one is worth about 50 copper pieces, with the drop of Viscouna costing 5, plus the Alchemist's labor rate.
So if you have more than like, 5 "Odd" plants, it ends up being worth the hassle.
It's true that some farmers just rip them out, or even eat them on their own, but treatment seems to be the most common option from what I've seen.
Next time you see a potato farmer, you might ask him if he's got any "Odd" ones left over and give 'em a try!
You never know, they could just be a delicacy waiting to be discovered!