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Drugs and poisons are extremely common in Nyissa. A high number of the plants produce useful compounds with varying effects.
Nyissans have absorbed these compounds into their culture. However, they are frowned upon in other countries, to the point of being illegal. Most ports won't allow a Nyissan ship in without searching it thoroughly first. Thus, outside Nyissa only healing compounds are common. Of course, the restrictions also mean that Nyissan drugs and poisons command high prices on the black market.
Little detail is given in the books for the various drugs and poisons mentioned. Very few list any chance of survival without an antidote. I've given each my best guess for Save Rate, Effect and Recovery. Full poison rules are found in chapter 7 of Eternal Soldier.
A couple of notes. Polgara did say there can't be any such thing as a love potion. She also said that a lot of the healing drugs can be dangerous in large quantities, and some of the poisons can be useful in tightly controlled doses. She never gave specifics.
I also think Polgara lied a bit about medicines. She claimed that some of her remedies are "quite delicious," but everyone else claimed they were universally foul-tasting.
Physically addictive Nyissan drug that affects the blood. Becomes toxic after eight hours if more is not ingested. No damage is taken until then. Salmissra gave this to Garion.
Once ingested, has no effect until victim becomes agitated, then does 1d4 hit points for every failed constitution roll. Convulsions accompany death. If not fatal, it flushes out of the body after 24 hours. Most Nyissan smugglers won't touch athsat, so it's seldom available in other countries, and always at a premium price. Athsat was used in the Tolnedran political process.
When boiled into a tea and drunk, eases pain and makes one sleepy. Probably similar to opium. Does 10 Fatigue per failed constitution roll. The "victim" will sleep normally when Fatigue reaches 0. Used by Ariana.
Clear liquid that, when consumed an hour before or after alcohol, causes vomiting for every failed constitution roll. This costs 5 Fatigue per failure, and dry heaves do happen after the stomach is emptied. It also makes a drunk person skip straight to the hangover once the vomiting ends.
On the other hand, if consumed during a hangover, it will cure it in 2d6 minutes. Only a mild headache will be left, for 1d6 hours. Consuming any alcohol for an hour afterward brings on the effects listed above.
Colorless, nearly odorless liquid. There is a faint taste of lemon associated, which a trained person can recognize on a successful Poison skill roll.
The antidote halts the effects, but only if taken within the first 15 minutes. It also leaves the person feeling weak and light-headed (-1d6 to both ST and CN) until the damage from the poison heals.
Physically addictive liquid. When ingested, increases physical lust and relaxes inhibitions. One point is lost from both IN and WI for each failed constitution roll. They return at one point each per hour after the drug is shaken off.
Thick green liquid that encourages truthfulness. Also prevents focusing the will for any of the mystical arts. Leaves a foul taste.
When a drop or two is consumed, causes the person to talk too much and encourages truth. It's hard on the heart, so it also has the following effects on someone who has a weak heart, or who is bleeding:
The same dose can also cause a hysterical person to relax. A three-drop dose will act as a sedative, putting the person to sleep before any useful information can be extracted.
Described as a clear yellow liquid in King of the Murgos, but as a thick blue liquid in Demon Lord of Karanda. Since there is another thick blue liquid with different effects described elsewhere, I'm inclined to believe the yellow color.
Stops pain almost instantly and makes the subject sleepy. While fighting off the drug, the subject feels compelled to talk, but is not suggestible as with oret. Polgara gave this to Adara after pulling the arrow out of her. Ariana didn't use this, so it's possible that only Polgara keeps a supply on hand.
The poison Salmissra took when the Alorns all but destroyed Nyissa. It tastes foul, but it's completely painless.
Ariana mentioned that she knew of a few, but they did not have a calming effect if the patient was too agitated. In fact, they would then be dangerous. The above statistics (such as they are) apply only to a highly emotional person.
Polgara knew of at least one that did not cause such damage. And Sadi had one that would leave the person deliriously happy for several minutes, then put them to sleep for 1d6+1 days.
The single most venomous type of snake is a small green Nyissan variety, with a red stripe running from nose to tail. For snakes, they are very intelligent and affectionate, and they purr like a cat when content. They also don't bite while they are purring. Thus, they are highly prized as pets by Nyissans, despite their danger. The venom uses the following statistics:
Thalot infects every cell of the body, so not even sorcery can draw it out. Causes hysteria, delirium and convulsions similar to epilepsy after the first week, which increase in frequency as the poison continues its effects. Victim loses 1 HP the first week, 2 HP the second week, 4 HP the third, and so on until he either shakes off the poison or dies.
There is a foul smell associated with thalot, which anyone will notice on the victim during and for about ten minutes after a convulsion. A successful roll against Poison skill at -20% will correctly identify thalot in this case.
This is the substance Sadi put on Naradas' spoon. It causes the throat to swell shut, preventing any air from getting to the lungs.
Original material © Patrick Clark
1999/2001
Everything else is either © Tai-Gear Simulations or © David & Leigh
Eddings
Last updated 21 November 2001