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Chapter 17: Natural Substances
Histamines are poisons that result from
insect stings, producing irritation and swelling. Histamine
also causes contractions of involuntary
muscles, especially of the genital tract. If at least 1
fluid ounce of histamines is in the body of a character,
then the character must pass a Health subability
check to remain alive. The TH is 13 for each
fluid ounce of histamines in the body of a character.
Mercury, also known as quicksilver, varies
greatly in toxicity depending on the route of exposure.
Ingestion is largely without effects. Inhalation
of the vapor -- which is colorless, odorless, and
tasteless -- causes severe respiratory irritation, digestive
disturbances, and marked kidney damage,
often instantly. It has been known to cause violent
vomiting and eventual circulatory or kidney failure
in its victims. It is a silvery, noncombustible, and
odorless liquid.
Oleander is a poisonous plant that affects
the heart. Also called rose laurel, this is an evergreen
shrub with flowers and leathery leaves. Its
sap is highly toxic, and a single leaf may contain a
lethal dose. A lethal dose for a character is 1d10
leaves. A lethal dose for a horse is ¼ pound of
leaves, usually (30 +1d10) leaves. Occasionally, animals
die after ingestion without warning. Otherwise,
symptoms include depression, vomiting, diarrhea,
abdominal pain, irregularities in the heart rate
and rhythm. Each of these symptoms may be
avoided by passing a Health check at TH 18. As the
poison progresses, the extremities may become cold.
Symptoms occur in a few hours. Trembling and
collapse (2 Health checks at TH 20) can occur, followed
by coma (30% chance) and death (70%
chance) within a few hours.
Poison Hemlock is a poisonous plant that
may reach 10 feet in height, and in which the poison
is distributed throughout the entire plant and
upon reacting with the nervous system, causes paralysis.
This plant is of the parsley family and is a
large, coarse, unpleasant-smelling plant. Poison hemlock
induces trembling, loss of coordination, respiratory
paralysis, and eventually death. As it takes
effect, it ascends the body, progressing from the feet
to the head. The victim’s mind remains clear to the
end. A lethal dose is 4-5 pounds of leaves for a
horse, 1-2 pounds for cattle, and less than ½ pound
for sheep. A fatal dose for a character is (1d8 + 8)
ounces of the plant or the equivalent when extracted.
Each ounce does 2 LP damage. Within 2 hours of
eating the plant, characters become nervous, tremble,
and grow uncoordinated. After the excitement
phase, the character becomes depressed; the heart
and respiratory rates slow down. The legs, ears, and
other extremities become cold and bloating may
occur. In lethal cases, the character dies (1d6 + 4)
hours after ingestion.
Poison Ivy is a poisonous plant that brings
about skin irritation. A lacquer-like resin in the sap
is the source of irritation. The effects do not become
apparent for hours. First, the skin reddens
and begins to itch. Small, watery blisters soon appear
and the itching becomes intense. Recovery
occurs in 1d4 weeks. Scratching may cause it to
spread.
Rhubarb is a plant with edible stalks and
poisonous leaves. When the leaves are eaten, the
poison passes to the bloodstream and crystallizes in
the kidneys, rupturing the tubules. Affected creatures
will appear depressed, may stagger and tremble
(Health sub-ability check at TH 18), and appear weak.
Often, they will drink and urinate more as kidney
function declines. A lethal dose of ingested leaves
for a character may only be 1.5% of their body
weight (Health check at TH 13), 3% of body weight
(TH 16), 4.5% of body weight (TH 18), 6% of body
weight (TH 21, or 7.5% of body weight (TH 28).
Additional symptoms include abdominal pain, nausea,
vomiting, and drowsiness.
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