Poison Garden

Area 1-11 – Poison Garden

Everything here is poisonous in some way. Some things will kill you if touched, some have poisonous leaves or berries, and some are perfectly harmless until processed into poisons. There are four enclosures surrounding a tall tree with golden sap oozing down its bark.

Enclosure 1: Holds two kinds of poisonous berry bushes. The juice of the red berries can be applied to weapons. Poisoned weapons inflict an additional 1d4 damage per round for 3 rounds. The green berries, if ingested whole, may poison the victim within 1 hour (DC 12 Fortitude save or die). If powdered, inhalation or ingestion kills the victim within 1 round (DC 18 Fortitude save or die).

Enclosure 2: Contains only a single plant topped with a stunning red flower shaped like a trumpet. The pollen of this flower puts its victim into a coma which may end in death within 24 hours. If they make a DC 18 Fortitude save, the victim sleeps for a day and awakens normally.

Enclosure 3: Surrounds several types of flowering ground cover. The leaves of these plants cause afflictions of the skin. If the PCs touch them without protection, roll 1d4: (1) the skin of the hands erupts in blisters. Agility checks are -4 when using hands to manipulate; (2) a painful black spot appears on the PC’s fingertip. The black rot will continue to spread over the next few days moving up the finger to the hand, to the arm, to the body. It can only be stopped by removing the infected part; (3) the skin begins to dry out, weeping large greenish drops which spread the affliction to other areas and to other people if touched. While not fatal, this process is extremely painful (DC 12 Willpower save to take any action); (4) the skin begins to harden into lizard-like scales. If the affected skin is not removed, it will continue to spread slowly transforming the PC into a reptilian-looking monster (+1 AC, -1 Reflex saves).

Enclosure 4: A glowing pool covers the floor of this enclosure, pulsing with spots and stripes of neon-bright colors; sometimes images of people, creatures, and fantastic places appear briefly before fading and being replaced by others. Right now there are moving images of cats and kittens doing silly things.

This is something changed by the Demon Seed. Any PC touching this acquires an indelible mark. Should that PC survive, the Nameless will contact them later, even if the Demon Seed is defeated.

The Tree: The sap of this tree is used as a combat drug by pit fighters desperate to make a name for themselves or by assassins on suicide missions. If ingested, it makes the user much stronger and faster for 2d3 rounds (+3 to Strength modifier and +20’ movement) but weaker and slowed afterwards (-3 Strength modifier for 2d3 turns and 15’ movement for one day). After use, roll DC 10 Fortitude save. If failed, the user’s Personality and/or Intelligence are reduced by 1d3, permanently (player chooses distribution).

While it is unlikely the PCs are familiar with these exotic plants, the judge may allow those with relevant occupations to make a DC 20 Intelligence check to identify the specific properties of a plant.