Poisoned Shadows - Toxicology

Last Kiss

Last Kiss
1k1 die of damage / 2 minutes / 24 minutes

This versatile contact poison is a clear, slightly greasy gel which can be applied to a weapon or some other item, but is more commonly used by Vodacce courtesans as a cosmetic enhancement. Any surface treated with the poison appears wet and shiny; typically, a courtesan applies this substance to her skin or hair, seduces her intended victim, and lets nature (and the man’s own lust) take its course. The poison has a numbing effect on its victims, deadening them to minor physical sensations and likely encouraging them to apply more effort towards “achieving the desired outcome.” As the numbness spreads throughout a victim’s body, it saps away his strength, leaving him fatigued at best and utterly drained at worst. Because this (and the other symptoms of Last Kiss—shortness of breath and muscle spasms) can be easily attributed to a vigorous, erotic encounter, it is possible that a victim of Last Kiss may not even realize he has been poisoned.

In addition to the damage listed above, the victim loses one point of Brawn every time he suffers a Dramatic Wound from the effects of Last Kiss; a victim reduced to 0 Brawn is so weak, he cannot get out of bed—in fact, he cannot even lift his arms. Once the poison has run its course, a victim begins to recover lost Brawn at the rate of one point every 20 minutes.

Notes: The poison is unusual in that it will not affect someone who already has the poison in his or her system—it takes a full twenty-four hours before a victim of Last Kiss is subject to its effects again. This allows a poisoner to mix a dose of the poison with water or wine and ingest it, then wait for its symptoms to subside—an unpleasant task, but one which should allow her sufficient time to shake off the effects and apply the gel prior to meeting up with her intended victim.

Per the rules in The Apothecary’s Guild, the TN to refine a single dose of Last Kiss is 37.