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Potion of Poison

Potion Of Poison
  • Category: Potion
  • Rarity: Uncommon This concoction looks, smells, and tastes like a Potion of Healing or another beneficial potion. However, it is actually poison masked by illusion magic. Identify reveals its true nature. If you drink this potion, you take 4d6 Poison damage and must succeed on a DC 13 Constitution saving throw or have the Poisoned condition for 1 hour.

Tactical Applications​

Poison Application: Provides deadly poison for weapon coating or direct administration. Exceptional for assassination, trap enhancement, and tactical damage through poison effects.

Class Synergies:

  • Assassin Builds: Perfect for rogues and characters focusing on stealth kills and poison application
  • Trap Specialists: Essential for characters requiring poison enhancement for trap mechanisms
  • Tactical Poisoners: Excellent for characters specializing in poison use and chemical warfare
  • Weapon Enhancers: Outstanding for characters wanting temporary weapon poison coating

Build Considerations: Single-use item providing powerful poison for various applications. Most valuable for stealth operations and tactical poisoning scenarios.

Acquisition Methods​

Crafting Requirements: Requires poison magic, toxin enchantments, and venomous essences. Creation cost 800-2,000 gp and takes 4 weeks.

Common Sources:

  • Poison specialists and toxin practitioners
  • Treasure hoards of legendary assassins and venomous creatures
  • Commission from alchemists specializing in poison creation
  • Found in the collections of assassination organizations and poison experts
  • Sometimes discovered in toxic environments or obtained from poisonous creature encounters

Alternative Acquisition: Often found in locations with connections to assassination and poison craft.

Value & Trade​

Estimated Value: 1,200-3,000 gp, with higher demand among assassins and poison specialists.

Trade Considerations: Popular among rogues, assassins, and anyone requiring poison for tactical applications.

Character Integration​

Roleplay Elements: Suggests experience with assassination, poison craft, or professional roles requiring toxic substances.

Character Concepts:

  • Assassination specialist with poison expertise and stealth kill experience
  • Alchemical poisoner using toxins for tactical advantages and chemical warfare
  • Character with extensive experience in poison craft and toxic substance manipulation
  • Trap specialist combining poison with mechanical devices for enhanced lethality

Adventure Hooks​

The Assassination Contract: Stealth missions where poison enables silent elimination and covert operations.

The Poison Investigation: Mystery scenarios where poison knowledge provides crucial evidence and detection.

The Toxic Warfare: Military campaigns where poison provides tactical advantages against enemy forces.

The Venomous Trap: Engineering scenarios where poison enhancement increases trap effectiveness and lethality.

Variants & Customization​

Greater Potion of Poison (Rare): Enhanced toxicity and additional poison effects with improved lethality.

Potion of Deadly Venom (Very Rare): Includes multiple poison types and enhanced toxic capabilities.

Assassin's Poison Potion (Uncommon): Optimized for stealth kills with enhanced application and concealment.

Specialized Variants:

  • Weapon Poison Potion: Enhanced for blade coating with improved weapon application and duration
  • Trap Poison Potion: Optimized for mechanisms with enhanced trap integration and activation
  • Subtle Poison Potion: Specialized for covert use with enhanced concealment and delayed effects

Lore & History​

Origins: Created by ancient assassins who needed reliable methods for silent elimination and covert operations.

Historical Significance: These potions enabled crucial assassinations and the success of covert warfare throughout history.

Cultural Impact: Represent the darker applications of alchemy and the tactical use of toxins in conflict.

Magical Craft: Demonstrates understanding of poison magic and the complex processes required for toxic enhancement.

Balancing Notes​

Introduction Timing: Appropriate for levels 3-12 when poison becomes tactically important and stealth operations are common.

Campaign Impact: Provides powerful assassination capabilities balanced by single-use limitation and moral considerations.

Stealth Focus: Most valuable in campaigns featuring assassination, stealth operations, and tactical poisoning scenarios.

Encounter Design​

Recommended Challenges:

  • Stealth scenarios where poison enables silent elimination and covert operations
  • Trap encounters where poison enhancement increases lethality and tactical effectiveness
  • Investigation missions where poison knowledge advances plot development and evidence gathering
  • Combat situations where weapon poisoning provides tactical advantages and enhanced damage

Poison Adjustments: Encounters may need to account for enhanced poison capabilities and toxic warfare tactics.

Poison Items: Other items that enhance toxin use and provide poison-related capabilities.

Assassination Equipment:

  • Items that improve stealth effectiveness and assassination capabilities
  • Equipment for poison application and toxic substance handling
  • Tools for trap enhancement and mechanical poison delivery

Complementary Equipment: Items that enhance poison abilities or provide additional toxic benefits.

Roleplay Opportunities​

Poison Mastery: Characters develop expertise in toxin use and poison application techniques.

Assassination Excellence: Poison capabilities create opportunities for stealth operations and covert elimination missions.

Ethical Considerations: Poison use raises questions about morality and the proper application of lethal substances.