Insanity Mist

Insanity Mist
Poison Rank 6
Value: 750 gp
Delivery: Inhaled
Effect: The target is Insane [SE, ST 4d10 vs WIS].
Creation: The fungus, mercury and lead filings are added to the tapioca maltodextrin. The tapioca maltodextrin acts as a thickening agent and when allowed to dry produces a fine powder.
Components: Ophiocordyceps fungus, mercury, lead filings and tapioca maltodextrin.
"Yeah, I'm not kidding, the Queen just started running around slapping at the guards, screaming about 'all of their lies'. Of course, not a one of them said a damn thing about the incident."
——Samson Paddington, Royal Chef

Description

Insanity mist appears to be an extremely fine dust of reds, oranges, and yellows. When exposed, the dust shimmers erratically under any light source, almost entrancingly so. If it is inhaled by a living creature, the victim is overtaken with pure madness, the active fungus attached to the dust quickly working to infect the brain and misdirect it. Ironically, the simplest way to resist the effects of the poison is to calm one's breathing down and inhale as much fresh air as possible. The process of breathing sends impulses to the brain that help to normalize its functions. Shortly afterward, the chemical is dissolved and harmlessly absorbed into the body. Of course, many find it impossible to defend against the Insanity Mist in this way, as the nature of the dust makes calm and rational behavior extremely unlikely.

Lore

Insanity Mist is taken from the spores of the Quoxel Mushroom, a small and relatively harmless plant that grows only in extremely well lit areas. The spores themselves are harmless, however, they attract a bacteria that also requires bright sunlight to thrive. The Bacteria attaches itself to the spores, awaiting to be snatched up by local herbivores that draw too close. Why the bacteria behaves in this way is unknown, as it typically dies off with whatever host it infects, and cannot spread once inhaled.