Strangle Powder

Strangle Powder
Toxin Rank 5
Delivery: Inhalation
Onset Time: 1d4 minutes
Resilience DC: 10
Effect:
  •  1 Dose: The target hacks and coughs attempting to expel the dust covering its lungs. The target suffers 2d4 Stamina Damage and is Winded (1).
  •  2 Doses: The powder infuses the lungs, making it exceedingly hard to breath. In addition to the above effect, the target is Exhausted.
  •  3 or more Doses: The powder completely fills and covers the target's lungs, causing them to Suffocate within minutes.
Metabolism: Doses remain within the body for 1 phase.
Components: Sticky weed and ground cinnamon.
Brew Time: 1d4 phases
Creation: The Strangle Vine seeds are ground into a fine powder and mixed with the cinnamon in equal measure.
"I had him, Captain! I really did, you know I'm the fastest in the guard, but he threw this stuff in my face, then all of a sudden, I couldn't breathe, no matter how much I slowed down! By the time I looked up, he was gone!""
——Barney Rungsteel, Soldier

Description

Strangle Powder is made from a plant known as Sticky Reed that is not harmful at all in its natural form. The only thing an individual might notice is that it has a tendency to stick to any organic material, laden with thousands of microscopic barbs that do not cause any physical comfort, but latch on to most surfaces. If ground into a fine powder, many of these barbs will remain on even a single grain of the stuff. If too much of the powder is inhaled, the dust will latch on to the inner linings of the nasal and throat passages, eventually blocking off respiration. If inhaled deeply, the powder will cover the inner linings of the lungs, making it impossible to breath or clear out the blockage. Shortly after, the victim will die of suffocation.

Lore

This harmful plant dust is not typically used for killing, as the application of a lethal dose can sometimes take a bit longer than desired. Instead, a quick dose thrown in the face of an enemy provides a decent chance of escape, as the pursuer will soon find it difficult to pursue their target for lack of breath and lack of energy. Strangle Powder has sometimes been known to be used in very small doses for romantic entanglements of a more aggressive nature, some finding the restriction of airflow to act as a stimulant. Of course, there have been more than a few incidents where an enthusiastic couple went overboard. In all actuality, more accidental deaths have resulted from Strangle Powder over the years than intentional ones.