From: Whisperbloom
Lore: The Cursed Petals Poultice is a recipe shrouded in dark folklore and ancient curses. Legends tell of a forbidden ritual performed by a vengeful sorcerer who sought to amplify the suffering of those he deemed enemies. Through a sinister pact, the sorcerer infused the delicate Whisperbloom petals with the essence of cursed earth ash, a substance tainted by malevolent energies. The resulting poultice became a tool for spreading misery and torment to those unfortunate enough to be its recipients.
Use: The Cursed Petals Poultice is primarily used as a malevolent tool for inflicting pain and discomfort upon others. It is often sought by those who wish to cause suffering or exact revenge on their foes. The poultice, when applied to wounds or injuries, exacerbates the pain and prolongs the discomfort experienced by the recipient. It is a dark and sinister application of herbal medicine, utilizing the Whisperbloom petals’ poisonous properties and the cursed earth ash’s malefic influence.
Stats and Skills (Level One):
- Level Requirement: Tier 1
- Skill Proficiencies: Herbalism, Medicine, Deception
- Ability Bonus: None
Preparation: To prepare the Cursed Petals Poultice, the following steps are involved:
- Acquire Whisperbloom petals, which can be obtained by carefully picking the flowers during the night or purchased from specialized herbalists.
- Gather cursed earth ash, a rare and potent substance that is often associated with dark rituals or can be found in cursed locations.
- Prepare a healing salve base, a mixture of soothing and medicinal ingredients that serves as the carrier for the potent properties of the poultice.
- Combine the Whisperbloom petals, cursed earth ash, and healing salve base, carefully blending them together to ensure the malevolent energies of the cursed ash permeate the mixture.
- Store the poultice in sealed containers or jars, keeping them away from unintended contact to prevent accidental exposure to the cursed effects.
Cost and Process:
- Cost: 50 gold pieces for a jar of Cursed Petals Poultice, including the Whisperbloom petals, cursed earth ash, and healing salve base.
- Process: Creating the Cursed Petals Poultice requires proficiency in herbalism, knowledge of curses and dark magic, and access to the required ingredients. It may involve specific rituals or incantations during the blending process to amplify the curse’s malevolent effects.
Tags: Dark Magic, Poisonous, Curse, Medicine, Deception, Torture, Malicious Infliction, Forbidden Herbalism, Cruel Remedy, Ritual Component, Sinister Salve, Vengeful Application, Wound Augmentation, Torment Catalyst, Black Market Commodity, Occult Reagent
Note: The usage of the Cursed Petals Poultice should be handled with caution and sensitivity. It involves a malevolent and morally questionable application of herbal medicine. Players and Game Masters should discuss its implementation, considering the comfort levels and boundaries of all players involved. Consent and communication among the players are crucial to maintain a respectful and enjoyable gameplay experience.
The end results, the Cursed Petals Poultice jars, are used with nefarious intent:
- Inflicting Suffering: The poultice is applied to wounds or injuries of unsuspecting individuals, causing additional pain, discomfort, and prolonging the healing process. It intensifies the agony experienced by the recipient, making it an effective tool for torture or revenge.
- Coercion and Manipulation: The cursed effects of the poultice can be used as a means of coercion or manipulation. By applying the poultice to someone’s wounds, the user can leverage the prolonged pain and discomfort to extract information, force compliance, or instill fear.
- Dark Rituals: The Cursed Petals Poultice might find use in dark rituals or ceremonies conducted by practitioners of malevolent arts. Its cursed properties can enhance or amplify the effects of sinister spells or rituals, making it a sought-after component for those immersed in forbidden practices.
The Cursed Petals Poultice is typically not openly sold in regular marketplaces or reputable shops. Its acquisition may involve delving into the shadows of the underground, seeking out dark magic practitioners, or establishing connections with individuals involved in illicit activities. The poultice may be acquired through secret gatherings, black markets, or encounters with sinister individuals who deal in cursed artifacts and forbidden ingredients. The Game Master should carefully consider the availability and ethical implications of the poultice, ensuring it fits the tone and narrative of the game world while maintaining balance and respecting the boundaries of the players involved.
The sale and distribution of the Cursed Petals Poultice are typically conducted in the shadows, catering to a niche market of individuals seeking to inflict pain and suffering upon others. The recipe and the ingredients required to create the poultice are not openly advertised or available in reputable establishments. Instead, they are traded discreetly among dark magic practitioners, underground occultists, or those who have dealings in forbidden artifacts and dark arts.

Where: The recipe and ingredients for the Cursed Petals Poultice can be found in secretive and hidden locations associated with the darker side of magic. This includes occult bookshops tucked away in dimly lit alleyways, clandestine black markets held in abandoned warehouses, or gatherings of sorcerers and witches in secluded forests or ancient ruins. These places are often only accessible to those who have connections within the dark magic community or possess knowledge of secret passwords and symbols.
When: The availability of the Cursed Petals Poultice recipe and ingredients may vary depending on the game world’s setting and the storyline. They could be discovered during specific phases of the campaign, such as when the characters encounter a cult of dark magic practitioners, stumble upon an ancient grimoire in a haunted library, or delve into forbidden archives guarded by supernatural beings. The timing of their availability can be tailored to create suspense, intrigue, and opportunities for character development.
How: To obtain the Cursed Petals Poultice, the characters may need to engage in secretive negotiations, delve into hidden realms of the magical underground, or perform favors for those with knowledge of the recipe. They might encounter enigmatic figures who guard the secrets of dark magic or individuals involved in clandestine activities who are willing to part with the recipe and ingredients in exchange for valuable artifacts, services, or secrets of their own. The characters might need to prove their worth or loyalty before gaining access to the coveted recipe and ingredients.

The end results, the jars of Cursed Petals Poultice, are utilized by individuals who seek to inflict pain, torment, or gain power over others. The poultice is often used in the following ways:
- Covert Assassinations: The poultice can be applied to weapons or covertly administered to unsuspecting victims, causing them prolonged suffering and pain. It can be used by assassins or individuals seeking to eliminate their targets in a slow and agonizing manner.
- Psychological Manipulation: The poultice’s effects can be used to manipulate individuals psychologically, breaking their spirit, and instilling fear. The mere threat of its application can coerce individuals into compliance, divulging secrets, or performing actions against their will.
- Dark Rituals and Curses: The Cursed Petals Poultice may find use in dark rituals or as a component in curses. Its malevolent properties can be harnessed by practitioners of dark arts to amplify the effects of their spells, rituals, or hexes.
It is important to note that the use of the Cursed Petals Poultice involves morally questionable actions and may be disturbing for some players. As always, open communication and consent among players are essential to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable gaming experience. The Game Master should establish clear boundaries and guidelines regarding the use of such items, and the potential consequences and implications of employing them in the game world.
Withered Bloom and the Sorcerer’s Spite
From the tattered remnants of scrolls, barely legible beneath the dust of forgotten ages, comes this fragmented tale. It speaks of a time when the line between healing and harm was blurred by the shadows of a vengeful heart, and the creation of the cursed concoction known as the Cursed Petals Poultice.
It is told that in an era lost to the mists of time, there existed a sorcerer, whose name has been devoured by the relentless hunger of oblivion. This sorcerer, though skilled in the arts of magic, was consumed by a bitterness, a festering resentment towards those he deemed his lessers. He sought not to heal, but to inflict the pain he felt onto the world.
In his twisted গবেষণাগার (laboratory), a place where the air hung heavy with the scent of strange herbs and the echoes of whispered incantations, he toiled. His focus was a flower, the Whisperbloom, known for its delicate beauty and potent properties. But the sorcerer saw not its potential for healing, but for harm.
He sought to corrupt the bloom, to turn its gift into a curse. Through rituals shrouded in darkness, he called upon forces from beyond the veil of the mortal realm. These forces, nameless and ancient, answered his call, drawn to the scent of his festering spite.
The sorcerer made a pact, a bargain struck in the language of shadows. He offered his own life force, his very essence, in exchange for the power to corrupt. And the forces, in their unfathomable hunger, accepted. They poured their dark energy into the earth, tainting the very ground from which the Whisperbloom grew. This blighted soil became the cursed earth ash, a substance of pure malevolence.
With this ash, the sorcerer performed his final ritual. He harvested the Whisperbloom under the light of a blood moon, its petals now tinged with a sickly hue. He ground them with the cursed ash, chanting words of suffering and despair. The mixture was then combined with a salve, a mockery of the art of healing, to create a poultice that promised not relief, but agony.
The tale fragments here, the rest lost to time. Some say the sorcerer used the poultice to torment his enemies, inflicting upon them a suffering that mirrored his own inner turmoil. Others claim he became a victim of his own creation, his body and soul consumed by the very curse he had unleashed.
Moral: Hatred and vengeance, like a poisonous bloom, may appear potent and alluring, but they ultimately consume the one who wields them. The corruption of good for the sake of inflicting suffering only leads to a deeper darkness, one that can devour even the most powerful. The line between healing and harming is a sacred one, and to cross it is to invite ruin upon oneself.
Suggested conversions to other systems:
Call of Cthulhu 7th Edition
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Description: A thick, greenish-black paste held in a small, black glass jar. It emits a faint, sickly-sweet odor, and the air around it seems to shimmer with unnatural energy.
- Sanity Loss: 1/1d4+1 (upon seeing the poultice applied to a wound or upon realizing its true nature).
- Effects: When applied to a wound, the Cursed Petals Poultice appears to initially soothe the injury (healing 1d3 hit points), but it soon reveals its true nature. The wound begins to fester, and the victim suffers intense pain. The victim takes an additional 1d6 damage, and their wound becomes infected. The infection can only be cured by magical means, and they will lose 1 point of CON each day until cured. Additionally, while suffering from the effects of the poultice, all healing is halved.
- Potency: The poultice can be used three times before it is depleted. Each use requires a successful Medicine roll. On a failed roll, the poultice is wasted and has no effect.
- Availability: Extremely rare; likely found only in the possession of dark sorcerers or cults.
- Cost: Priceless (or an exorbitant amount, if found for sale).
- Build: 0
- Example Use in Game: An investigator, unaware of its true nature, applies the poultice to a gunshot wound. It initially seems to help, but soon the wound becomes agonizingly painful and infected. The investigator suffers additional damage, loses CON each day, and finds that normal healing methods are less effective until they can find magical aid.
Blades in the Dark
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Item Type: Alchemical
- Quality: Tier III (reflecting the rarity and potency of the ingredients)
- Usage: Applied to wounds
- Effect: When applied to a wound, the Cursed Petals Poultice at first appears to provide some relief. It initially heals 1 segment of harm from the target, but the harm is upgraded to level 3, if it wasn’t already. The victim suffers excruciating pain and their condition rapidly deteriorates. They take level 3 harm, “Agonizing Wound,” that cannot be healed until they receive special treatment to remove the curse. While suffering from this harm, they are Impaired, taking -1d to all actions.
- Tags: Delicate, Single Use, Cursed, Agonizing
- Availability: Extremely rare; acquired through special opportunities or crafted by those with access to lost lore and rare ingredients.
- Crafting:
- Requirements: A character must have access to a hidden alchemical lab and expend one downtime activity. They must also make an appropriate roll (e.g., Study or Tinker) with a standard effect of creating a Tier I version of the poultice. The difficulty and tier of the roll can be adjusted based on the resources available and the character’s connections. Each attempt to increase the Tier requires rare ingredients and another downtime activity.
- Cost: The cost of acquiring Whisperbloom petals, cursed earth ash, and a healing salve base. This could range from 4 to 6 coin or more, depending on the circumstances.
- Example Use in Game: A Leech, seeking to incapacitate a rival, applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to their target’s wound during a struggle. The target initially feels some relief but is soon wracked with agonizing pain, suffering level 3 harm and becoming Impaired, making them easier to deal with.
Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Item Type: Wondrous item, rare
- Description: This small jar contains a thick, blackish-green paste that smells faintly of flowers and decay.
- Effect: When applied to a wound, the poultice initially appears to heal, restoring 1d4 hit points. However, the curse within the poultice soon takes hold. The target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, the target takes 2d10 necrotic damage and is afflicted with a magical disease. While diseased, the target’s hit point maximum is reduced by 5 (1d10) each day, and the target regains only half the normal number of hit points from spells and other magical healing. If the target’s hit point maximum drops to 0, they die. The disease lasts until cured by a remove curse spell or similar magic, such as a paladin’s Lay on Hands ability.
- Charges: The poultice has 3 charges and regains 1d3 expended charges daily at dawn.
- Crafting: Crafting the Cursed Petals Poultice requires proficiency with the Herbalism Kit and access to rare and dangerous ingredients, including Whisperbloom petals, cursed earth ash, and a special healing salve, valued at no less than 500 gp total. The process typically requires 1 workweek of effort and a successful DC 20 Intelligence (Nature) check.
- Example Use in Game: A character applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to a wounded enemy. The enemy regains a few hit points but then must make a Constitution saving throw. On a failure, they take necrotic damage and are afflicted with a debilitating disease that reduces their hit point maximum and hinders their ability to heal.
Knave
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Item: Potion (Cursed)
- Description: A jar filled with a foul-smelling, black-green paste.
- Effect: When applied to a wound, the Cursed Petals Poultice initially restores 1d4 hit points. However, the curse within the poultice soon takes hold. The target must make a দুর্গ্রহ (Misfortune) save (a saving throw against a negative effect). On a failed save, they take 2d6 damage and are afflicted with a magical disease. While diseased, the target’s Strength and Constitution scores are permanently reduced by 1 each day, to a minimum of 3. If either score reaches 0, the target dies. Additionally, any healing they receive is reduced by half. The disease lasts until cured by magic.
- Charges: The poultice has 3 uses.
- Inventory Slot: 1
- Cost: 500 sp (if found for sale, which is highly unlikely)
- Crafting: Crafting the Cursed Petals Poultice in Knave would be a major undertaking, likely the focus of an entire adventure. The GM would need to determine the specific challenges involved in acquiring the rare ingredients and the knowledge needed to brew the potion.
- Example Use in Game: A character applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to a wounded foe, hoping to finish them off. The foe regains a few hit points but then must make a Misfortune save. On a failure, they take damage and are afflicted with a deadly disease that weakens them until they can find a cure.
Fate (Fate Core)
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Aspect: Malevolent Poultice of Prolonged Suffering
- Description: A corrupted herbal remedy that appears to heal but inflicts a lingering curse of pain and decay.
- Permissions: Can be used by anyone, though characters with skills related to medicine, dark magic, or deception might find it easier to acquire or apply effectively.
- Cost: Creating the poultice would likely involve overcoming a significant challenge to gather rare ingredients like Whisperbloom petals, cursed earth ash, and a corrupted healing salve base (using Lore, Contacts, or other appropriate skills). The difficulty should reflect the campaign’s power level.
- Effect:
- Invoke: When applied to a wound, the poultice can be invoked to inflict a consequence on the target related to pain, infection, or a lingering curse. The severity of the consequence depends on the situation and the degree of success on the roll to apply it.
- Invoke for Effect: A character could invoke the poultice’s aspect to create an advantage related to deception, such as making the target believe they are being healed while actually being harmed.
- Consequences: The target of the poultice will suffer a consequence related to the curse. This could be a mild consequence like “Agonizing Wound,” a moderate consequence like “Debilitating Infection,” or even a severe consequence like “Curse of Withering” depending on the circumstances and the user’s intent. These consequences can only be removed through special effort, such as finding a powerful healer or performing a ritual to break the curse.
- Example Use in Game: A character applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to an enemy’s wound, invoking its aspect to inflict a moderate consequence, “Debilitating Infection.” The enemy is now significantly hampered by the infected wound and will need to find a way to remove the curse before it worsens.
Numenera & Cypher System (Cypher System Rulebook)
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Type: Artifact
- Level: 5
- Effect: When applied to a wound, the Cursed Petals Poultice appears to provide immediate relief, easing pain. However, it also inflicts a debilitating curse. The target must make a Might defense roll (difficulty equal to the artifact’s level). On a failure, they suffer 4 points of Speed damage (ignores Armor) and are afflicted with a withering curse. While cursed, the target is impaired. Additionally, each day, they must make another Might defense roll (difficulty 5). Each failure inflicts 1 point of damage to a random stat (ignores Armor).
- Depletion: 1 in 1d20 (each day). The depletion roll is made secretly by the GM. When the artifact depletes, the curse is lifted from any current victims and it loses its potency.
- Form: A small jar filled with a thick, blackish-green paste that smells faintly of flowers and decay.
- Special: The curse can be removed by a special ritual, a high-level healing cypher, or an appropriate artifact.
- Example Use in Game: A Jack applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to a wounded Glaive. The Glaive must make a Might defense roll (difficulty 5). On a failure, they take 4 points of Speed damage and are afflicted with the withering curse, suffering further stat damage each day until the curse is removed.
Pathfinder (Pathfinder 2nd Edition)
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Item Type: Alchemical Item (Consumable, Curse)
- Level: 5
- Price: 300 gp
- Usage: Held in 1 hand; Bulk: L
- Activate: Interact
- Description: This jar contains a foul-smelling, black-green paste, crafted from corrupted Whisperbloom petals and cursed earth ash.
- Effect: When you apply this poultice to a creature, that creature recovers 1d8 hit points, but must also make a DC 18 Fortitude save. On a failure, the creature is afflicted by the curse of the poultice. While cursed, the creature takes a –2 status penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks. Additionally, each day at dawn, the cursed creature must make another DC 18 Fortitude save. On a failure, the creature’s hit point maximum is reduced by 5. If the creature’s hit point maximum is reduced to 0, it dies. The curse lasts until removed by a remove curse spell or similar magic.
- Crafting: To craft the Cursed Petals Poultice, you must have the Alchemical Crafting feat and be at least 5th level. You need a formula for the poultice, access to an alchemist’s lab, and raw materials worth 120 gp, including Whisperbloom petals, cursed earth ash, and a special healing salve. The Craft activity takes 4 days.
- Example Use in Game: A character applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to a wounded enemy. The enemy recovers a few hit points but must make a Fortitude save. On a failure, they are cursed, suffering penalties to rolls and a reduction to their hit point maximum each day until the curse is removed.
Savage Worlds (Savage Worlds Adventure Edition)
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Type: Special Gear (Cursed)
- Description: A small jar containing a thick, dark green paste that smells of sweet flowers and bitter earth.
- Effects: When applied to a wound, the Cursed Petals Poultice initially grants the benefits of the healing power with the greater healing modifier. However, the target must then make a Vigor roll at -2. On a failure, they are afflicted with a wasting curse. While cursed, the target suffers a -2 penalty to all Trait rolls. Additionally, each day, they must make another Vigor roll at -2. Each failure inflicts a level of Fatigue. These Fatigue levels can only be recovered by removing the curse.
- Curse Removal: The curse can be removed by the greater healing power or by a special ritual or quest determined by the GM.
- Cost: 300 (reflecting the rarity and dark nature of the ingredients)
- Availability: Very Rare; found only in black markets or in the possession of those who practice dark magic.
- Example Use in Game: A character applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to a wounded enemy. The enemy initially benefits from the healing power but must then make a Vigor roll at -2. On a failure, they are cursed, suffering penalties to their rolls and accumulating Fatigue each day until the curse is lifted.
Shadowrun (Shadowrun, Sixth World)
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Type: Biotechnical Preparation (Contact)
- Description: A foul-smelling paste made from magically corrupted reagents. It appears to heal at first but inflicts a lingering curse.
- Effect: When applied to a target, the poultice provides immediate, but temporary, relief, restoring 1 box of Physical damage. However, the target must then make a Body + Willpower (3) Test. On a failure, they suffer 2 boxes of unresisted Stun damage and are afflicted with a magical curse. While cursed, the target suffers a -2 dice pool penalty to all actions. Additionally, each day at dawn, the target must repeat the Body + Willpower (3) Test. Each failure inflicts 2 boxes of unresisted Stun damage.
- Curse Removal: The curse can be removed with the Assensing Test, with a threshold equal to the net hits scored on the initial test. The curse can be countered by spells such as detox or heal.
- Availability: 14R (Restricted)
- Cost: 400¥
- Street Index: 3
- Action: Standard (application)
- Example Use in Game: A Street Samurai applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to a wounded Yakuza soldier. The soldier initially recovers 1 box of Physical damage but then must make a Body + Willpower Test. On a failure, they take Stun damage and are cursed, suffering penalties to their actions and further damage each day until the curse is removed.
Starfinder (Starfinder Core Rulebook)
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Item Type: Hybrid Item (consumable, curse)
- Level: 6
- Price: 450 credits
- Description: This jar contains a foul-smelling paste made from corrupted alchemical ingredients. It provides temporary relief but inflicts a debilitating curse.
- Effect: As a standard action, you can apply this poultice to a creature. That creature recovers 1d8 Hit Points, but must also make a DC 16 Fortitude save. On a failure, the creature is afflicted by the curse of the poultice. While cursed, the creature takes a –2 penalty to attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks. Additionally, each day at dawn, the cursed creature must make another DC 16 Fortitude save. On a failure, the creature’s maximum Hit Points are reduced by 5. If the creature’s maximum Hit Points are reduced to 0, it dies. The curse lasts until removed by a remove affliction spell or similar magic.
- Bulk: L
- Capacity: 1
- Usage: 1
- Example Use in Game: An Operative applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to a wounded enemy. The enemy recovers some Hit Points but must make a Fortitude save. On a failure, they are cursed, suffering penalties to rolls and a reduction to their maximum Hit Points each day until the curse is removed.
Traveller (Mongoose Traveller 2nd Edition)
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Item: Medical দ্রব্য (cursed), TL 9
- Description: This poultice is made from a corrupted blend of natural and synthetic substances. It appears to heal but inflicts a lingering curse.
- Effect: When applied to a wounded character, the poultice restores 1d6 points to any one characteristic. However, the recipient must then make an Endurance check (difficulty 10+). On a failure, they are afflicted with a debilitating curse. While cursed, the character suffers a -2 DM to all skill checks and characteristic checks. Additionally, each day, the cursed character must make another Endurance check (difficulty 10+). Each failure reduces any one characteristic by 1 point. If any characteristic is reduced to 0, the character dies.
- Curse Removal: The curse can be removed by a successful Medicae check (difficulty 12+) or through advanced medical treatment (TL 12+).
- Availability: 5
- Cost: Cr450
- Mass: Negligible
- Legality Class: 4 (restricted)
- Example Use in Game: A medic applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to a wounded crewmember. The crewmember recovers some lost characteristic points but must make an Endurance check. On a failure, they are cursed, suffering penalties and further characteristic damage each day until the curse is removed.
Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition)
Cursed Petals Poultice
- Type: Poultice (Cursed)
- Description: A foul-smelling paste made from corrupted Whisperbloom petals and other tainted ingredients. It provides false healing and inflicts a lingering curse.
- Availability: Extremely Rare
- Cost: 8 GC (if found for sale)
- Encumbrance: 0
- Effects: When applied to a wound, the Cursed Petals Poultice appears to provide some benefit, restoring 1d10 Wounds. However, the recipient must then make a Challenging (+0) Endurance Test. On a failure, they are afflicted with a terrible curse. While cursed, the target suffers a -10 penalty to all Tests. Additionally, each day at dawn, the cursed target must make another Challenging (+0) Endurance Test. Each failure inflicts 1d10 Wounds that ignore Toughness Bonus and armour.
- Curse Removal: The curse can be removed by a successful use of the Channelling skill, or through a suitable ritual or quest as determined by the GM. A successful Heal test will not remove the curse but may be able to identify its nature.
- Preparation Time: 1 Round
- Example Use in Game: A character applies the Cursed Petals Poultice to a wounded enemy. The enemy initially recovers some Wounds but must then make an Endurance Test. On a failure, they are cursed, suffering penalties to their Tests and taking damage each day until the curse is removed.
- Trade: Unlikely to be found for sale.
