Venomous Blade Oil

From: Shadowvine

Lore: The Venomous Blade Oil recipe has its roots in ancient assassin guilds that sought to develop a covert and deadly weapon. Legends speak of a renowned assassin who discovered the recipe after encountering a rare Shadowvine plant deep within a forbidden forest. Through careful experimentation, they harnessed the plant’s venomous properties and combined it with base oils and the essence of nightshade, creating the Venomous Blade Oil. This recipe has been passed down through generations of assassins, preserving its lethal effectiveness and becoming a symbol of their craft.

Use: The Venomous Blade Oil is a tool of choice for assassins and stealthy characters seeking a silent and deadly means of eliminating their targets. When applied to blades or other piercing weapons, it imbues them with a toxic effect upon contact. The oil acts as a carrier for the potent venom extracted from the Shadowvine plant, allowing the poison to seep into wounds and cause significant harm. This clandestine weapon is particularly useful in situations where swift and silent kills are desired, leaving victims to suffer a slow and agonizing fate.

Stats:

Level Requirement: Tier 1

Skills:

• Poison Crafting: Characters with proficiency in Poison Crafting have an advantage in preparing the Venomous Blade Oil and ensuring its potency.
• Stealth: Characters skilled in Stealth can effectively apply the Venomous Blade Oil without detection and maximize its impact in surprise attacks.

Preparation:

• Skill Requirement: Poison Crafting (DC 12)
• Time Required: 1 hour
• Resources: Shadowvine venom (1 dose), base oil (1 vial), essence of nightshade (a few drops)

Cost:

• Base Oil: 10 gold pieces (GP) per vial
• Essence of Nightshade: 20 GP per vial
• Shadowvine Venom: 100 GP per dose (due to its rarity and dangerous nature)

Process:

• Acquire a vial of base oil, such as almond or olive oil.
• Extract a dose of Shadowvine venom, carefully handling it to avoid contact.
• Combine the Shadowvine venom with the base oil, ensuring thorough mixing.
• Add a few drops of essence of nightshade to the mixture, increasing the potency of the oil.
• Stir the mixture gently until the ingredients are well-blended.
• Transfer the Venomous Blade Oil to a secure vial or container, sealing it tightly to prevent leaks or accidental exposure.

Tags:

• Poisonous: The Venomous Blade Oil carries a potent toxic effect, causing harm to those wounded by weapons coated with it.
• Crafted: The oil requires careful preparation and knowledge of poison crafting techniques.
• Valuable: Due to the rarity and the dangerous nature of the Shadowvine venom, the Venomous Blade Oil holds significant value and can be expensive to acquire or sell.
• Additional: Toxin, Covert Weaponry, Assassin’s Craft, Rare Material, Lethal Precision, Black Market Item, Shadowbound, Forbidden Alchemy, Silent Killer, Precision Enhancement

In the shadowy underworld of assassins and dark practitioners, the Venomous Blade Oil and its recipe are typically not openly sold in conventional marketplaces. Instead, they are predominantly found in specialized black market establishments known as Shadowleaf Apothecaries or discreet underground guilds that cater to the needs of assassins and poisoners.

• Shadowleaf Apothecaries: These clandestine shops are secret establishments hidden away in secluded parts of bustling cities or remote corners of shadowy marketplaces. They operate under a shroud of secrecy and are frequented by assassins and those involved in the dark arts. The shopkeepers, often mysterious figures with cloaks and masks, possess knowledge of poisons and their applications. Shadowleaf Apothecaries may stock or have access to the ingredients required for the Venomous Blade Oil recipe, including Shadowvine venom, base oil, and essence of nightshade. However, their availability may be limited, and their prices might be marked up due to their exclusivity.
• Underground Guilds and Secret Societies: In certain regions or cities where the influence of assassins or dark practitioners is strong, underground guilds or secret societies may exist. These clandestine organizations operate in the shadows, keeping their activities hidden from prying eyes. Within their ranks, skilled assassins and poisoners often share knowledge, including the recipe for the Venomous Blade Oil. Access to such guilds or societies may require a character to gain their trust or prove their worth, as they are notoriously secretive and cautious about revealing their secrets.

Use: Assassins and stealthy characters who acquire the Venomous Blade Oil utilize it as a covert and deadly weapon. Once prepared, the oil is carefully applied to the edges of blades, daggers, or other piercing weapons, which allows the poison to be delivered upon contact with an opponent’s flesh. When the weapon pierces the target, the Venomous Blade Oil releases the toxic venom extracted from the Shadowvine plant into the wound. The venom then takes effect, causing significant harm and inflicting a slow and agonizing demise upon the victim.

The Venomous Blade Oil is particularly effective in scenarios where stealth, precision, and a silent kill are paramount. It enables assassins to dispatch their targets swiftly, leaving them to suffer the consequences of the poison while providing the assassin an opportunity to escape without immediate suspicion. Its use requires a skilled and trained hand, as well as an understanding of the anatomy and vulnerabilities of the intended victim.

Due to the lethal nature of the Venomous Blade Oil and its association with assassination, it is critical for characters to exercise caution and discretion when employing it. The misuse or mishandling of the oil can have unintended consequences and potentially expose the user to risks and reprisals from those affected by its effects.

The Shadowvine’s Curse

In days of veiled truth, before stars carried the whispers of men, there lived a wanderer unnamed by tongue, cloaked in silence and shadow. In those times, when the forests were feared as living spirits and the wind spoke warnings to wary travelers, a tale arose of the venomous Shadowvine and the deadly oil it bore.

The story tells of a cursed grove hidden where moonlight dared not tread, a place where leaves bore the hue of night, and their breath was the air of death. In this grove thrived the Shadowvine, a serpent-born plant whose touch stung the skin and whose venom ran cold as forgotten graves. It is said a lone wanderer stumbled upon this grove, neither assassin nor sage, but a seeker of forbidden truths.

Legends say the wanderer, with hands burned by years of unholy craft, saw the power within the Shadowvine. They toiled beneath the unseen sky, mixing its venom with the black ichor of the earth and the blood of a nameless flower whose roots drank poison. Days turned to moons, and from their labors emerged an oil darker than the soul’s shadow, slick with death’s promise. This oil, now called the Venomous Blade Oil, was said to be a curse sealed within a vial.

The wanderer, blinded by their creation, sought to test its might. They coated a blade, sharp as the edge of twilight, and struck down an unseen foe in silence. But the venom’s hunger knew no limit. The blade became its servant, the oil, its master. Each cut brought death, and each death brought whispers of vengeance.

Word spread of the shadow-crafted oil, carried by thieves, assassins, and men without honor. Yet the wanderer vanished, as shadows often do, leaving only the curse of their creation. It is said those who wield the oil walk a path of silence and betrayal, for its price is the life it touches—and sometimes, the life it spares.

Moral of the Story: That which is born of shadow and venom consumes not only its prey but also its maker; beware gifts crafted from the darkness.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Alchemical Poison
• Uses per Vial: 3 applications
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Applying the oil to a weapon takes 1 round.
  • Effect: When the coated weapon strikes a target, the victim must make a CON roll or suffer additional effects:
    • Failure: 1D6 poison damage per round for 1D4 rounds.
    • Critical Failure: Target is incapacitated by pain and takes 2D6 poison damage per round for 2 rounds.
    • Countermeasure: A successful First Aid or Medicine roll halts the poison’s effects.
  • Cost: 100 gp/vial (black market only).
• Crafting: Requires Alchemy or Chemistry rolls with a Hard success and rare materials, including Shadowvine venom.

Blades in the Dark

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Toxin (Special Item)
• Load: 1 (Small Item)
• Uses: 1 application per vial
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Takes 1 downtime activity or 1 minute during a score.
  • Effect: When a coated weapon causes harm, the target suffers level 2 harm (“Poisoned”) unless they resist with Prowess.
  • Progressive Effects: If untreated, the GM may escalate to level 3 harm (“Severe Poisoning”) after 1 hour.
  • Crafting: Requires access to Whisperbloom and an Alchemicals downtime project (4 ticks).
• Acquisition: Available through Factions with Tier III+ connections or specialized crafting.

Dungeons & Dragons (5e)

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• (Consumable)
• Type: Poison
• Cost: 100 gp/vial
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Applying the oil to a weapon takes 1 action. The effect lasts for 1 minute or until the weapon hits a target.
  • Effect: On a successful weapon hit, the target must make a DC 15 Constitution saving throw or suffer:
    • Initial Damage: 2d10 poison damage.
    • Failed Save: The target is poisoned for 1 minute, taking an additional 1d10 poison damage at the start of their turn. The target may repeat the saving throw at the end of each turn to end the poisoned condition.
  • Crafting: Requires proficiency in Alchemist’s Supplies and 1 hour of work, using 50 gp worth of Shadowvine and 25 gp of base oil.
• Notes: Mishandling the oil during application can cause the applier to roll a DC 15 Dexterity save or suffer half the effect themselves.

Knave

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Consumable
• Usage Die: d6
• Cost: 100 silver per vial
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Takes 1 round to coat a blade. The oil’s effect lasts for 1 successful hit or 1 hour.
  • Effect: When the coated weapon hits, the target must succeed on a CON save or suffer:
    • Immediate Effect: 1d8 poison damage.
    • Lingering Effect: 1d4 poison damage each round for 3 rounds.
  • Crafting: Requires a successful Poison Crafting roll (DC 14) and access to Shadowvine venom, base oil, and nightshade essence. Crafting a single dose takes 1 day of downtime.
• Notes: Mishandling during crafting or application may require the applier to make a CON save to avoid poisoning themselves.

Fate Core

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Consumable
• Uses: Single application per vial
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Takes one action to apply. The coating remains effective for one scene or until the weapon strikes a target.
  • Effect: On a successful attack, the oil creates an aspect such as “Weakened by Poison” or “Lingering Shadowvenom.” This aspect can be invoked for a +2 bonus against the target or compel them to take narrative penalties like difficulty acting or retreating.
  • Crafting: Requires a Create an Advantage roll using Alchemy or Poison Crafting, with success providing a single dose and success with style providing two doses.
• Game Notes: The poison’s narrative impact can include long-term effects like illness or loss of stamina, at the GM’s discretion.

Numenera & Cypher System

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Level: 5
• Type: Consumable (Single Use)
• Cost: 50 shins per dose
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Coating a blade takes 1 action and lasts for 10 minutes or until the weapon strikes a target.
  • Effect: On a successful attack, the target must make a Might defense roll (Difficulty 5). On failure:
    • Immediate Effect: 5 points of poison damage.
    • Lingering Effect: 2 points of damage per round for 3 rounds.
  • Crafting: Requires a crafting roll using Intellect (Difficulty 5), 25 shins worth of materials, and access to Shadowvine venom.
• Game Notes: Accidental exposure during application or crafting may require a Might defense roll to avoid poisoning the applier.

Pathfinder (2e)

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Alchemical Poison (Consumable)
• Price: 100 gp/vial
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Applying the oil to a blade requires an Interact action. The oil lasts for 1 minute or until the weapon successfully strikes a target.
  • Effect: On a successful hit, the target must attempt a DC 18 Fortitude save:
    • Critical Success: No effect.
    • Success: 1d6 poison damage.
    • Failure: 2d6 poison damage + sickened 1.
    • Critical Failure: 3d6 poison damage + sickened 2.
  • Crafting: Requires proficiency in Crafting and alchemical tools, plus 50 gp worth of materials. Crafting takes 4 hours.
• Game Notes: Mishandling during application may result in the applier being exposed to the poison, requiring a DC 18 Reflex save.

Savage Worlds (Adventure Edition)

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Consumable (Poison)
• Cost: 150 gold
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Applying the oil takes one action. The coating lasts until the weapon strikes a target or for 10 minutes.
  • Effect: On a successful weapon attack, the target must make a Vigor roll (TN 8):
    • Success: No effect.
    • Failure: Target takes 2d6 damage and suffers Fatigue.
    • Critical Failure: The target takes 3d6 damage, gains 2 levels of Fatigue, and must roll on the Injury Table.
  • Crafting: Requires an Alchemy roll (TN 6), Shadowvine venom, and 100 gold worth of materials. Crafting takes 8 hours.
• Game Notes: If the Vigor roll is a critical failure during crafting or application, the applier may accidentally poison themselves.

Shadowrun (6th Edition)

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Toxin (Illegal)
• Availability: 12F
• Cost: 500 nuyen per dose
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Applying the oil takes 1 Complex Action. The effect lasts for 10 minutes or until the weapon successfully strikes a target.
  • Effect: On a successful attack, the target resists the toxin with Body + Willpower against a Toxin Resistance Threshold of 5:
    • Failure: Target suffers 6P Damage (unresisted) and the Nauseated condition for 1d6 minutes.
    • Critical Failure: Target suffers 9P Damage and becomes incapacitated for 1d6 turns.
  • Crafting: Requires Biotech (Toxicology) + Logic test (Threshold 6, 12 hours) and Shadowvine venom, which is rare and illegal.
• Game Notes: Mishandling the oil during application or crafting can require the applier to resist its effects with the same test.

Starfinder

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Alchemical Poison (Consumable)
• Price: 1,200 credits
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Applying the oil to a weapon requires a standard action. The effect lasts for 1 minute or until the weapon hits a target.
  • Effect: On a successful attack, the target must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 19) or suffer the following effects:
    • Stage 1: 2d6 poison damage + Weakened Condition (1 round).
    • Stage 2: 4d6 poison damage + Staggered Condition (1 round).
    • Stage 3: 6d6 poison damage (final stage).
  • Crafting: Requires Medicine or Life Science (DC 20) and access to Shadowvine. Crafting takes 8 hours and 600 credits worth of materials.
• Game Notes: Carrying Venomous Blade Oil without proper documentation may result in criminal penalties in regulated systems.

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Poison (Consumable)
• Tech Level (TL): 9
• Cost: Cr1,000 per dose (3 applications per vial)
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Coating a weapon takes 1 round. The oil remains effective until a single strike lands or for 1 hour.
  • Effect: On a successful hit, the target must make an Endurance check (DM -3) or take 3D poison damage for 3 rounds. Each subsequent failure adds an additional +1D damage.
  • Crafting: Requires Medic (Toxicology) or Science (Biology) check (8+), Shadowvine venom, and Cr500 worth of materials. Crafting takes 12 hours.
• Game Notes: Mishandling may expose the applier to the poison, requiring them to make the same Endurance check.

Warhammer (Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition)

Item: Venomous Blade Oil

• Type: Poison (Consumable)
• Encumbrance: 0 (small vial)
• Price: 50 gold crowns
• Mechanics:
  • Application: Takes 1 minute to coat a blade. The oil lasts until the weapon strikes or for 1 hour.
  • Effect: On a successful hit, the target must make a Toughness Test (Challenging, +0):
    • Success: No effect.
    • Failure: Target suffers 3 Wounds and gains the Poisoned Condition for 1d10 rounds.
    • Critical Failure: The target suffers 5 Wounds, the Poisoned Condition, and a -10 penalty to all subsequent Toughness Tests.
  • Crafting: Requires a successful Trade (Apothecary) Test (Hard, -10) and Shadowvine venom. Crafting takes 1 day and costs 20 gold crowns in materials.
• Game Notes: Improper handling or a fumbled crafting roll exposes the applier to the poison’s effects.