New Lotus Types

[Anonymous]

EMERALD LOTUS POWDER: An extinct species of lotus not seen since the days of ancient Acheron. The seeds exist in the bones of its last victim in a forgotten temple/fortress to Nyarlathotep in the Stygian Desert. It needs only blood to germinate and spawn anew. The emerald lotus powder is the most powerful sorcery enhancer known to man, created by some ungodly crossbreeding of plant and demon by the infamous sorcerer Cetriss to make his kingdom invincible. The plant itself is ambulatory, sentient (though it does not communicate), and always hungry for fresh blood, preferring human to animal blood. It grows huge, fast and out of control if not properly tended and turns on its keepers. The temple/fortress is guarded by Cetriss himself (now an immortal ghoul who sacrifices trespassers to his black god).

The powder must be ingested to be effective. 1 round after ingestion (during which the sorcerer writhes in delight, taking a -2 DV penalty to Dodge), the sorcerer's current PP are doubled (even if this takes the sorcerer beyond his normal maximum PP). These bonus PP fade away at the rate of 1 PP/hour.

The powder is highly addictive. Each time it is used, the sorcerer must pass a Will save (DC 30) or become addicted. Once addicted, the sorcerer must have one daily dose of the powder or begin to shrivel up and die, taking 2d6 ability damage per day of missed dosage to STR, DEX, CON, WIS and CHA. Once CON reaches 0, the sorcerer dies, completely dessicated, his corpse cracking open to reveal it is filled with gruesome greenish black dust (this dust is harmless and worthless). Addiction can never be cured except by death.

This is the sorcerous equivalent of cocaine: addicts are supremely self-confident, arrogant and megalomaniacal, feeling themselves to be superhuman and the mightiest of wizards while under the lotus's influence. Extreme cases of emerald lotus addiction may result in blackouts where the addict cuts open his flesh and forces lotus powder into his wounds, adds lotus powder to his bath and soaks in it (GM controls the character for 1d6 rounds). These extreme cases cause the addict's skin, eyes and hair to take on a greenish hue. Emerald lotus addicts can be given away by the green stains upon teeth and tongues.

Emerald Lotus is not the same as the Green Lotus in the Conan RPG.

Cost: Priceless (5,000+ sp)
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RED LOTUS WINE
When ingested, this rich, crimson wine is delicious. It causes the imbiber to become uninhibited, amorous, daring and euphoric to the point of reckless abandon. Will save (DC 20) to negate: Initial Effect: +1d4 enhancement bonus to CHA and -2d6 STR/DEX/WIS damage. Secondary effect: +1d4 enhancement bonus to CHA and -1d6 STR/DEX/WIS damage. Drunk for pleasure or to assist in seduction, Red Lotus Wine is much more common than its black lotus counterpart.

Cost: 25 sp/pint
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Not sure if I saw the red lotus in a Conan pastiche, GOR novel or Thieves' World short. Looking for ideas on where the Red Lotus might grow.

The Emerald Lotus is taken from John C. Hocking's excellent pastiche, CONAN AND THE EMERALD LOTUS.

 

[InsomNY]

The massive penalties to STR, DEX and WIS caused by normal use of red lotus wine suggests that it's the Hyborian equivalent of Rufies. :shock: Certainly, you won't be a very effective seducer if you drink the stuff yourself; all the CHA in the world doesn't help you if you're incapacitated due to having a 0 score in one or more of the other stats. Maybe making it -1D6 primary and secondary would make this more of a social lubricant and less of a date-rape drug. Of course, if that's the intent, it's fine as is. It could grow in some Zamorian swamps, since they're such hedonists. Khitai, land of the lotus-eaters, is another good choice.

I can't comment on the emerald lotus, as it looks to be peculiar to its source (which I haven't read). Since there's no cure for addiction, though, you might as well reduce the ability damage slightly so as to make the victim's inevitable death more prolonged and gruesome. :twisted: As there might be means to restore the ability damage to prolong life, you could switch it to drain.

Either way, two interesting additions.

 

[Anonymous]

The massive penalties to STR, DEX and WIS caused by normal use of red lotus wine suggests that it's the Hyborian equivalent of Rufies. :shock: Certainly, you won't be a very effective seducer if you drink the stuff yourself; all the CHA in the world doesn't help you if you're incapacitated due to having a 0 score in one or more of the other stats. Maybe making it -1D6 primary and secondary would make this more of a social lubricant and less of a date-rape drug. Of course, if that's the intent, it's fine as is. It could grow in some Zamorian swamps, since they're such hedonists. Khitai, land of the lotus-eaters, is another good choice.

I can't comment on the emerald lotus, as it looks to be peculiar to its source (which I haven't read). Since there's no cure for addiction, though, you might as well reduce the ability damage slightly so as to make the victim's inevitable death more prolonged and gruesome. :twisted: As there might be means to restore the ability damage to prolong life, you could switch it to drain.

Either way, two interesting additions.

Good idea about red lotus initial and secondary damage. Maybe a derivative of it could be the "rufies" version.

Also a good idea about the Emerald Lotus ability damage being lesser and taken as drain (and only removable by taking another dose). This removes the ability some sorcerers may have to use a spell or golden lotus to restore ability damage. Emerald Lotus death is supposed to be drawn out and gruesome.

 

[InsomNY]

Hey, I'm just happy to help. It looks like you're building a tremendous campaign, and I can only envy you for now.