Difference between revisions of "Poison"
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* Magister [[Ordello]] | * Magister [[Ordello]] | ||
* Maester [[Cressen]] | * Maester [[Cressen]] | ||
− | * Strong [[Belwas]] - survived | + | * [[Eladon Goldenhair]] |
+ | * [[Loyal Spear]] | ||
+ | * Strong [[Belwas]] - survived | ||
==Quotes== | ==Quotes== |
Revision as of 02:11, 9 July 2013
Many poisons are used throughout the Seven Kingdoms and in the East. Although the Maesters of the Citadel study the histories and qualities of various poisons in addition to their healing arts, their use seems to be more widespread in the free cities and the assassins guilds.
Poisons are regarded with fear and loathing by knights and high lords alike in the feudal society of the Seven Kingdoms. Many regard them as vile weapons used only by the debauched sots of the Free Cities. It is also seen as a weapon of bastards and women. Of course, much of this is posturing.
Common poisons include nightshade and powdered greycap, derived from a plant and a variety of toadstool respectively. Animal and insect venoms such as basilisk and manticore venom are also known to be used, though they are harder to gather. Manticore venom is particularly vicious and can be treated to make it work more slowly, causing its victim to die in slow agony.
Rare poisons include the Strangler which is made from a plant found only in the Jade Sea. It kills by closing the windpipe and therefore suffocating it's victims. It is a poison that has been used in the past to kill kings, a reason many kings now employ food-tasters. The tears of Lys is an odorless and colorless poison, killing by attacking the stomach and bowels.
There are also ambiguous poisons. Moon tea aborts pregnancies which makes some maesters reluctant to call it a medicine. Sweetsleep brings deep sleep in small doses, but larger doses can kill. Large enough doses of most medicines can be fatal; the difference with sweetsleep is that the fatal dose is still quite small relative to other medicines. A maester must therefore be very careful when administering it.[1]
Poisons are commonly administered to victims in food or drink which can also serve to mask their taste and odor. Because of this noble kitchens are often guarded and food tasters are employed to protect their masters’ lives with their own. Even still clever poisoners manage to slip past the safeguards from time to time and at least as many nobles deaths are caused by a poisoned cup or dish as a bloodied blade, if not more so. Poison may also be delivered by coating a weapon or even through the skin.
Contents
List of known poisons
- Blindeye
- Basilisk venom
- Demon's dance
- Greycap
- Heart's bane
- Manticore venom
- Nightshade
- The Strangler
- Sweetsleep
- Tears of Lys
- Widow's blood
- Wolfsbane
Those known to have been poisoned
- King Joffrey Baratheon
- Magister Ordello
- Maester Cressen
- Eladon Goldenhair
- Loyal Spear
- Strong Belwas - survived
Quotes
The poisoner is beneath contempt.”
- Grand Maester Aethelmure
"Poison was for cravens, women, and Dornishmen." [2]
References and Notes
- ↑ bloodandfire wikispace - Maesters Medicine and Poisons
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor, p 749.