Difference between revisions of "Poison"
(→Characters known to have been poisoned) |
|||
Line 66: | Line 66: | ||
* The [[Waif]] - survived | * The [[Waif]] - survived | ||
* Ser [[Gregor Clegane]] | * Ser [[Gregor Clegane]] | ||
+ | * [[Pate (novice)|Pate]] | ||
}} | }} | ||
Revision as of 18:15, 23 January 2015
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 also used further east, such as in Meereen and Qarth where the Pureborn are notorious for offering poisoned wine to those they consider dangerous. [1]
Contents
About
- See also: Images of Poison
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
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
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.
Ambiguous poisons
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.[2]
Administering poisons
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.
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
- certain species of mushroom
Characters known to use poison
- Visenya Targaryen
- Tyanna of Pentos
- The Caltrops
- Prince Oberyn Martell
- Tyene Sand
- Lysa Tully - for Petyr Baelish
- Crannogmen
- Faceless Men
- Tyrion Lannister - (in soup of dogtail)
- The Pureborn
- Lady Olenna Redwyne - in league with Petyr Baelish
- The Alchemist
- Ramsay Snow - (allegedly)
Characters known to have been poisoned
- Alequo Adarys
- Aegon II Targaryen
- Gaemon Palehair
- Ser Hobert Hightower
- Ulf the Sot
- Jon Arryn
- King Joffrey Baratheon
- Magister Ordello
- Maester Cressen
- Eladon Goldenhair
- Loyal Spear
- Strong Belwas - survived
- The Waif - survived
- Ser Gregor Clegane
- Pate
Characters suspected to have been poisoned
- King Viserys II Targaryen
- A High Septon
- King Baelor I Targaryen
- Domeric Bolton
- Prince Jaehaerys Targaryen
Survivors of attempted poisonings
- King Aegon III Targaryen
- Daenerys Targaryen - (twice)
- Melisandre
Quotes
The poisoner is beneath contempt.
Poison was for cravens, women, and Dornishmen.[3]
Poison is a foul and filthy way to kill.[4]
– Balon Swann, to Tyene Sand
– Lysa Tully, to Petyr Baelish
I begged Lord Arryn to use a taster, in this very room I begged him, but he would not hear of it. Only one who was less than a man would even think of such a thing, he told me.[6]
– Varys, to Eddard Stark
No true man killed with poison.[7]
Poisoners invariably choose the choicest dishes.[8]
– The Tattered Prince
References and Notes
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
- ↑ bloodandfire wikispace - Maesters Medicine and Poisons
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor, p 749.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 38, The Watcher.
- ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.
- ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 60, The Spurned Suitor.