Difference between revisions of "Poison"
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* Heart's bane | * Heart's bane | ||
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* certain species of [[mushroom (fungi)|mushroom]] | * certain species of [[mushroom (fungi)|mushroom]] | ||
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==Characters known to use poison== | ==Characters known to use poison== | ||
[[File:Maiden of Poisons GP.png|350px|thumb|right|Poison is [[Tyene Sand]]'s chosen weapon. © FFG]] | [[File:Maiden of Poisons GP.png|350px|thumb|right|Poison is [[Tyene Sand]]'s chosen weapon. © FFG]] |
Revision as of 01:02, 25 May 2016
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 in the further east, such as in Meereen, and in 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.
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 its 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] Some poisons do not kill, but only make the victim indisposed for a time.[3]
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 so, 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. An assassin may even coat a gold coin with poison, and pass it to the target who is poisoned when they bite the coin to test its value.[4][5]
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
- The Caltrops
- Crannogmen
- The Faceless Men
- Maesters
- The Pureborn
- The Alchemist
- Arya Stark
- Maester Cressen
- Lysa Tully - for Petyr Baelish
- Oberyn Martell
- Olenna Redwyne - in league with Petyr Baelish
- Ramsay Snow - (allegedly)
- Tyanna of Pentos
- Tyene Sand
- Tyrion Lannister
- Visenya Targaryen
Characters known to have been poisoned
- Alequo Adarys
- King Aegon II Targaryen
- Maester Cressen
- Lord Edgar Yronwood
- Eladon Goldenhair
- Gaemon Palehair
- Ser Gregor Clegane
- Harren Botley
- Ser Hobert Hightower
- King Joffrey Baratheon
- Lord Jon Arryn
- Loyal Spear
- Nurse
- Magister Ordello
- Pate
- Strong Belwas - survived
- Ulf the Sot
- The Waif - survived
- House Blackwood's weirwood
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 and his queen Daenaera Velaryon
- Daenerys Targaryen - (twice)
- Melisandre
Quotes
The poisoner is beneath contempt.
No true man killed with poison. Poison was for cravens, women, and Dornishmen.[6]
Poison is a foul and filthy way to kill.[7]
– 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.[9]
– Varys, to Eddard Stark
Poisoners invariably choose the choicest dishes.[10]
– The Tattered Prince
References and Notes
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
- ↑ bloodandfire wikispace - Maesters Medicine and Poisons
- ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
- ↑ A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 64, The Ugly Little Girl.
- ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.
- ↑ 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 60, The Spurned Suitor.