Editing Poison (section)

==About==
{{See also|:Category:Images of poison|l1=Images of poison}}
Poison is regarded with fear and loathing by knights and high lords alike in the [[Feudalism|feudal]] society of the [[Seven Kingdoms]]. The poisoner is considered to be beneath contempt,{{ref|AGOT|25}} and that no true man kills with poison.{{ref|ADWD|56}} Poison is felt to be a weapon of cravens{{ref|AGOT|25}} and cowards,{{ref|AGOT|33}} [[eunuch]]s,{{ref|AGOT|25}} women,{{ref|AGOT|25}} and [[Dornishmen]].{{ref|ADWD|56}}

===Common poisons===
Common poisons include [[nightshade]], derived from a plant, and [[greycap|powdered greycap]], derived from a variety of toadstool. [[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. Every [[hedge]] [[maester]] knows the common poisons.{{ref|AGOT|25}} 

===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.{{ref|ACOK|0}} 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.{{ref|AFFC|34}}

===Ambiguous poisons===
There are also ambiguous poisons. [[Moon tea]] aborts pregnancies, which makes some [[maester]]s reluctant to call it a medicine. [[Sweetsleep]] brings deep sleep in small doses, but larger doses can kill.{{ref|AFFC|34}} 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.{{ref|AFFC|23}}{{ref|AFFC|41}} Some poisons do not kill, but only make the victim indisposed for a time.{{ref|acok|25}}
===Administering poisons===
[[File:Paul Guzenko Poisoned Coin.JPG|350px|thumb|right|[[Arya Stark]]'s target bites the poisoned coin. © Fantasy Flight Games]]
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 by 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 he bites the coin to test its value.{{ref|affc|0}}{{ref|adwd|64}}