#needler

(art by MagicalKaleidoscope on DeviantArt)

Poison and rogues go together like biscuits and gravy, like pinapple and ham in a slow cooker, and more food pairing analogies. Perhaps the only class that has a stronger association with poison would be the alchemist, due to their skill at making and improving them.

However, while the rogue class has plenty of talents and archetypes geared towards using poison to the best of their ability, today’s subject is among the more creative, and I mean that in-universe. I mean, let’s face it, in a lot of games most poisons that a rogue would use are injury poisons, and not used very subtly. It’s kinda hard to be subtle with a knife or arrow in someone’s back, even if nobody hears or sees it.

However, poisons are not just injury-based. There are plenty that are poisonous fumes, toxic food additives, or simply are so toxic that not even skin is a barrier against them.

With these delivery methods, a rogue can do some truly nasty things, such as adding a log laced with poison to a campfire and gassing those sitting around it, or coating the Macguffiin the villain tries to steal from the party in poison to give them a nasty surprise when they think they’ve succeeded.

Today’s archetype is a master of such poisons, and delivering them subtly so that none are truly aware of where the poison came from. An ingested poison coating a wax coating on their lips, a hidden needle that scratches the target when they embrace them. (“Oh sorry, I have a rough edge on my cufflinks”), and so on. Even when they are overt, the roundabout types of poisons they use are sure to throw those investigating for a loop.

These poisoners have especially deft and well-practiced hands, especially with their poisoned weapons, concealing them and drawing them with ease.

Normally contact and ingested poisons are only really good for the appropriate application method, but these poisoners can use such poisons with their weapons in a pinch either to make use of their unique properties or throw off poison experts with the delivery method. However, such uses are weaker and tend to evaporate quickly.

They can also add poison to their weaponry at a faster rate, subtly adding toxins on the fly.

The real power of this archetype, however, comes when they learn to use subtle methods to deliver any poison to their target at close range. A dab of toxic vapor on the neck during an embrace, a poisonous kiss, and so on. However, such clandestine methods also make the poison unstable or precarious, meaning they must use it quickly or lose it.

A fun option for characters that want to use poison in such a way that their prey doesn’t even realize they’re poisoned until it’s too late, this archetype could see a lot of good use in an intrigue game. That being said, it is worth noting that it does not on it’s own grant poison use, so you’ll have to take a talent or another class with the ability to avoid poisoning yourself on accident. With that said, I recommend a bluff and sleight of hand build so as to be able to gain the confidence of others and envenom them without them ever suspecting.

Because poison in RPGs is typically used in combat, it can be sometimes hard to remember that in the real world, it can actually be hard to tell initially that one has been poisoned. Not every toxin has an obvious source, and not all of them are painful. There is sudden awareness of being envenomed as if one had a dialogue box or icon above their head indicating they’ve been afflicted. If you want to realistically depict a lot of venoms as a GM, I’d consider doing a little bit of research into toxicology and symptoms.

The champion of the local arena hasn’t lost in a long time, and certainly he looks like a truly powerful man. However, rumor abound how his challengers always seem to undergo bouts of weakness before or during the match, and one has to wonder if his skills lie in combat, or more dishonorable paths to victory.

The adaro are a warrior people that revel in combat and the wildness of nature. However, a nearby tribe has suddenly begun attacking merchant vessels without any of their normal enthusiasm. In truth, their leader was usurped by one of their own, a black sheep who has subtly been lacing the water around their home with poisons to weaken those who dare question their rule, turning them into petty pirates to their shame and chagrin.