The Poisonous Plant

I come from a family of gardeners. Despite the fact that I seem to have a particularly black thumb, I have always had a certain affection for green growing things. This probably explains why I find myself gravitating towards the vegetable weirdness of the Cthulhu Mythos. In particular, I have enjoyed tinkering about with the Cthulhoid ‘King of Plants’, that toxic menace the Black Lotus.

This selection covers a range of phenomena starting with the ‘Lotus and extending throughout the canon material into areas of unexpected inspiration. Readers will detect references to Fu Manchu and Hergé’s “Tintin” in this offering but then, I do tend to find my most fertile soil in the fecund beds of literature...

The Black Lotus (Nelumbo tenebrarum), Greater Independent Race

“Ebon-hued flower from Khitai, an eastern country of the Hyborian Age ... its scent could induce slumber in the most ferocious beast and ... control the minds of others...”

-Daniel Harms, The Encyclopedia Cthulhiana

Unlike other varieties of lotus, the Black Lotus has deeply notched petals of a colour ranging from solid black through to an indigo blue tone. The ‘Lotus has a heavy rhizomous stock that can sprout prolifically, choking the ponds or waterways in which the plant grows. Like other species within the Nelumbo genus, the Black Lotus is able to control the temperature of its petals above the waterline through a process resembling homeostasis, but how and for what purpose remains unknown.

The flowers of the Black Lotus grow from the centres of large lily pads that rest on the surface of the water; the flower rises several centimetres above the water’s surface. The undersides of the pads are covered by a layer of sharp thorns, overlapping in a concentric arrangement: rough contact with this surface is similar to being grazed by sharkskin, with the added danger of being possibly poisoned by the plant’s virulent sap. In full bloom the flower can reach 30cms (12”) or more in diameter; the central vane of each petal is lighter in colour and aids in directing insects to the centre of the flower where pollen can be collected and the transmission of gametes can occur; occasionally the bloom will slowly close in on the hapless insect instead and devour it.

Once the flower has bloomed, the petals, stamens and anthers drop off and the pistil enlarges and hardens: this cup-shaped eminence has a soft woody texture and contains the seeds of the plant. These seeds have various uses and are harvested, while the seed cup itself, once dried and crushed, is the source of an addictive tisane.

If left unattended, a Black Lotus plant will invariably outgrow its water source. In this eventuality, it sends out long rhizomous vines to invade other plants, choking them and draining them of their sap. In the right circumstances, a Black Lotus plant can become completely arboreal, sending out aerial roots and draining whole forests from the canopy down. Individual plants can abandon their original sites to occupy distant water or vegetable sources and have even been known to graft themselves onto animals and birds in the quest for liquid nourishment. Cultivators of the ‘Lotus hack off the wandering vines and root stalks to drain the sap for various chemical infusions.

Despite its virulent parasitism, attempts to graft the ‘Lotus onto other species of plant have generally met with failure; the only documented success in this regard is the Flower of Silence.

Workers who cultivate the plant have recorded instances of somnambulism, momentary visions, apraxia and aphasia when in contact with the plant, or its by-products, for extended periods, or in extreme heat. This, coupled with its voracious tendencies, has led many to believe that the Black Lotus is capable of a low-grade sentience and is acutely aware of its surroundings, to the point where it can lure victims to their doom through its hallucinogenic toxins. More research is needed however.

THE BLACK LOTUS, Insidious Mythos Weed

char.	rolls	averages	char.	rolls	averages
STR	n/a	n/a	POW	n/a	n/a
CON	3d6x10	100-110	DEX	n/a	n/a
SIZ	varies	grows	Move	0
INT	unknown	unknown	HP	varies

Av. Damage Bonus: n/a

Weapon:   Hallucinogenic Perfume: POT 10 each round while within 3 metres (10’) of the plant; POT rises to 15 in temperatures over 30° Celsius (86° Fahrenheit). Affected victims cease moving, and speaking, lose sense of time and receive visions of the ‘Lotus.

Armour:    None; however impaling weapons do minimum damage to the Black Lotus. Also, the ‘Lotus is not combustible and cannot be set alight, although heat does normal damage to it.

Skills:          None

Habitat       In ponds and other waterways on the Plateau of Leng

SAN Loss    It costs no Sanity to see the ‘Lotus; realising that the plant is deliberately affecting its victim causes 1/1d3 SAN Loss

Poisons & Preparations

This plant originates on the Plateau of Leng and its cultivation outside that locale is carefully controlled by the Tcho-tcho peoples. Tcho-tcho traders piercing the veil from the plateaus of Sung and Tsang into this reality sometimes offer specimens for sale and from these cuttings the Liao Drug has been known to have been formulated. The plant and its sap – known as Black Lotus Nectar - are considered sacred in the rituals of worshipping Zhar and Lloigor, the twin deities, as well as other gods revered by the cannibalistic tribespeople. Along with the Liao Drug, the plant has other uses:

Black Lotus Sleep Drug: Made from a concentrated extract of Black Lotus Nectar. Anyone ingesting or inhaling this clear-black drug must match their CON against the drug’s POT of 18 on the Resistance Table. If overcome, they fall into a deep sleep for 24-CON hours. If they resist, they remain awake but highly disorientated, making all skill and movement rolls at half normal value for 24-CON hours. A sleeping victim may be awakened normally; however, they suffer the disorientation effect for the 24-CON hours in which they would have slept, with the added impediment of continually falling back to sleep (to stay awake they must match half their CON versus the POT of the drug). While asleep, the victims experience wild and possibly horrific dreams. This requires a SAN roll and the loss of 0/1 SAN. Ten gallons of Black Lotus nectar yields 1 ounce of the sleep drug (roughly four doses).

Black Lotus Poison: Made from a highly concentrated extract of Black Lotus Nectar. Injecting or ingesting even the tiniest amount of this tarry black stuff could prove deadly. Even a pin-prick of the poison is enough to kill a person. Black Lotus Poison has a POT of 25. Once in the body, the poison begins to work immediately: victims first begin to hallucinate and then the breathing and heartbeat quicken until the heart gives out and they die. This all happens in less than a minute. If a victim survives Black Lotus poisoning, they suffer the immediate loss of half their Hit Points as well as half their CON: these are regained at a rate of 1 each per week or 1d3 each per week if medical treatment is available (successful Medical rolls). Survivors must also make a SAN roll and lose 0/1 SAN for hallucinations caused by the drug. Twenty gallons of Black Lotus nectar yields a half ounce of the poison (roughly four doses).

Black Lotus Dream Drug: Made from the dried and crushed flowers of the Black Lotus, this black powder has a POT of 16. Anyone ingesting and overcome by this mind-altering drug slips into a trance-like state wherein they experience vivid, wild and sometimes horrific hallucinations. While under the influence of this drug, the user is not completely aware of their surroundings and drifts in and out of consciousness. To the user, their hallucinatory world is as real and tangible as the waking world. The effects of the drug last for 100-SAN minutes and require a SAN roll with the loss of 1/1d10 points of SAN. Each time the drug is ingested, there is a cumulative 5% chance that the user will become addicted to it and must receive it at least once a day. Prevented from getting their ‘fix’, an addict begins to suffer the loss of 1 SAN point per day as they slowly slip into madness. Such addicts become violent, suicidal, or homicidal. To be cured of Black Lotus drug addiction, the addict must be successfully treated with a Medicine roll once a day for 30-CON days. Such recovering addicts require restraining and sedating while undergoing treatment. There is also a non-cumulative 10% chance each time the drug is taken that the user will gain 1 point of Cthulhu Mythos knowledge. Investigators experienced with dreaming and the Dreamlands may go there whilst under the influence of the drug; such Dreamers gain +10% to their Dreaming skill – this bonus disappears after the drug wears off. If an Investigator resists the drug, they simply fall into a deep sleep for 100-SAN minutes. One pound of Black Lotus flowers yields 1 ounce of Black Lotus Dream Drug (1 dose).

Black Lotus Incense: Made from the dried and crushed flowers of the Black Lotus. Sprinkled over hot coals, this powerful incense has the same effects of the Black Lotus Dream Drug (q.v.), but it is not addictive. The fumes are inhaled and cause hallucinations and visions. The effects of Black Lotus Incense last for 100-SAN minutes and require a SAN roll, with the loss of 1/1d10 SAN points. Although non-addictive, there is a non-cumulative 10% chance each time the Incense is used that the user will gain 1 point of Cthulhu Mythos knowledge. There is also a non-cumulative 10% chance that each time the incense is used that the harsh smoke causes tiny lacerations in the lungs. If this happens, the Investigator begins to suffer chest pains, experiences difficulties breathing and coughs up small amounts of blood, causing the loss of 1 point of CON. This CON regenerates normally in a week if the Black Lotus is not inhaled again. One pound of Black Lotus flowers yields 2 ounces of Black Lotus Incense (about two doses).

Black Lotus Seeds: The seeds of the ‘Lotus have a myriad uses. With the removal of the seed coat and the embryo, the endosperm can be crushed and dried to form a sticky flour or paste (depending upon the consistency and volume of liquid). This can be baked into small flat cakes or added to ordinary dough to create hallucinogenic comestibles. Onset time is about 20 minutes and the victim usually hallucinates wildly before vomiting and passing out. Overuse can cause death through paralysis of the respiratory system. Chewing the fresh seeds whole will cause instant death. Occasionally, the unshelled dark seeds are strung together to form Buddhist rosaries: this insidious trick will eventually affect the unwary user as the oils from the seeds pass into their skin. This effect will quickly pass once the perfidious beads are abandoned but the context of religious duty and hallucinogenic visions can make some users believe that they are having a mystical experience and become reluctant to forego their rosary. Death within eighteen months is an inevitable result of continued use. The seed cup of the Black Lotus, wherein the seeds form, is a soft woody structure that is often broken up and dried, then used as a tisane: the effects are mildly hallucinogenic and create a sense of euphoria: workers who toil on ‘Lotus farms often use the brew to offset fatigue and its continued use has so far – unusually – not been connected directly to any fatalities.

Black Lotus Root: The dark meaty flesh of Nelumbo Tenebrarum is suffused with the poisonous sap of the plant and is quite simply deadly. Those eating of it must resist a poison POT of 50 and will suffer a permanent loss of 1d6 points each to INT, STR and CON if they survive. The root stock and its honey-like sap smell abominably and are difficult to slip into a victim’s meal without being noticed; handling it also is fraught with danger.

* * * * *

Simply inhaling the perfume of the flowers of this plant can cause intense drowsiness, odd mental dysfunctions and momentary visions, often about the ‘Lotus itself. It is highly likely that this plant has a form of sentience and actively pursues its own dissemination.

(Sources: Robert E. Howard, "The Temple of the Elephant";

Chaosium, "Malleus Monstrorum)

The Liao Drug

“I have here five pellets of the drug Liao. It was used by the Chinese philosopher Lao Tze and while under its influence he envisioned Tao. Tao is the most mysterious force in the world; it surrounds and pervades all things.”

-Frank Belknap Long, The Hounds of Tindalos

Also known as the Plutonian Drug, this enchantment allows the user to travel backwards in time and see the past from the viewpoint of the minds of their ancestors. The user of the ‘Drug sees through the eyes of their distant relative but cannot affect or direct their movements or activities; they are also not directly privy to their ancestors’ thoughts or motivations. Whilst under the influence of the ‘Drug, the user can hear activity in the presence of their physical body and can relay to those nearby the sights that they witness. The ‘Drug can take the form of either a liquid, a pellet, or intravenous ‘shot’, depending upon the whim of the manufacturer. In any form, the ‘Drug must be ‘energised’ with Magic Points before gaining potency; the more Magic Points expended, the further back in time the mind of the user travels.

The larger the dose taken, the further back in time the user’s mind travels, eventually experiencing the distant past in prehuman and non-human forms. It is at this point that the dangers of the ‘Drug become manifest: the Hounds of Tindalos, creatures which inhabit the ‘angles’ of the distant timelines, resent the intrusion offered by the users of the ‘Drug and are able to pursue such individuals forward through time in order to devour them and prevent further interruptions. Other beings similarly sensitive to the use of the ‘Drug are the Elder Things, the Great Race of Yith and the deities Yog-Sothoth and Daoloth: their reactions to such intrusion are less predictable than are those of the Hounds. Another mishap that can occur is that the mind of the user does not return to its original body when the effect wears off: in this instance the user’s body falls into a coma from which it never awakens while the user’s consciousness is locked forever as a passenger of their ancestor’s form.

An extract of the Black Lotus is essential for the creation of this drug and its recipe is jealously guarded by those who cultivate the insidious plant. The most widely-known source for the formula of this admixture is Ludwig Prinn’s De Vermis Mysteriis.

(Source: Frank Belknap Long, "The Hounds of Tindalos")

Lotus Spawn, Lesser Independent Race – Infected Offshoots of the Black Lotus

“...‘sehr sonderbare, mysteriöse Unkräuter!’ – very strange and mysterious weeds...”

-Brian Lumley, The Statement of Henry Worthy

Water in which the Black Lotus grows becomes mucilaginous, infested with spores from the undersides of the plant’s lily pads; this liquid becomes thick and syrupy, according to the congestion, and is extremely toxic to organic life. It is thought that the neurological effects produced by the Black Lotus experienced by those who work with the plant are part of a process whereby the victims of the plant are lured into the water source supporting the ‘Lotus to become infected by the toxic soup on which it thrives.

Humans or animals (and occasionally birds, fish and amphibians) who come into contact with the waterborne spores of the ‘Lotus initially react very strongly against the immersion or contact with the affected water; they struggle to free themselves from the threat of drowning or immersion. After this they can become obsessed with their hygiene, claiming irritations of the dermis which lead to scratching and constant rubbing. This soon passes and the creature resumes a short period of normality.

Soon however, the patient begins to exhibit black swellings of the glands at the neck, armpits and groin similar to the buboes indicative of the plague. This is accompanied by a heightened demand for water, sometimes accompanied by an intense drooling which can be misdiagnosed as rabies. The affected creature generally exhibits a heightened paranoia and tries to hide from those around them, remaining alone and trying to cover the visible effects. Irrationality and hallucinations, including screaming nightmares, become common at this stage. Eventually the affected creature will seek out a large, hidden body of water in which to immerse themselves; this usually results in the creature’s death through drowning. Once death has occurred, the body decomposes and the spores of the Black Lotus emerge to propagate a new plant.

In rare instances, the plant begins to generate within the body of the victim itself, sprouting leaves and tendrils out of the mouth or some other orifice, or bursting through the skin at the neck, armpits or groin. The drive of the infected being to find water becomes intense, but in the meantime the plant grows as it would upon any other water source: rapaciously and ferociously.

*****

Keepers should use the statistics of the creature which has fallen victim to the Black Lotus when constructing these monsters. Once infected by the insidious plant, a victim begins to lose SAN rapidly as soon as the first symptoms appear. Each day that goes by they lose 1d6 points of Sanity, plus another 1d8 for each bout of nightmares, until finally they reach zero points and are beyond all hope of a cure...if ever a hope existed at all.

‘The Flower of Silence’ (Jatropha curcas, var.)

“...On the bed a man lay writhing...His eyes seemed starting from their sockets as he lay upon his back uttering inarticulate sounds and plucking with skinny fingers at his lips...He continued to babble, rolling his eyes from side to side hideously...and now, with his index finger, pointed to his mouth.

‘He has lost the power of speech!’ whispered Smith.”

-Sax Rohmer, The Si Fan Mysteries (1917)

Attempts to propagate the Black Lotus outside the area of the Plateau of Leng have generally met with no success outside of Tcho-tcho circles. However, the attempts have given rise to a variety of unlooked-for successes. The Flower of Silence is a hybrid generated from attempts to graft the ‘Lotus onto the poisonous ‘Physic Nut’, or tubatuba bush, of the Philippines which grows in arid soil and can reach up to 5 metres (15 feet) in height.

The Flower is peloric and has three stamens, two of which function as normal sexual organs; the third hardens into a hollow thorn, hidden within the petals and which constantly drips with the sap of the plant. This liquid is highly toxic (POT 18) and can be administered intravenously if the Flower is roughly handled. The sap can also be fatal if it comes into contact with the skin, by bruising the petals or stems of the Flower. The toxin is destroyed if it comes into contact with a sufficiently hot liquid.

The sap or oil of the hybrid plant contains a powerful neurotoxin that paralyses its victims in short order. Initial signs of poisoning include a slow failure of motor control and an inability to speak; within minutes this process spreads to include basic motor functions, such as breathing and heartbeat, and the victim soon succumbs. Within some Buddhist locales where use of the Flower is prevalent, it is believed that saying the words ‘Sâkya Mûni’ (another name for the Buddha) will negate the effects of the Flower; in actual fact, these words – or any form of tongue-twister - are simply a test to see if the subject is poisoned or not. There is no known antidote for this toxin.

(Source: Sax Rohmer, The Si Fan Mysteries)

Distillation of Madness!

This clear syrup is distilled from any one of several hybridised Black Lotus subspecies cultivated in Burma, East Pakistan, Assam, Bhutan and parts of north-eastern India. It is extremely rare and there is currently no cure for its effects (POT 25). In India it is sometimes called ‘Rajaijah Juice’ and it has been linked with certain cults of Kali.

The syrup has a strong taste, as of fermented cabbage, and is usually administered in strong drink to disguise its presence. Once ingested, the effects are almost instantaneous: the victim becomes woozy and disorientated, sometimes falling into a swoon. Thereafter, once these effects have passed, the victim becomes bright and cheerful to an inordinate degree, sometimes laughing uncontrollably or feeling inclined to dance or caper about; as well, they begin to rave and mutter, talking sheer nonsense in an unending stream. Despite this, the victim may be led around and is quite biddable, performing simple duties such as lifting and carrying without difficulty.

Almost inevitably, the victim comes to a conclusion that those around them are incapable of experiencing their own joy by virtue of the fact that they have heads with ‘corrupting brains’ preventing them from seeing ‘the truth’. They also begin to develop a fascination for sharp objects, such as axes and swords, with which they attempt to ‘cure’ their associates. In most cases, unpleasantness can be easily prevented but the poisoned victim will seek any opportunity to be of ‘benefit’ to their colleagues and loved ones.

In some cases, a full lobotomy has been known to reduce the effects dramatically, oftentimes neutralising them altogether; regardless, the poison continues to strip the victim’s neural fibres and those affected rarely last another year (1d12 months) beyond the onset of symptoms before dying of motor neuron failure, causing paralysis, suffocation and aneurysm. Legend has it that the Tcho-tcho peoples know of an antidote to this corrosive effect; however, this might simply be a cruel ploy to instil hope where none may truly be offered.

(Source: Hergé, "The Adventures of Tintin: The Blue Lotus")