"Black Lotus... Stygian, the best!" — Conan the Barbarian
Black Lotus
Use: Powder or inhaled (burned pollen smoke)
Effect: DC12 CON or drop to 0 HP.
Magic: Spellcasters who inhale the pollen smoke for 1 hour may cast one spell without a spellcasting check.
Addiction: DC13 CON
Lore: Harvested in the lost jungles of Khitai and the shadowed swamps of Stygia, the black lotus is a deadly poison or creates sorcerous dreams.
“[The powder] was made from black lotus… those blossoms strike dead any who smell of them.” — Robert E. Howard, The Tower of the Elephant
“A glance back, before the heavy, gold-bound teak door was closed, showed him Xaltotun leaning back in his throne-like chair… It was the pollen of the black lotus…” — Robert E. Howard, Hour of the Dragon. .
Purple Lotus
Use: Ingested or inhaled
Effect: DC12 CON or be paralyzed for 1d4 rounds
Addiction DC: None
Lore: Grown in haunted swamps of Stygia, the purple lotus freezes the flesh but leaves the mind aware. Sorcerers use it to separate will from body; others use it to imprison victims silently.
Yellow Lotus
Use: Inhaled
Effect: Induces a visionary trance for 10 minutes. While entranced, ask the GM one question about a course of action. The GM answers with “Serpent” (treachery, peril) or “Star” (guidance, promise).
Addiction: DC12 CON
Lore: Revered in the shadowed temples of Khitai, Yellow Lotus opens the mind to haunting visions and whispered omens from beyond the veil.
“’…their lives are filled with exotic ecstasies, beyond the ken of ordinary men.’ ‘Damned degenerates!’ growled Conan.” — Robert E. Howard, The Slithering Shadow.
Grey Lotus
Use: Ingested or inhaled
Effect: For 3 rounds, take 1 extra action each round (Move, Attack, Hide, Use, etc.).
Addiction: DC13 CON
Lore: Feared and sought by pit fighters and cult zealots alike, Grey Lotus ignites savage fury and razor-sharp reflexes, though its grip sinks deep, twisting body and soul alike.
White Lotus
Use: Crushed and applied
Effect: Acts as a Potion of Healing and cures one disease.
Addiction DC: None
Lore: Cultivated in the hidden gardens of Vendhya, White Lotus is a treasured remedy that soothes wounds and cleanses afflictions.
Golden Lotus
Use: Ingested
Effect: Cures all mind-influencing effects, addictions, and withdrawal symptoms instantly.
Addiction DC: None
Lore: Rare and revered, golden lotus juice is said to restore sanity and sever chains of compulsion.
“He drew a phial… ‘If your lover drank it he would be sane again.’” — Robert E. Howard, Shadows in Zamboula.
Poison Rules
When using poisons, the user must succeed on a DC12 Dexterity check or risk poisoning themselves by mistake. (Trained users only poison themselves on a natural 1.)
Poisons only affect living creatures of Level 10 or lower.
Addiction
If you fail the addiction check, you become addicted. If you don’t take the Lotus again the next day, you suffer disadvantage on all checks until you do.
You may attempt to break the addiction once per day with a Constitution check. Luck tokens and resting do not help. You must overcome the addiction on your own.
