Help me Poison my Party

[MonkeyDragon]

My players stay out!









I need to find or find a way to create an effective poison. Assassins may be coming after the party in the very near future, but I don't like the idea of PCs being killed in their sleep. Seems a trifle cheap. The people coming after them wouldn't be adverse to warm bodies, however, so the goal will be capture rather than kill.**

So I'd like a poison/drug that could be administered to a sleeping person (contact, inhaled, injury) that would render them unconscious. There are of course a few poisons in the DMG and BoVD that have that effect (Drow poison looks pretty nice). The problem...my PCs are lvl 16-17. So a DC 13 fort save is a laugh, and nothing in the book is quite appropriate. I don't have any objection to monkeying with the DC to make it a more appropriate challenge, but I'm not certain how to do it and maintain balance (the cost of the dose, how the poison affects the EL of the encounter, etc.)

So, thoughts? Ideas? Resources? I'm not adverse to suggestions for pdfs if they're inexpensive, but just advice is welcome as well.


In order to lessen the pleading for help aspect of the thread, how do you as DMs deal with situations where most of the core material is suited for groups of much lower level than yours? When you want to use X situation, Y challenge, Z flavor of encounter, but the rules much better support a different level of play?



**Never fear, this is not a plot device that will hinge upon the capture of the PCs; a thing of which we must be wary. The idea is just that IF the assassins achieve their goal, PCs will be incapacitated and relocated rather than dead. If the attackers fail, no biggie, the PCs will still wonder about the circumstances, since I don't think they're expecting to be attacked.

 

[Ze]

my PCs are lvl 16-17

...and they can be surprised during their sleep? They must be very relaxed about what's going on in your campaign!

IMO, poison is not very dramatic at high-level, but if you really want to go that way, I believe you can afford a save-or-die effect, especially if the DC is easily beatable by some PCs (say, around 18). The others will wake up and face the assassins, and Resurrection is at hand.

Rather than poison, though, I would go with something more exotic (and even more unexpected), and above all, something that would be in theme with the BBEG sending the assassins.
I like the idea of dwarf/gnome assassins using slimes (stored in stone or metal boxes).
Or, if your BBEG is undead-oriented, the Jahi from MM2 is something I always though interesting. Plus, you don't need real assassins, with this one.

 

[roguerouge]

Have you considered sleep gas?

 

[Rechan]

...and they can be surprised during their sleep? They must be very relaxed about what's going on in your campaign!

IMO, poison is not very dramatic at high-level, but if you really want to go that way, I believe you can afford a save-or-die effect, especially if the DC is easily beatable by some PCs (say, around 18). The others will wake up and face the assassins, and Resurrection is at hand.

I second this notion. And in fact, I have the perfect method.

Gorgon breath.

Breath Weapon (Su)

60-foot cone, once every 1d4 rounds (but no more than five times per day), turn to stone permanently, Fortitude DC 19 negates. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Give the assassins a bottle or a billows with a few blasts of Gorgon breath, and let them just pump it into the room. PCs are turned to stone. BBEG uses several scrolls or a staff of Stone to Flesh, and whala.

An alternative method would be one (or more) of the assassins being a medusa with levels of rogue. Take each PC aside, and run the scenario of the medusa sneaking into their room. The PC wakes, and run that scenario.

 

[Mustrum_Ridcully]

Just be careful that no one gets the idea of casting an Extended Heroes Feast!

 

[GeorgeFields]

An alternative method would be one (or more) of the assassins being a medusa with levels of rogue. Take each PC aside, and run the scenario of the medusa sneaking into their room. The PC wakes, and run that scenario.

Best idea, IMO

 

[Nifft]

Perhaps some combination of psychic venoms + Dream / Nightmare spells?

Night Hag assassins in the employ of the Sinmaker, striking from the plane of dreams?

Cheers, -- N

 

[Rechan]

Perhaps some combination of psychic venoms + Dream / Nightmare spells?

Night Hag assassins in the employ of the Sinmaker, striking from the plane of dreams?

That's sexy.

 

[A'koss]

Another option might be to take a page out of the 1e Anti-Paladin's handbook - the 3-Stage Poison.

Three different elements, which on their own are harmless (so the assassin could eat the same food as the target), but when subjected to all 3 combine to poison the target. One element could be administered into their food, another on an item they would come into contact with and a third in a candle or lamp which fills the air when lit.

Each element in turn helps break down the target's resistance so the DC is quite high in turn when the final element is introduced...

 

[Nylanfs]

Pale Designs by Bastion Press (now owned and published by DragonWing Games)

Oh crap, now I can't find it in my collection. I'd better find out what friend I loaned it to and send the knee-cappers.