poison in the forgotten realms?

[lordxaviar]

hey all,

in my campaign, poison is an illegal substance. if you don't like this, don't reply.

however, a new player is completely hell-bent on getting his hands on some poison and not using any finesse about it, even though the other PCs have suggested he be a little more careful about such a thing. if he should he get caught, what's the penalty? imprisonment? being run out of town? branded?

have no problem with your choice... i use greyhawk
, its generally a no no... essentially evil but it does have its uses - some monsters... pests... vermin...etc...

let the crime fit the punishment... caught buying....making ... selling... using... all would have different penalties...

real world example
29.088 Use of poison and explosives; pole traps. (1) Except as provided by s.29.601 (4), it is unlawful to use baits containing poison of any description in any forests, fields or other places where it might destroy or cause the destruction of wild animals or birds, and the possession of any poison or poison baits in a hunting or trapping camp or on any person while hunting or trapping shall be prima facie evidence of a violation.

(2) Except as provided in sub.(3), no person may take, capture or kill or attempt to take, capture or kill any wild animal with the aid of any explosive or poison gas, or set any explosive near or on any beaver or muskrat houses. Possession or control of an explosive or a poison gas in places described in sub. (1) is prima facie evidence of intent to violate this subsection. Any person who violates this subsection shall be fined not more than $300 or imprisoned for not more than 30 days or both.

 

[El Mahdi]

Based on a medieval attitude about such things, poison (the same as drugs) wouldn't necessarily be an illegal substance in and of itself.

Though Killing someone with poison is.

If someone died and it was determined that poison was involved, and then someone was discovered with poison, they'd be held for the murder (but not specifically for making or possessing poison - and likely wether they committed the crime or not).

However, someone who was discovered making poison might be accused of being an alchemist or witch, or an assassin, and that could be a problem (though probably less of a deal in the Forgotten Realms than it would be in an authentic Medieval European country).

Drugs also wouldn't necessarily be considered universally illegal, but might be banned by decree in certain locales or areas (for instance, the fruit of the poppy might be banned within the city limits of London, excepting medical uses - etc.)

For the most part, a drug or poison would be considered the same as any other herbal concoction, though there was a fine line between herbalism and "magic" in medieval thinking...