QUESTION: Achaierai Black Cloud - Poison or not?

[Spanambula]

In my 3.5 Ed game, an enemy caster summoned an Achaierai next to one of the PCs, an 11th-level Druid. The Achaierai used its Black Cloud ability, which I will quote from the MM as follows, for those of you without books or eidetic memory:

Up to three times per day an achaierai can release a choking, toxic black cloud. Those other than achaierai within 10 feet instantly take 2d6 points of damage. They must also succeed on a DC 15 Fortitude save or be affected for 3 hours as though by an insanity spell (caster level 16th). The save DC is Constitution-based.

My PC said that his druid's Venom Immunity makes him immune to the cloud's effects.

I said that although it may quack like a poison, it does not specifically say that it's a poison, so his druid should not be immune.

So. Yes, it's an Ex ability, which means reality-defying, but non-magical. Yes it requires a fort save. Yes the fluff text mentions the word "toxic." Yes, in 1E D&D the Black Cloud was considered a poison effect. Yes, in some non-WotC books there are lists of poison that include Black Cloud Poison (at least, I haven't seen that in any of the WotC books I own.) I'm still feeling stubborn about it, but am open to the majority ruling here.

Thoughts? Opinions? Ridicule?

 

[Dandu]

Eh, I'd make the druid roll a fort save just for the 5% chance of failure and insanity.

 

[Jackinthegreen]

Simply based on the hilarity of a giant four-legged bird emitting a toxic fart, I'd say he should roll the Fort save. If he fails and goes insane he can now claim his mind went to the birds.

 

[RUMBLETiGER]

Entry doesn't say poison, my vote goes to the DM, make the Druid roll.

 

[frankthedm]

Entry doesn't say poison...

And yet it does use a descriptive term that means poison. If that cloud is not meant to be classified as a poison, the author picked woefully misleading flavor text.

Tox·ic
adj \ˈtäk-sik\
Definition of TOXIC
1: containing or being poisonous material especially when capable of causing death or serious debilitation <toxic waste> <a toxic radioactive gas> <an insecticide highly toxic to birds>

 

[Dandu]

Although poison immunity does not grant immunity to radioactivity.

 

[kitcik]

Let's just say that when defining "toxic," Webster likely did not consider magical sources of toxicity...

 

[AdmundfortGeographer]

Poison.

 

[Sekhmet]

poison

We can not, unfortunately, use the definition of "toxic" or "poison" in this instance, that would make a Druid immortal to almost all effects.

A substance that, when introduced into or absorbed by a living organism, causes death or injury, esp. one that kills by rapid action.

While the spirit of the definition is quite clear, the written definition includes swords, axes, arrows, rocks, magic missiles, teeth, claws, etcetera, etcetera, as all of these things, when introduced into the body, cause death or injury.

As stated by the DMG, almost ALL poisons are EX (though some are SU), so Spanambula shouldn't use that in his argument.

The spirit of the Druid's ability (Immunity to Venom) should include extraordinary poisonous attacks from all creatures - his connection with creatures and with nature grants him immunity to naturally occurring poisons.

Since the Acheirai is absolutely a naturally occurring creature, and his toxic cloud is poisonous, I'd argue that the Druid should be immune based on these merits.

 

[Dandu]

I agree that all poisons are toxic substances, thought not all toxic substances are poisons. Radiation is the obvious counterexample.