The Assassin's Library

A catalogue of the unusual toxins, weapons, and devices that Leaf Shakes the Wind has brought to bear in his duties as the Circle's Dagger of Heaven.

Drugs & Poisons

Catstongue

Catstongue is a small, pink-flowered plant whose petals are very rough in texture. It grows in the wild in the forests of the East and is cultivated in many places on the Blessed Isle for it's alchemical uses.

Catstongue Powder

Damage: 5*/minute Toxicity: 4 Tolerance: --/-- Penalty: -4 Resources: 2

* No actual damage done

Catstongue Powder is made from drying and grinding the petals of the flower (it takes about 2 flowers to create a single dose; each plant usually has clumps of 6-20 flowers). The powder can be used in several ways: It dissolves quickly and tastelessly into any liquid and can easily added to most foods. It can be held in the hand and blown into the face of a target (getting into the victim's system both through inhalation and contact with the eyes). It can also be placed in small "bullets" made of clay, porcelain, cloth, leather, or eggshells which can be thrown by hand or with a sling and are designed to break open upon contact with the target. Catstongue powder is a narcoleptic compound, sending its users into deep, dreamless sleep. Instead of taking damage, failure on the normal (Stamina + Resistance) roll for this poison causes the victim to fall unconscious and immediately enter the Inactive state if currently engaged in combat.

Catstongue Sap

Damage: 10*/Action Toxicity: 3 Tolerance: --/-- Penalty: -8 Resources: 2

* No actual damage done

Catstongue Sap is made from boiling down a mixture of water and the crushed leaves and stems of the plant (one plant is usually enough for 4-10 doses, depending on its size). The sap is typically applied to darts or other weapons; it can be dissolved in hot liquids, but the process takes several minutes and adds a strong astringent taste which all but the most unaware individuals will notice. Catstongue sap is a noted paralytics poison that slows and weakens those who succumb to it, often rendering them completely immobile. If a person loses more dice from this poison's Penalty rating than they have to roll, they are considered paralyzed and immediately enter the Inactive state if currently engaged in combat.

Weapons

Bolas

Speed: 5 Accuracy: -1 Damage: +1B Rate: 2 Range: 20 Minimums: Dex 3, Throw 3

A chord, thong, or chain with weights on each end, the bola is throw for the purpose of entangling a target. While generally non-lethal, when thrown by a skilled user, the weights on the ends of the bola have been known to break bone upon impact. When a target is successfully hit by a bola, she suffers the same effects as from a hold maneuver (Exalted pg. 157-158). Freeing oneself from the bola is a Speed 4 ([Strength or Dexterity] + Athletics) action against a difficulty equal to the number of successes the attacker obtained on his Attack roll. As in a normal hold maneuver, anyone hit by a bola may still use reflexive Charms and actions or Charms designed to be used while in a clinch (at the ST's discretion), but have no defense against further attacks until freed.

In addition, the following special attacks can be used with bolas:

Take down - By taking an additional -1 external penalty to their attacks, bola throwers can use the weapon to knock their foes prone. If the attack is successful, the target must make a (Dexterity + Athletics) roll at a difficulty equal to the number of successes on the attack. Failure indicates that the defender has fallen prone in addition to the normal effects of being hit by the bola. If the target performed a Move or Dash action in the previous tick or is otherwise in a situation that the ST determines to require delicate balance, the take down is automatic unless the defender can use a Charm or stunt to negate it.

Choke - For a -3 external penalty, the bola user may aim for the neck of the opponent, rather than the body or legs. Doing so negates the normal effects of a bola, but instead begins to choke the victim. This does damage in the same manner as a Crush attack (Exalted pg. 157), and if the victim does not free herself soon enough, it can also cause suffocation (Exalted pg. 130).

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Heaven's Mandate