Epicym is broadleaf plant found growing wild south of the Rockwoods in Genertela. The leaves of the plant, when ingested or dried and smoked, are a mild depressant, analgesic and euphoric drug. There are two common uses for the plant: as an analgesic and a recreational drug.
Its euphoric effects have led to it being called Giggle Flower or Dope. People who take lots of the drug end up sitting around grinning inanely while under the influence.
Male takers of the drug find the depressant action reduces their sexual potency. In contrast, female takers find it increases sexual arousal because it removes inhibitions.
The analgesic effects of the drug are used to reduce the pain of childbirth (when Comfort Song or other magical assistance are not available) and by women with severe menstrual cramping. In Pavis it's been typically called Grot Weed or Rag Weed as most of the takers are menstrual women. (All the hardened drug users take Hazia or something with a bit more street credibility.)
Social attitudes to the drug vary. In Pavis, most women who want it take it, regardless of culture: It's a socially accepted part of society. At the other end of the spectrum, some Babeestor Gor cultists at the Paps see the idea of taking any drugs for "Women's Problems" as a defiance of their basic nature and sexuality, as a crude attempt by a patriarchal society to make them easier to control.
[A cynic once noted that the Paps Babeestor Gor cultists tended to burn
the plants upwind (to destroy them) whenever the High Priestess was
feeling a bit crabby. This was strenuously denied with the phrase
"You're a man, what would you know of oppression?" and the flat of an
axe whacked over the cynic's head.]
Finally, some shamans use the euphoric effect as an aid to Discorporation.
Game Effects
The effects of the drug are represented by a build up of potency (POT) in the user, 1 POT per use of the drug. The built up drug POT decreases at the rate of 1 POT per week. Every time the drug is used, the new POT is matched against the CON of the user. The effects of this roll are:
Fumble: Nothing happens.
Failure: User goes pleasantly numb for POT hours.
Success: User becomes totally useless for POT hours, unable to do
anything of their own volition.
Special: User becomes incapacitated for POT hours with diarrhea and
vomiting.
Critical: User passes out for POT hours, ends up with a stinking
headache for another POT hours afterwards.
In addition any user smoking a dose of the drug subtracts the POT when taken from all skill, INT and DEX roll success chances for the duration of it's effects. Shamans who smoke the drug reduce the cost of Discorporation by 1 MP for every 5 POT built up in their systems.
[And 'cause I don't want to alienate those Pendragon style rules users
out there, use an opposed roll of the POT against the users CON, as if
you needed telling that!]
Cheers,
Ash
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