Toxins

Toxins are a variety of substances which will affect or interrupt the functioning of living organisms, and, in sufficient dosage, even kill the organism. Toxins are used by a variety of animals as a defence against predators, and by many humans as a method of attack. Toxins also happen to be incidental to many industrial processes, such as chemical or metal refining. 

When a toxin is encountered, a rapid and knowledgeable response is required to save the lives of the affected organisms. The following rules cover the mechanism, administration, effects, and treatment of toxins.

Mechanism of Toxins:

The toxin contacts cells within the body of the target organism through ingestion, injection, inhalation, or skin absorption. Once in the body of the organism, the toxin is spread through the digestive, circulatory, or respiratory system to the targeted cells. The toxin then works either by the creation of a local toxicity or a systemic toxicity. Local toxicity is where the toxin destroys cells it contacts, while systemic toxicity is where the toxin simply interrupts the functioning of the cells it contacts. The toxicity is created through chemical reactions with substances in the cells. Therefore, as soon as the toxicity is created, the toxin is spent, and is passed out of the system as waste. It is possible, however, for a toxin to have such a slow cellular absorption and reaction rate that it will remain in the organism for weeks and continue to cause symptoms during that time.

Administration of Toxins:

All toxins are administered in a standard dose, which is just enough toxin to cause early symptoms. Increasing the number of standard doses administered will generate more advanced symptoms like coma and death, and will advance the rate of the appearance of symptoms as well. Because of the varying effectiveness of toxins, the size of the standard dose changes tremendously from toxin to toxin. The vast majority of toxins listed below however, have lethal doses much less than a gram in mass, so this should give some idea as to the tremendous potency of the toxins. Where possible, the estimated lethal dose for a specific toxin is given to give readers an idea of the relative potency of the toxins.

The standard dose can be diluted in fluid or food without affecting its potency. As long as a standard dose enters the target organism, the effects of the toxin will be resolved as for a standard dose. 

A medic or skilled user of the toxins (including an addict) can usually administer a single dose quite easily. Unskilled users will administer (3) standard doses per attempt.

Effects of Toxins:

All toxins progress through asymptomatic, early symptomatic, and advanced symptomatic phases. The progress of the toxin can be arrested by making a Toxin Recovery Roll (TRR). This depends on the number of doses administered, the health of the target, and any treatment applied. The Base TRR is found on the Toxicity Table, below by indexing the level of symptoms with the number of doses administered. Add the Base TRR to the target's current HLT level and any applicable treatment modifiers. Round the current HLT to the nearest whole number. If a 00-99 roll is less than this number, then the progress of the toxin is arrested. Otherwise, the toxin continues to the next phase of symptoms.

TRR = Base TRR + Current HLT + Treatment Modifiers

A TRR is first rolled once at the end of the Effective Interval Time (EIT). The EIT is the time required for the early symptoms to appear and is calculated by taking the IT listed for each toxin in the Toxin Lists at the end of this section, and multiplying it by the IT Multiplier for the number of standard doses of toxin administered. Exception: see Food Infection. 

The IT multiplier is found on the Toxicity Table below.

EIT = IT * IT Multiplier

When a toxin is administered, there is a period of time immediately following administration when no symptoms appear. This is called the asymptomatic phase and it lasts as long as the EIT. At the end of the asymptomatic phase, a TRR is rolled. If the TRR is successful, the progress of the toxin is arrested and there are no further ill effects. The value for Base TRR is taken from the "Asymptom." column of the Toxicity Table.

Because of the lack of symptoms, a medic will be unable to make a diagnosis as to the toxin. However, medics can initiate a treatment if circumstances would indicate the nature of the toxin. 

Example: Michael (HLT = 14) is bitten by a rattlesnake. The bite injects 2 standard doses of Crotalidae venom into Michael's hand. No medic is at hand to deliver treatment. The IT for the venom is 10 minutes. The IT multiplier for 2 standard doses is 0.60, so the EIT is 10 minutes * 0.60 = 6 minutes. Six minutes after being bitten, Michael must make a TRR. The Base TRR for 1 standard dose of venom is 14. Assuming that he has received no treatment, his TRR is 14 + 14 (for current HLT) + 0 = 28. Michael fails the TRR by rolling a 37. 

If the first TRR is failed, then the victim enters the early symptomatic phase at the end of the asymptomatic phase. During the early symptomatic phase, the victim suffers the effects listed under the Early Symptoms field of the toxin listing. The effects last for the amount of time listed in brackets multiplied by the IT Multiplier. Exception: see Food Infection.

At the end of the early symptomatic phase, the victim makes another TRR. Success in this TRR means that the progress of the toxin is arrested and will remain at the early symptoms level of effect until the end of the early symptomatic phase. The victim will then suffer a debility for the listed Healing Time (HT). Failure of this TRR means that symptoms advance to the advanced symptoms level. Note that the Base TRR value is taken from the "Early" column of the Toxicity Table.

Example: Having failed the first TRR, Michael starts to suffer the early symptoms of a rattlesnake bite. His bitten hand begins to swell up almost to the point of skin rupture and change color as the toxin encourages bleeding into the tissue surrounding the bite. The arm also begins to show signs of swelling. The pain of the bite is now quite excruciating and spreading over his body. He is starting to suffer thirst and hypotension. This condition lasts for (Random roll of 3 * 20 minutes) * 0.6 (IP Multiplier for 1 dose) = 60 * 0.6 = 36 minutes. At the end of 36 minutes, Michael must make a  second TRR. This TRR is equal to Base TRR + HLT + Treatment Modifiers. Michael has received no treatment prior to making the roll, so TRR = 43 + 14 + 0 = 57. Michael rolls 99 and fails again.

If the second TRR is failed, then the toxicity advances to the advanced symptomatic phase at the end of the early symptomatic phase. The victim still suffers the early symptoms and suffers the advanced symptoms in addition. These symptoms last for the amount of time in brackets multiplied by the IT multiplier. Exception: see Food Infection.

At the end of the advanced symptomatic phase, the victim makes a final TRR. Success in this TRR means that the progress of the toxin is arrested and will remain at the advanced symptoms level of effect until the end of the advanced symptomatic phase. The victim will then suffer a debility for the listed Healing Time (HT). Failure of this TRR means that the victim succumbs to the toxin and dies. Note that the Base TRR value is taken from the "Advanced" column of the Toxicity Table.

Example: Michael has suffered through the early symptoms and his symptoms get worse to include all the early symptoms, and also convulsions and shock. Shock is a result of very low blood pressure which results in collapse, extreme pallor, cold sweaty skin, feeble but rapid pulse, and a feeling of apprehension. Michael will suffer all of these symptoms for a time equal to ((Random roll of 2 * 3) + 6 hours) * IT Multiplier of 0.60 = 12 * 0.60 = 7.2 hours, or 7 hours and 12 minutes. He has still not received any treatment. His final TRR = Base TRR of 90 + HLT of 14 + Treatment Modifiers of 0 = 104. He automatically succeeds on this TRR and does not die. Instead, he suffers a debility for 7 days and is then considered healed.

If the victim survives the toxin after undergoing either the early or advanced symptomatic phases, then the victim suffers a debility for the listed healing time. This debility manifests itself by making the character fatigued. Also, if the character was bitten or otherwise suffered physical damage in the administration of the toxin, then the injured areas remain painful. 

Notes:

Inh/Inj -- Inhaled/Injected method of administration. Agent enters the bloodstream directly or through the lungs.

SkA -- Skin absorption. The agent enters the bloodstream by passing through the combatant's skin. If the combatant is not wearing a gas mask and is inhaling the agent, then treat the method of administration as being inhaled/injected.

Ing -- Ingested method of administration. The agent enters the bloodstream through the stomach. Not used in CBW warfare.

Treatment of Toxins:

Treatment modifiers are given in parenthesis for the Asymptomatic / Early Symptomatic / Advanced Symptomatic phases respectively.

Absorption Therapy:  (25/5/0) The use of an absorbing chemical which is placed into the stomach of the toxin victim to attempt to absorb the toxin before the stomach does. The absorbing chemical and absorbed toxin are passed out of the system normally. Only applicable to ingested toxins.

Antivenin: (50/30/10) Antivenin is a serum created from the venom of a toxic animal. The antivenin requires a Tech Level 13 or higher medical lab to be created. Antivenins are toxic-animal specific, meaning that an antivenin is useless against all toxins except the one it was created to counteract. There are no mixtures of multiple antivenins available. 

Antidote: (40/20/5) Antidotes are a program of pharmaceuticals which neutralize the toxin. They must be manufactured in medical labs of Tech Level 13 or higher and are toxin specific. Very few toxins have specific antidotes.

Empty Stomach: (25/0/0) Emptying the stomach involves the use of pharmaceuticals or other means to force the victim to vomit up the contents of his stomach and hopefully any unabsorbed ingested toxin. This is only effective against ingested toxins.

Restrictive Therapy: (20/20/20) This is the use of ice packs and restrictive bandages to prevent the toxin from spreading through the circulatory system.

Relieve Symptoms: (0/20/30) This is the use of pharmaceuticals or physical means to alleviate the victims pain and control his symptoms. For some of the more psychoactive toxins, it also involves reducing external stimuli. Also, some toxins which produce respiratory difficulty will require oxygen to be given to the victim. Also includes replacement of fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration.

Toxin Lists: 

There are a tremendous variety of toxic substances present in the wild, rural, and urban environments of Rhand and they cover a variety of effects. Rather than attempting to describe all of these toxins, only a sample from each category has been chosen on the basis of its very serious effects. Toxins which produce only mild reactions like skin irritation have been excluded.

TOXIN LISTS: TOXIC ANIMALS

Snake and Lizard Venoms

Crotalidae Snake Venom

IT: 10 Minutes

Early Symptoms [(6) * 20 Minutes]: Swelling of bitten area and limb which may cause the skin to rupture, excruciating pain, hypotension, and thirst.

Advanced Symptoms [(6)*3 + 6 Hours]: Shock, convulsions.

Treatment: Antivenin, restrictive therapy

HT: 7 days

Notes: Crotalidae snakes include the rattlesnake, bushmaster, fer-de-lance, moccasin/cottonmouth, habu, vipers, and adders. A single bite will inject (3) - 1 standard doses of venom. Estimated lethal dose is 2 mL of venom. 

Elapidae Snake Venom:

IT: 20 Minutes

Early Symptoms [(6) * 20 Minutes]: Weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, drop in blood pressure, confusion, nausea, chills, fever, diarrhea, and tingling or numbness in the lips or the soles of the feet.

Advanced Symptoms [(6) * 2 + 6 Hours]: Unconsciousness, shock, muscular twitching, and respiratory difficulty.

Treatment: Antivenin, restrictive therapy.

HT: 5 days

Notes: Elapidae snakes include cobras, mambas, asps, kraits, and coral snakes. A single bite will inject (3) standard doses of venom. Estimated lethal dose is 2 mL of venom.

Colubridae Snake Venom:

IT: 20 Minutes

Early Symptoms [(6) * 20 minutes]: Weakness, dizziness, blurred vision, drop in blood pressure, confusion, nausea, chills, fever, diarrhea and tingling or numbness in the lips and soles of the feet.

Advanced Symptoms [(6) * 2 + 6 Hours]: Unconsciousness, shock, muscular twitching, and respiratory difficulty.

Treatment: Antivenin, restrictive therapy.

HT: 5 days

Notes: Colubridae snakes are represented by the boom­slangs. A single bite will inject (3) standard doses of venom. Estimated lethal dose is 2 mL of venom.

Hydrophidae Snake Venom:

IT: 60 Minutes

Early Symptoms [(3) + 3 Hours]: Muscle aches and pain, reddish urine, drop in blood pressure, weakness, headache, and confusion.

Advanced Symptoms [(3) + 6 Hours]: Unconsciousness, shock, muscular twitching, and respiratory difficulty.

Treatment: Antivenin

HT:  7 days.

Notes: Hydrophidae snakes are represented by sea snakes. Their bite is quite painless, and very lethal, injecting (3) + 1 standard doses of venom per bite. Estimated lethal dose is 1.5 mL

Gila Monster/Beaded Lizard Venom:

IT: 20 Minutes

Early Symptoms [(6) * 20 Minutes]: Local pain, swelling, weakness, ringing of the ears, nausea.

Advanced Symptoms [(6) * 2 + 6 Hours]: Respiratory difficulty, heart difficulty.

Treatment: Relieve symptoms, restrictive therapy.

HT: 7 Days

Notes: Gila Monsters and Beaded Lizards are the only venomous lizards. Each bite will inject (3) standard

doses of venom. There is no antivenin.

Spider and Scorpion Venoms

Black Widow Spider Venom:

IT: 15 Minutes

Early Symptoms [5 Hours]: Pain at bite, muscle cramps, headache, dizziness, nausea, salivation, sweating, and pain in abdominal region. 

Advanced Symptoms [10 Hours]: Respiratory distress, vomiting, stiffness of the abdomen, early symptoms continue, but grow progressively weaker.

Treatment: Antivenin.

HT: 7 days.

Notes: The black widow bite is a mild neurotoxin, which primarily attacks the diaphragm and inhibits breathing. One bite is rarely lethal, giving only (2) standard doses of venom. Only the female's bite is dangerous.

Brown Recluse Spider Venom:

IT: 15 Minutes

Early Symptoms [6 Hours]: Stinging at bite, followed by whitening of the bite with surrounding redness. Blisters form at bite and bleeding into surrounding skin and internal organs.

Advanced Symptoms [3 Hours]: Nausea, fever, vomiting, convulsions, and heart difficulty.

Treatment: Restrictive therapy, relieve symptoms.

HT: 4 Days

Notes: The bite activates the blood clotting mechanism and thus kills the surrounding flesh, leaving an open sore that will not heal for months. Each bite gives (2) standard doses of venom. There is no antivenin. Restrictive therapy here actually involves surgery to remove affected flesh.

Scorpion Venom (Local Toxicity):

IT: 15 Minutes
            Early Symptoms [3 Hours]: Pain at point of sting accompanied by swelling. 

Advanced Symptoms [3 Hours]: Continued.

Treatment: Relieve symptoms, restrictive therapy.

HT: 3 Days

Notes: There are about 650 species of scorpions, and symptoms vary somewhat between them. The less toxic species have only a locally toxic effect. Each sting delivers 1 standard dose of toxin. Rarely lethal.

Scorpion Venom (Systemic Toxicity):

IT: 15 Minutes

Early Symptoms [6 Hours]: Local pain, respiratory difficulty, restlessness, salivation, confusion, vomiting, abdominal and chest pain, numbness, muscle spasms, double vision.

Advanced Symptoms [6 Hours]: Convulsions, involuntary ion and defecation, blindness, heart difficulty.

Treatment: Antivenin, restrictive therapy, relieve symptoms.

HT: 7 Days

Notes: Each sting delivers (3) standard doses of venom. Mortality rate and estimated lethal dose varies depending on species. The scorpions that produce a systemic toxicity are viewed as being the more dangerous varieties of scorpion, however.

TOXIN LISTS: TOXIC PLANTS AND FUNGI

Fungi

Death Cap/Destroying Angel (Cyclopeptide Mushrooms)

IT: 24 Hours

Early Symptoms [2 Days]: Extreme abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, sweating, convulsions, collapse, and weakness. Apparent recovery in latter half of early symptomatic phase, then a relapse

Advanced Symptoms [8 Days]: Continued but worsening. Death occurs from liver failure.

Treatment: Empty stomach, replace fluids.

HT: 20 days.

Notes: Toxic on ingestion. Extremely lethal, with as little as 1 bite providing 3 + (3) standard doses of toxin. 1 pound of these mushrooms can provide upwards of 100 standard doses of toxin. Mortality rate of about 90%. Destroying angel is an all-white toadstool with a large volva, scaly stem and a 5 inch cap. Death Cap is like the Destroying angel but its cap is greenish olive. 

Muscarine Mushrooms

IT: 30 Minutes

Early Symptoms [4 Hours]: Severe gastrointestinal disturbances, delirium, and very vivid hallucinations.

Advanced Symptoms [4 Hours]: Convulsions.

Treatment: Empty stomach, antidote.

HT: 3 Days

Notes: Potentially dangerous. 1 bite delivers (2) standard doses of toxin. 1 pound contains upwards of 50 standard doses. Tremendous variety of types. Fly agaric and panther cap have white-flecked 3-inch brown and white flecked 9-inch red caps respectively. Inocybe Patouillardi and Entoloma Sinnatum are recognized by having white or brownish caps which a split at the edges. 

Algae

Blue-Green Algae (Freshwater):

IT: 30 Minutes

Early Symptoms [8 Hours]: Inflammation of intestinal tissues, pain, and muscular spasms.

Advanced Symptoms [8 Hours]: Convulsions, respiratory difficulty.

Treatment: Empty stomach.

HT: 20 Days.

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. An obscure but lethal toxin is produced by such algae and algal blooms can kill vast amounts of livestock and fish. 1 mouthful of algae includes (3) standard doses of toxin. 1 pound includes upwards of 50 standard doses. Saltwater blue-green algae has similar effects, but it also produces a skin irritation on contact. Blue-Green Algae has no antidote.

Plants

Aconite/Monkshood:

IT: 15 Minutes

Early Symptoms [6 Hours]: Tingling/burning sensation in mouth, throat, and skin. Respiratory difficulty, muscular uncoordination, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Advanced Symptoms [18 Hours]: Convulsions.

Treatment: Empty stomach, absorption therapy, relieve symptoms, and replace fluids.

HT: 20 Days

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. 1 bite of the bulbous roots delivers (5) standard doses of toxin, while 1 bite of the leaves and flowers delivers (3) standard doses. Estimated lethal dose is 1 g of toxin. 1 pound of roots delivers upwards of 125 standard doses. The plant is recognizable by hood-like purplish blue or yellow flowers and palm like, deeply segmented leaves.

Belladonna/Deadly Nightshade:

IT: 2 Hours

Early Symptoms [6 Hours]: Dryness of mouth, skin, and throat. Flushed face, cyanosis (bluish skin from lack of oxygen), hallucinations, nausea, vomiting, and slurred speech.

Advanced Symptoms [6 Hours]: Coma

Treatment: Empty stomach, absorption therapy, restore fluids, relieve symptoms.

HT: 20 Days

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. A mouthful delivers (3) + 1 standard doses of toxin. A pound of the plant delivers over 90 standard doses of toxin. Belladonna has oval leaves and shiny round black berries. It also has single purple or green flowers. All parts of the plant are toxic, containing a real witches' brew of toxic pharmaceutical substances. Note: these symptoms and treatments also apply to Black Henbane.

Black Nightshade:

IT: 12 Hours

Early Symptoms [6 Hours]: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, sweating, fever, and trembling.

Advanced Symptoms [12 Hours]: Paralysis and coma.

Treatment: Empty stomach, absorption therapy, replace fluids, relieve symptoms.

HT: 20 Days

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. Black nightshade is a bushy shrub with long thin leaves and berries which ripen from green to black. Other varieties of nightshade have berries ripening to red, yellow, or white. One mouthful of berries delivers

(3) + 1 standard doses of toxin when unripe, (3) standard doses when ripe. A pound delivers over 70 standard doses.

Note: these symptoms and treatments also apply to woody and common nightshade, but not deadly nightshade, which is listed above.

Curare (Strychnos Toxifera):

IT: 10 Minutes

Early Symptoms [20 Minutes]: Blurred vision, relaxation of muscles, loss of muscle control in limbs.

Advanced Symptoms [40 Minutes]: Respiratory difficulty.

Treatment: None.

HT: 14 Days.

Notes: Toxic by injection. Curare is derived from the black resin of the curare tree and was historically used as a poison for arrows and darts. 1 arrow or dart delivers 1 standard dose of toxin.

Death Camas:

IT: 10 Minutes.

Early Symptoms [8 Hours]: Vomiting, excessive salivation, muscular uncoordination.

Advanced Symptoms [16 Hours]: Paralysis, convulsions, coma.

Treatment: Empty stomach, absorption therapy, replace fluids, relieve symptoms.

HT: 20 Days.

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. A single bulb will deliver (5) standard doses of toxin, while a pound will deliver over 100 standard doses. The Death Camas is a short flowering plant with long thin leaves and clusters of small white flowers at the top of the stalk. 

Foxglove:

IT: 2 Hours.

Early Symptoms [6 Hours]: Loss of appetite, vomiting, nausea, heart difficulty, abdominal pain, headache, and fatigue.

Advanced Symptoms [12 Hours]: Drowsiness and convulsions

Treatment: Empty Stomach, absorption therapy, relieve symptoms.

HT: 14 Days

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. Contains digitalis glycosides, a chemical which affects the heart. Estimated lethal dose of digitalis is between 5 to 10 mg. All parts of the foxglove contain digitalis, and a mouthful will deliver (3) standard doses of toxin. A pound delivers over 70 doses of toxin. Foxglove is a five-foot tall stalk topped with a "spear-point" of numerous purple, pink, or yellow tube-shaped flowers.

Poison Hemlock

IT: 60 Minutes

Early Symptoms [4 Hours]: Muscular weakness, paralysis of limbs, nausea, vomiting, and confusion. 

Advanced Symptoms [8 Hours]: Blindness, respiratory difficulty leading to respiratory paralysis.

Treatment: Absorption therapy, replace fluids.

HT: 14 Days.

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. Poison Hemlock is among the most lethal of plants. A single mouthful delivers (6) standard doses of toxin and a pound delivers 120 standard doses. The plant is recognized by its many-branched, purple spotted stems and many small coarsely toothed leaves. The plant also has dense clusters of small white flowers and a bad smell. A single mouthful can kill.

Water Hemlock

IT: 60 Minutes

Early Symptoms [4 Hours]: Abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.

Advanced Symptoms [8 Hours]: Respiratory distress, excessive salivation, and convulsions.

Treatment: Absorption therapy, replace fluids, relieve symptoms.

HT: 14 Days.

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. The Water Hemlock is among the most lethal of plants, with a single mouthful delivering up to (6) standard doses of toxin. This plant grows to 4 feet with purple-streaked stems and three-lobed leaflets. The plant also has clusters of small white flowers. 

TOXIN LISTS: FOOD INFECTION

Note: Because food infection often involves microbes, do not multiply the times by the IT multiplier. The times below are fixed and are unaffected by dosage. Example: Marcel ingests 5 Standard doses of Botulism infection. His Base TRR is calculated as normal for 5 standard doses, but the length of the IT, the early symptomatic phase, and the advanced symptomatic phase are not multiplied by the IT Multiplier for 5 standard doses. Rather, they remain fixed at the levels listed below, namely 12 * (3) Hours, 1 Day, and 6 + (3) Days respectively.

Botulism

IT: 12 * (3) Hours

Early Symptoms [1 Day]: Nausea, weakness/paralysis starting at eyes and throat and moving down the body, dizziness, headache, and blurred vision.

Advanced Symptoms [6 + (3) Days]: Respiratory difficulty which may develop into viral pneumonia (40% chance).

Treatment: Antidote, relieve symptoms.

HT: 30 Days, but respiratory difficulty remains for up to 1 year.

Notes: One of the most lethal forms of food infection known. As little as 0.1 mL of contaminated food can kill. One mouthful delivers (6) standard doses. 1 pound of infected food delivers up to 200 standard doses. The toxin is created by spores which infect improperly preserved food. The storage containers may appear to bulge at the sides and top and may even explode. 

Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP)

IT: 10 * (6) Minutes

Early Symptoms [9 + (3) Hours]: Numbness of face and limbs, severe headache, dizziness, drowsiness, muscle weakness progressing to paralysis, blurred vision or blindness.

Advanced Symptoms [(6) Hours]: Respiratory difficulty leading to respiratory collapse.

Treatment: Empty stomach, absorption therapy, replace fluids, relieve symptoms.

HT: 30 days

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. PSP is caused by eating bivalve mollusks concentrating the toxins of tiny sea creatures found in a "red tide." The toxin is extremely lethal, and the estimated lethal dose is 0.1 mg. One mouthful of contaminated shellfish is sufficient to provide (3) standard doses of toxin. One pound will hold roughly 60 standard doses. 

Salmonella

IT: (2) + 1 Days.

Early Symptoms [2 Days]: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, severe watery diarrhea with mucus or blood, weakness, chills, and fever.

Advanced Symptoms [2 Days]: Continued

Treatment: Relieve symptoms, restore fluids.

HT: 7 Days.

Notes: A serious form of food infection commonly found in pork, poultry, dairy products, and shellfish. One infected meal will give (2) standard doses of salmonella. One pound will usually yield 4-5 standard doses of salmonella. The toxin is destroyed by heat; so thorough cooking of contaminated foods will render them safe to eat.

Staphylococcus

IT: (2) + 1 Hours

Early Symptoms [1 Day]: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, severe diarrhea with mucus or blood.

Advanced Symptoms [1 Day]: Continued.

Treatment: Restore Fluids.

HT: 1 Day.

Notes: A mild form of food poisoning. One infected meal will provide (2) standard doses of toxin, and one pound of infected food will provide roughly 3 standard doses. This bacteria usually infects dairy products but can infect other foods and produces a heat-stable toxin, meaning it cannot be destroyed by cooking.

TOXIN LISTS: CHEMICAL POISONS

Arsenic

IT: 20 * (3) Minutes

Early Symptoms [3 Hours]: Burning esophageal pain, abdominal pain, vomiting, watery diarrhea containing blood or mucus, vertigo, extreme headache, and weakness.

Advanced Symptoms [3 Hours]: Tremors, convulsions, and coma.

Treatment: Antidote, replace fluids, empty stomach, absorption therapy.

HT: 14 Days.

Notes: Arsenic is given in a number of standard doses equivalent to the user's choice. Estimated lethal dose is 250 mg Arsenic Trioxide. Arsenic is also toxic by skin absorption and inhalation. In both cases, effects are limited to local toxicity among affected tissues like skin or lung lining. Arsenic stays in the system for up to three weeks, meaning that a lethal dose can be built up over time. Each time a dose is administered, simply add it to the total amount of arsenic already administered in the last two weeks and use that as the new level. This type of poisoning manifests itself as malaise, weakness, abdominal and general pain, and is evidenced by visible "lines" in the fingernails. These are actually arsenic deposits and similar ones can be found in the hair.

Chloral Hydrate

IT: 5 Minutes

Early Symptoms [15 Minutes]: Blurred vision, weakness

Advanced Symptoms [24 Hours]: Unconsciousness. Large doses may cause kidney damage, cerebral swelling, cyanosis, and heart difficulty.

Treatment: Empty stomach, absorption therapy, relieve symptoms.

HT: 1 Day.

Notes: A powerful sedative and hypnotic. Double the effectiveness of the dosage if used with alcohol. That is, one dose taken with alcohol will have the effect of two doses taken without alcohol. Commonly used as a tranquilizer or "knockout" drug. Estimated lethal dose without alcohol is 10 g.

Cyanide

IT: 5 Minutes

Early Symptoms [30 Minutes]: Anxiety, confusion, dizziness, and headache.

Advanced Symptoms [90 Minutes]:  Unconsciousness.

Treatment: Antidote.

HT: 5 Days.

Notes: Toxic by ingestion, inhalation, or skin absorption, but effectiveness is halved through skin absorption. Estimated lethal dose is 60-90 mg of hydrogen cyanide or 200 mg of potassium cyanide. Death results from respiratory collapse.

Petrol and Petroleum Distillates

IT: 5 Minutes

Early Symptoms [6 Hours]: (Ingested) Burning in mouth, throat, esophagus, and stomach. Vomiting, diarrhea, and lethargy. (Inhaled) Coughing, gagging, choking sensa­tion, cyanosis, and lethargy.

Advanced Symptoms [6 Hours]: Coma, convulsions.

Treatment: Relieve symptoms.

HT: 7 Days.

Notes: Includes all types of petrol and oil substances. Generally, the more fluid the substance, the higher the toxicity because of a higher rate of absorption. Toxic either by ingestion or inhalation of fumes. Estimated lethal inhaled dose is roughly 1 mL.

Strychnine:

IT: 15 * (3) Minutes.

Early Symptoms [20 Minutes]: Restlessness, anxiety, stiffness of legs and face.

Advanced Symptoms [20 Minutes]: Painful muscle spasms and convulsions.

Treatment: Relieve symptoms.

HT: 5 Days.

Notes: Strychnine appears to force the body to spasm in response to external stimuli (light, sound). Part of the symptomatic relief is to reduce such stimuli. Estimated lethal dose is quite variable, but is placed at 15 mg.

TOXIN LISTS: MOOD ALTERING CHEMICALS

Note: All of the following substances should be considered addictive. Addiction or chemical dependency manifests as a physical and psychological need for the toxin. Although a discussion of chemical dependency is beyond the scope of these rules, note that withdrawal of a chemical from a dependent person will lead from mild to intense pain depending on the length and magnitude of the dependency and a marked change in behavior.  This behavior manifests as a powerful drive to attempt to obtain the chemical and can lead to violence. Such episodes can last for days, while cravings for the chemical may remain forever.

Alcohol, Ethyl

IT: 30 Minutes

Early Symptoms [2 Hours]: Exhilaration, loss of muscle coordination, sensory disturbances.

Advanced Symptoms [12 Hours]: Sweating, nausea, vomiting, and drowsiness progressing to coma. Reduce modified temperature by 10 degrees due to increased heat loss.

Treatment: Empty stomach, relieve symptoms.

HT: 1 Day.

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. Ethyl alcohol is produced through the fermentation of grain and fruit products and is present in many alcoholic beverages. Standard dose administered in a beverage varies according to percentage content of alcohol. 1 pint of pure ethyl alcohol delivers (3) + 1 standard doses of toxin. Prorate this for the alcohol percentage content of beverages. Beer is 2 - 5% alcohol, wine is 6 - 15% alcohol, hard liquor is 40 - 55% alcohol. Estimated lethal dose is 400 mL of pure ethyl alcohol for an adult male. Only mildly addictive, requiring a long period of use for a dependency to build up. Withdrawal symptoms are quite marked in depen­dent people after a bout of heavy drinking, often involving severe hallucinations, cramps, and even convulsions starting some 24 to 72 hours after the bout has ended.

Amphetamines

IT: (Inhaled/Ingested) 30 Minutes; (Injected) 5 Minutes.

Early Symptoms [2 Hours]: (Inhaled/Ingested) Restlessness, irritability, hyperactivity, nausea, and fever. Paranoid or psychotic behavior may be displayed. Psychotic behavior manifests as a withdrawal from reality into a "world of fantasy" and may be accompanied by bizarre behavior. (Injected) Prostration, shock, accelerated bleeding.

Advanced Symptoms [8 Hours]: (Inhaled/Ingested) Vomiting, convulsions, and coma. (Injected) Coma, heart difficulty.

Treatment: Empty stomach, absorption therapy, relieve symptoms.

HT: 1 Day.

Notes: Toxic by inhalation, ingestion, and injection. Victim responds variably to external stimuli. Part of relieving symptoms is reduction of external stimuli. Lethal dose varies widely from person to person between 120 mg to 400 mg for adults. Moderately addictive. Amphetamines have the effect of reducing the fatigue level by one step during their early and advanced symptomatic phases. At the end of this time, fatigue returns to a level one step higher than it was when the toxin was first taken. A fatigued person taking amphetamines would not be fatigued during the time of effect of the toxin, but at the end of the advanced symptomatic phase, he would become exhausted.

Barbiturates

IT: 30 Minutes

Early Symptoms [2 Hours]: Drowsiness, confusion, stupor. Decreased temperature, blood pressure, and reflexes. Vertigo. 

Advanced Symptoms [8 Hours]: Coma, shock, possible "Barb burns" - patches of dead skin on the body accompanied by swelling.

Treatment: Empty stomach, absorption therapy

HT: 3 Days

Notes: Toxic by ingestion. Estimated lethal dose varies between 1 g and 2 g. Moderately addictive.

Cannabis Sativa (Marijuana)

IT: (Inhaled) 5 Minutes; (Ingested) 60 Minutes.

Early Symptoms [(Inhaled) 20 Minutes; (Ingested) 3 Hours]: Euphoria, relaxation, increased sensory awareness.

Advanced Symptoms [(Inhaled) 120 Minutes; (Ingested) 5 Hours]: Hallucinations, paranoia, psychotic behavior leading to coma.

Treatment: 

HT: 4 Hours.

Notes: Toxic by inhalation of smoke from burning leaves and ingestion. Moderately addictive.

Cocaine, Powder

IT: 10 minutes

Early Symptoms [10 Minutes]: Restlessness, excitement, muscle spasms, hallucinations, and euphoria.

Advanced Symptoms [5 Hours]: Euphoria ends and is replaced by depression. Convulsions, fever, sweating, nausea, respiratory difficulty, heart difficulty, coma.

Treatment: Relieve symptoms, empty stomach.

HT: 1 Day.

Notes: Toxic by inhalation and ingestion. Divide the effectiveness of the number of doses ingested by 60. Highly addictive, often requiring only a single use to establish a dependency. Withdrawal causes great pain and behavioral changes leading towards violence. Estimated lethal inhaled dose is 20 mg. 

Heroin

IT: 5 Minutes

Early Symptoms [2 * (10) Minutes]: Relaxation, euphoria, drowsiness, mood changes, anxiety, nausea, and hallucinations.

Advanced Symptoms [(6) Hours]: End of euphoria. Vomiting, respiratory difficulty, and coma. 

Treatment: Antidote, relieve symptoms.

HT: 6 Hours

Notes: Toxic by injection. Highly addictive, often requiring only a single use to establish a dependency. Withdrawal symptoms include pain and convulsions with increasing intensity starting as shortly as 4 hours after the end of the HT and lasting for another 36. Craving is intense and persistent for years. Use similar symptoms for other opium derivatives like codiene (ingested), methadone (ingested) and opium paste (injected or smoked).

Lysergic Acid Diethylamide (LSD)

IT: 15 Minutes

Early Symptoms [2 Hours]: Hallucinations, wide fluctuations in behavior ranging from anxiety to euphoria, wide mood changes, flushed appearance, and chills

Advanced Symptoms [4 * (6) Hours]: Emotional instability, possibly coma (20% chance).

Treatment: Empty stomach, relieve symptoms.

HT: 2 Days.

Notes: Toxic by ingestion and injection. Relief of symptoms means reducing external stimuli. Highly addictive. Also, use may result in recurrent psychotic episodes over the next year. Many of the deaths are a side effect of the behavior and hallucinations (e.g. jumping from a window or building).

Phencyclidine (PCP)

IT: 5 Minutes

Early Symptoms [(3) Hours]: Confusion, disorientation, numbness, excessive salivation, hallucinations, and euphoria.

Advanced Symptoms [8 * (6) Hours]: Stupor progressing to coma, respiratory difficulty, and muscle rigidity.

Treatment: Relieve symptoms

HT: 15 Days, includes periods of hallucinations and extreme, often suicidal depression, which can be circumvented by repeated use of PCP or other drugs.

Notes: Toxic by inhalation, ingestion, or injection. Relief of symptoms involves reduction of external stimuli. Highly addictive, often establishing a dependency after a single use. Many of the deaths result from hallucinations and bizarre behavior (e.g. jumping from a window or building).