Herbalism

Poison occupies a complex, paradoxical place in Zantaashi life—feared, revered, and thoroughly normalized. Herbalists are not an uncommon sight deep in the marshes, braving the wild dangers to find rare ingredients for new toxins. Even children are taught early to recognize the smell of common plant venoms and the color shifts that mark dangerous herbs. Artisanal poisoners, licensed by the local House of Life or Death, operate much like apothecaries. Their shops sell soporific reeds, venom salves, antitoxins, incense that sharpens the mind, and tinctures that—when ritually applied—are said to “brighten the karmic mark.” These poisoners are considered valuable businesses, and many come from respected lineages. Members of the different Houses of Karma are able to cast ‘’’Purify Food and Drink’’’ on certain compounds to draw out different potentials depending on the secret House techniques used. Criminal use is harshly punished, but even criminals tend to use nonlethal toxins. Purposefully crafting a venom with no antidote is a near-sacred taboo. What’s more, each toxin tends to have more than one potential ‘’revector,’’ a compound that acts not just as an antidote, but changes the initial poison into one with a different effect.

Herbalism

The process of gathering ingredients can be a risky and rewarding endeavour. When travelling the swamps of Zantaashi or the forests of Ginwil, a character can attempt to use their Herbalism kit and skills to seek out these reagents to sell or make their own elixirs. Inside encounter areas, a character that sees a potential ingredient can attempt an Herbalism roll to collect the specific reagents. During downtime or travel, they can also attempt (at intervals of the GM’s discretion) to harvest ingredients along their path. In either situation, the roll is a D20 plus their Herbalism Modifier:

Herbalism Modifier = WIS or INT Modifier + Proficiency Bonus if using a Herbalism Kit you’re proficient with.

Ingredients

Ingredients
Ingredient	Rarity	Details	DC	Found in
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Alchemy

Alchemy Modifier = INT or WIS Modifier + Proficiency Bonus if using a valid tool you’re proficient with.