esoterica from thedas volume 3 - apothecaria

7/29/2019 Esoterica From Thedas Volume 3 - Apothecaria

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InDeath,

Sacrifice.-We

Remember!


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EsotEricafrom thEdasVolumE 3: apothEcaria

By

Jenni Creagh

With spEcial thankstoAnthony Jurd, Eric Oliver, Kim Reid and Alex Rogers

Start where it all began: Dragon Age: Origins and Dragon Age: Awakenings are Copyright Bioware and EA Games

http://dragonage.bioware.com/ Play it - its great!

Continue where the adventure left off: Dragon Age PnP is Copyright 2000 2010 Green Ronin Publishing, LLC. AllRights Reserved

http://greenronin.com/dragon_age/

artCovers designed by Doug Newton-Walters

Griffon by Teleprod

Blood Dragon logo from Dragon Age: Origins Toolset by Bioware (used without permission, no challenge intended)

Other Art: Classical artists sourced from Wikimedia Commons - an excellent resource

Photomanipulations by Jenni Creagh.

andDoug Newton-Walters


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contEnts

Apothecaria. 3New Talent and Focus 4

Talents 4Poison Maker 4Herbalist 4

Focus 4

Ingredients. 5Ingredients 6

Botanicals 6Ambrosia 6Andrastes Grace 7Deathroot 7Deep Mushroom 8Dragonthorn 8Elfroot 9Embrium 9Felandaris 10Foxglove 10Foxite Heatherum 11Frostback Felicities 11

Hellebore 12Lakrima 12Madcap Bulb 13Mint 13Northern Prickleweed 14Rashvine Nettle 14Spindleweed 15Wolfsbane 15

Creatures 16Dragons Blood 16Toxin Extracts 17

Minerals 18Fire Crstal 18

Frostrock 19Frozen Lightning 19Glitterdust 20Lifestone 20Lrium 21Opal Other Gems 22Orichalcum 22Spirit Shard 23Tainted Lifestone 23

Ethereal 24Ash Residue 24Corpse Gall 24Demonic Ichor 24Skeletal Splinters 24

Tears of the Fade 24Wisp Essence 24

Terminolog. 25Methods 26

Oils 26Cold Oil Infusion: 26Hot Oil Infusion: 26Essential Oils in a Base Oil 26

Ointments 27Fats 27Oil Beeswax 27

Tisane Infusions 27

Decoctions 27Srups 28Lohocs&Linctus 28Tinctures 28Tonics or Spiced Wines etc 28

Vinegars 29Poultices&Plasters 29

Cold poultices 29Hot poultices 29

Compresses or Fomentations 29Troches 29

Equipment 30

Cauldron 30Spoons 30Storage 31Tinder Box 31

Basic Preparations 31Simple Formula 31

Hdromel 31Oxmel 31Oxalme 31

Essential Agents 32Distillation Agent 32Corruptor Agent 32Concentrator Agent 32

Recipes. 33Recipes 34

Herbal Preparations 34Elemental Salves 34Elixir of Purit 35Hales Merc 35Health Poultices 35Incense of Awareness 36Injur Kits 37Mabari Treats 38Swift Salve 39

Poisons 40Adders Kiss 40

Arcane Poisons 40Crow Poisons 41Deathroot Toxins 41Demonic Poisons 42Dwarven Regicide Poison 42Dwarven Regicide Antidote 43Fel Poison 43Fleshrot 44Hales Dust 44Magebane 44Marrow Lock 45Quiet Death 46Soldiers Bane 46The Black Hand 47

Venoms 47Weapon Coatings 48

Grenades 49Elemental Grenades 49Fel Grenade 50Tar Bomb 50

Magical Preparations 51Elemental Crstals 51Elixir of Heroism 52Healing Potions 52Lifeward Potion 53Lrium Potions 54Might Offense Potion 55

Mthals Favour 55Restoration Potion 56Rock Armour Potion 56

C

ONT

ENT

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APOTHECARIA

APOTHECARIA.

aguidEto craftingrEsourcEs, rEcipEsand

skills. . .


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nEW talEntand focus

4

Thedas is full of useful crafting ingredients for thosewith the appropriate skills. This volume containsrules for Herbalism, Recipes for making Thedanpreparations and additional background.

Apothecaria is a collation of the lore published aboutthe resources of Thedas, original material to ll someof the gaps adding further dimension and rules to

expand playing the RPG.

Details of the RPG and CRPG can be found on thecredits page at the front of this volume.

In the Ingredients section, background quotes fromthe books listed below are from the Dragon AgeComputer Game and are the property of Bioware.These can be found on the Dragon Age Wikia

http://dragonage.wikia.com/wiki/Dragon_Age_Wiki

Ines Arancias Botanical Compendium

Discovering Dragons Blood: Potions, Tinctures,

and Spicy Sauces, by Ferdinand Pentaghast

The Alchemists Encyclopedia, by Lord Cerastes ofMarnas Pell

An Alchemical Primer of Metallurgy: Volume One,by Lord Cerastes of Marnas Pell

Other sources are original material or are from otherEsoterica volumes as listed.

The Recipes section lists ingredients based uponthose from the CRPG, but the effects listed have beenmodied and methods included to better suit the RPG

and provide greater depth. Where the recipes listedare included in the Green Ronin DARPG Set 2 rules,they refer to those rules for pertinent information.Thus they cannot be used without the DARPG Rules,as is the case for the rest of this book.

From reading through this book it will be apparentthat there are certain inuences that have inspiredthe work:

I highly recommend the works of Ellis Peters,both in there own right, but also as inspiration for

adventures in Thedas. Although the novels areset in England during the war between Stephenand Maude, the setting with its religious inuencetranslates reasonably well.

nEWtalEntand focusIn order to supplement the rules in the DARPGSet 2, this volume builds upon the rules for PoisonMaking and creates new rules for Herbalism. Thisincreases the opportunities for players to developtheir characters and make use of (and prot from)

their surroundings. Herbalism may be an especiallyimportant skill for parties without a Magical Healer.

talEntsA Herbalist skilled in converting natural resourcesinto benecial preparations can utilise many of theplants found across the continent. As well as thebenecial uses, many things from Thedas can bedangerous, and so lend themselves to offensivepotions, poisons and grenades. These are the realmof the Poison Maker.

poison makErDetails of the Poison Making talent and its associatedrules can be found in the Green Ronin Dragon AgeRoleplaying Game - Set 2: Players Guide.

hErBalist

Classes: AnyRequiRement: You must have the Cunning (HerbLore) focus

Herbalism

You have studied the plants, animals and mineralsof Thedas and unlocked their secrets. Given theright materials and tools you can make Herbalismpreparations. This is a Cunning (Herb Lore) test.

noviCe: Your research has taught you how to prepareNovice Recipes.

JouRneyman: Your furthered your research and maynow also prepare Journeyman Recipes.

masteR: Your have mastered the Herbalism Talentand your research will now allow you to prepareMaster Recipes.

focusHeRb loRe (Cunning): Knowing about herbalism, itsuse, and preparations.


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INGREDIENTS

part i

INGREDIENTS.

crafting nEcEssitiEs. . .


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ingrEdiEnts- Botanicals

6

ingrEdiEntsThe components for many remedies seem mundanein their natural state, but may have dangerous effectsif prepared incorrectly. This section provides a guideto many of the common ingredients found acrossThedas, their uses and preparation.

Combining this knowledge with the later sectionon Herbalism and brief notes on Poison Making, atraveller may make better use of the wilderness hecrosses.

Ingredients are divided into four basic types: Animal,Botanical, Mineral and Ethereal. Obviously someof these are quite common, while others such asAmbrosia and Dragons Blood have near legendarystatus.

Knowledge of these items can stand the traveller ingood stead, not only for his own wellbeing, but also

as a handy source of revenue if circumstances arefavourable. Of course collection of some ingredientsis perilous in its own right, but with great dangercomes greater reward: only if those rare ingredientsare sold to the right recipient. A village healer isunlikely to have the skill to use, nor demand for apotion requiring Dragons Blood, whereas the Circlesand their city-based Tranquil proprietors are alwayson the lookout for such things.

Botanicals

Much of the herb lore of Thedas has been compiledinto comprehensive volumes by the Fereldan CircleMage Ines Arancia.

Her volume on Restorative Draughts: Creationand Distillation is the primary source for the CircleMages and Tranquil who make the magical healingpotions of varying strengths.

Her most famous book can be found across Thedas,as the lore within can be used by those withoutmagical skill to gain a better understanding of theplants around them and their uses. Ines AranciasBotanical Compendium is full of beautifully

rendered illustrations of the plants (much moreuseful in identication than mere words) and sageadvice.

In the preface of the book Ines states that certain rareplants are valuable, and collection of these resourcescan generate a not insignicant reward if they arecarefully preserved and brought to either the Circlesof Thedas or other vendors that specialise in herbalpreparations.

As Ines work is so comprehensive, a selections of ithas been reproduced here together with copies of the

illustrations. This will provides the botanical detailsto be combined with the animal, mineral and etherealingredients later in the section.

amBrosiaFelicidus Ariacommonly known as the Silent PlainsRoseis, to this day, the only plant found growing onthe Silent Plains, which were tainted by the Blight athousand years ago. As mentioned in the section on rareowering plants, Felicidus Aria is not technically a rose,

though its owers do exude a sweet, rose-like scent.The ower is rare, and is in danger of becoming extinctbecause of its value in the creation of ambrosia, whichis distilled from the roots of the plant. Dozens of theseplants go into the making of just one vial. Some say thatthe wives of the most powerful Tevinter magisters onceused ambrosia to perfume their baths in a vulgar displayof wealth.


note: While it is extremely unlikely that travellerswill encounter this very rare plant it is vital that,

should it be found , the urge to collect the entire plantbe resisted! The location should be marked upon anappropriate map and a small amount from each plantharvested so that the remainder may continue togrow. The bounty for a smaller sample and a viablemap is thrice that of the plant alone.

use: Any collected plant parts should be dried sothat they can later be used in various preparationsincluding the fabled Heroic Elixir. Due to theextreme rarity of this plant and its delicate nature,only a Master Herbalist should attempt to use it.


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andrastEs gracEThis small plant with white owers is found in manyplaces across Thedas, usually near running water as itprefers the moist air.

How the plant became named for Andraste is a mystery,and there are as many theories of its origin as there are

peoples across this continent. Some say that the plantrst grew in the wild places where Andraste rst sang tothe Maker, but it is most likely that the owers existedbefore that time.

There is no doubt that this plant is beautiful, and theowers smell sweet for many months after they arepicked. The sweet scent is uplifting, and brightens themood; more reason for some to claim the plant comes fromthe Makers Chosen.

There is more to the properties of this plant than rstmeets the eye: A Master Herbalist will know the secret to

using the plant for the ultimate in healers gifts - surceasefrom pain and ultimate peace. Perhaps this alone isreason for the plant to be named Andrastes Grace.

Brother Kadfeal, Grey Wardens Herbalist

use: Dry the owers for sweet and upliftingPotpourri. A Warming Tisane made from theower buds and sweetened with honey is a simpleway to lift the spirits of those who are grieving.While the masters of the herbalism talent will beable to turn the stamens of the plant, with otheringredients, into a gentle tonic that eases pain andgrants a nal release from suffering to the gravely

ill or mortally wounded.

dEathrootDeathroot has been used in magic and potion making forcenturies. Its a fragile-looking plant with a thin stalk andpurple owers, which fruits once a year developing brightred eshy pods that cause disorientation and dizziness ifingested.

There are two varieties. The more common ArcanistDeathroot was rst found by Archon Hadrianus when hediscovered it growing on several dead slaves. The other,Lunatics Deathroot, is most closely associated with thestory of the courtesan Melusine, who sought revenge ona powerful magister and his family. She harvested theplant, baked it into small pies for the magisters banquet,and presented them to the magister at a banquet. Allthe guests were seized by terrifying hallucinations aftereating the pies and tore each other to pieces.


use: A harmless enough plant on its own, Deathroots

thick leaves contain an extract that the Chasindhave used to induce hallucinations for centuries.If Sufciently concentrated, it can be made into adeadly poison. The closer to the roots, the strongerthe properties of the Deathroot.

The red seed pods can also be boiled to make a dyefor fabric. It is important to note that this processrequires the liquid containing the pods to be boiledin an open space, as the fumes could cause mildhallucinations.


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dEEp mushroomDeep mushroom refers to the entire group of fungithat grows underground in caves and many partsof the Dwarven Deep Roads. Collection can be adangerous task, as the Deep Roads are often infestedwith darkspawn. Because of this, Dwarven merchants

often recruit casteless hirelings for the job, and paythem a meager percentage of what they earn selling themushrooms to surfacers.

The most common varieties used in the herbalists tradeare the Blightcap, Ghouls Mushroom, and BrimstoneMushroom, almost all of which tend to carry thedarkspawns corruption. While they cannot transmitthe disease, this trait often makes them quite poisonous.Deep mushrooms should only be handled by experiencedherbalists and should never be consumed withoutrst being adequately cleaned and prepared. Carelessconsumption has been known to cause insanity, severe

abdominal cramping, and even death.Ines Arancias Botanical Compendium

note: Varieties have been discovered in surfacelocalities close to caves or the Deep Roads.

use: After chewing a small piece of properly prepareddeep mushroom, a small amount of stamina isregained and fatigue from battle is reduced.

WaRning: See above comment about improperlyprepared fungi. These Mushrooms are much moreefcacious when included in complete recipes.

dragonthornThe legends surrounding Dragonthorn are many andvaried. Its rarity ensures that only the most dedicatedhorticulturists have any inkling into its true nature.

Amongst the Avvars it is the spittle of Dragons, driedin the heat of their ames and enthorned with theboneshards of their victims. The Nevarrans claim itto be the bowels of Dragons grown from the corpses oftheir host. In reality Dragonthorn is far more mundane;its rarity is entirely due to the rarity of Dragons. ForDragonthorn is a woody vine that relies on Dragons forits survival.

The thorns that cover a Dragonthorn plant are extremelysharp and strong, capable of piercing steel. The seedcapsules of the Dragonthorn use these iron hard spikes toattach themselves to the bodies of animals in order to bedispersed across the land.

Most often the damage caused by the thorns will kill any

animal through blood loss, but not those of Dragonkind.Instead Dragons will irritably scratch or use their ame,leaving the seeds in a new location. This is generallywhy Dragonthorn is found most often around themountainous lairs of Dragons. However it is not simplyenough for the Dragon to transport the seeds, they mustaid their germination.

Dragonthorn seed capsules will not open except underintense heat. Their shells, as strong as their thorns, arevirtually indestructible and cannot be digested. Onlythe heat of a Dragons breath will force the capsules openand so only the presence of Dragons will ensure the

continuation of the Dragonthorn.

Esoterica from Thedas Volume 1: Vault

BlightcapGhu s

Mushom

BrimstneMushom


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ElfrootCanavaris or Elfroot was rst used by the elves ofArlathan, hence the name. The root gave their medicinesparticular efcacy, so when the Imperium conquered theelves, the magisters adopted its use and its popularityspread to all corners of the empire.

Elfroot is a hardy plant with large green leaves thatgrows wild in many places. Its so common that it tendsto show up in most gardens and elds, almost like a weed.Unlike a weed, however, most people appreciate havingaccess to the wonderful little plant. The roots can beused with very little preparation. Rubbing some of thejuice on a wound, for example, will speed up healing andnumb pain. And chewing on a slice of root treats minorailments like indigestion, atulence, and hoarse throats.

There are several varieties, but the most useful forherbalists are the Bitter, Gossamer, and the RoyalElfroots.


use: After chewing a small piece of elfroot peoplewill regain a small amount of health. Open woundswill be cleansed by the juices being squeezed overthe area, the ow of blood reduced and pain ebb.

Elfroot is most commonly used to make HealthPoultices, Salves and magical Healing Potions. Thesecan vary in strength depending upon the preparationused and other ingredients they are combined with.Elfroot is also a major component of the MagicalHealing Potions rened by Mages.

EmBriumEmbriums are owers from the orchid family. Itstherapeutic qualities were actually discovered because ofthe embriums exceptional beauty.

The beloved daughter of Lord Ignace Poulenc of Orlaisfell victim to a terrible sickness of the lungs, which her

healers were unable to cure. Thinking the girl would soonperish, her parents surrounded her bed with brightlycoloured owers, hoping that they would bring somewarmth and cheer in her last days. Oddly enough, thegirl began to recover from the illness, and grew strongereach day. Her parents were bafed, but overjoyed. Thehealers eventually learned that the fragrance of one ofthe owers eased the childs breathing. The ower wasan embrium, and later became known as the SalubriousEmbrium.

The other variant that has certain magical properties isknown as Dark Embrium.


use: While the Salubrious Embrium is an integral partof the Mighty Offence Potion and the fabled HeroicElixr, in its natural state it brings cheer and relief tothose who are ill. Although this has been observedon numerous occasions, how this comes about is abit of a mystery; is it the scent clearing the airways orjust the cheerful atmosphere it invokes?

The uses to which the Dark Embrium are put arefar more sinister. These black blooms are part of anumber of poisons, and their delivery to Antivan

residences is often cause for panic.


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fElandarisThe name Felandaris is elven, meaning demon weed,which is tting for this rare plant because it grows onlyin places where the Veil is thin.

Felandaris is easily identied. Its a twisted, wicked-looking shrub with long, thorny shoots, and no leaves:a skeletal hand, reaching out from an unmarked grave.Many swear the plant radiates a palpable aura ofmalevolence, so it comes as no surprise that it unnervesmany a junior herbalist.


note: This plant seems to be becoming more common.The thinning of the veil in more recent times may bea sign of dangers to come, or may simply be partof a greater cycle. That is not to say that the plantis common; thankfully it is rarely found in closeproximity to settlements. The curious thing is that noone has been able to discover exactly how the plant

gets to the location where is is found. Does it comethrough from beyond the Veil itself? Is the Beyondfull of these demonic plants or is there anotherexplanation? Information that claries this matterwould of course be valuable to scholars in both theCircles and the Grey Wardens.

use: As might be suspected from both its appearanceand its name, this plant is not often used for peacefulpurposes. It is an ingredient in a number of poisons,but skillful Herbalist can also turn this plant into apotent weapon against things from beyond the veil.

foxgloVEThere are various types of Foxglove to be found acrossThedas. All varieties have the same basic shape to theplant, but the colour of the owers vary widely, in almostall shades. As well as adding ornamental colour togardens, this plant contains some powerful properties

that can be used both for good and ill.From the older plants can be extracted a substance whichcontrols the rhythm of the heart. This can be given tothose who suffer from uneven pulse and has shown someeffectiveness in reducing seizures. This substance canalso be provided to those who have suffered long illnessresulting in congestion of the chest and constriction ofthe heart. Small accurate doses, usually delivered in aTroche, can be the difference between life and death fora person with these conditions. However, an error inpreparation may cause the heart to race or stop altogether- both of which could be fatal.

Obviously such a powerful ingredient can easily becomea potent poison. This has caused the plant to sometimesbe referred to as Witches Gloves or Deaths Bells. Allparts of the plants are toxic, and more potent the higherup the plant. This effect extends to all types of creatures,not just the peoples of Thedas. On occasions the merestnibble of the potent leaves has been known to cause death.Symptoms of poisoning include nausea and vomiting,cramps, hallucinations and delirium. Distortedvision and heart arrhythmia is likely to be followed byconvulsions and death.


use: Leaves should be dried, ground and administeredin a tiny dose for serious heart problems.


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foxitE & hEathErumThese two plants, found so often growing together, eachhave their own properties for the industrious Herbalist.

The sharp spines of the Foxite protect it from mostherbivorous predators, but they are worth braving tocollect various parts of the plant. The buds and owers

can be used for teas and tonic wines; the leaves groundwill form a compress that relieves fever, while the thornscan even be used to lance infections.

Hiding behind the defence of the Foxite, the small leavedHeatherum has no protection of its own except perhapsthe bees that favour its owers. A Tonic made fromthe owers will act as a mild sedative, while a Hot OilInfusion from the leaves forms a rub that will relieve jointdiscomfort. The very young shoots have even been usedto avour beer.

Their true value is revealed when they are used together

as the essential components in the Concentrator Agentso vital in intensifying preparations. Although these twoplants are both a little tough and woody, they contain asurprising amount of sap. Best collected while the plantsare in bloom, this is the vital part of the Agent recipe.


use: Almost all parts of these plants can be collectedand used in various ways.

To collect the sap there are a number of options. Ifthe plants are in a convenient location, cuts can bemade in the bark so the sap will drip into attached

containers. More usually parts of the plants will needto be collected and later beaten or pressed to extractthe sap.

frostBack fElicitiEsThese three types of bulbs are found only in the remoteFrostback mountains. While it may seem a long wayto go for a mere herb, these plants have the remarkableability to purify and distil herbal preparations.

The trinity are the Silver Star - Edelweiss, the brilliantFrostback Flame and the petite Dawn Sassifrage. Eachgrows at an increasingly high altitude with Sassifragefound upon the windy ridges and peaks.

Each bulb on its own will benet the distillation process,but combining all three is the key to the purest results.Many Master Herbalists will have their own versionsof the formula, perhaps even including their own secretingredients, but a basic rule of thumb is to use 2:1:1 ofthe ingredients as listed above.

If the bulbs are plump then they are the best portion toharvest, but if they are not available then the leaves willsufce, but they must be ground up with sugar.


use: Each part of this trinity has benecial parts in itsown right for diverse purposes. Dawn Sassifrage canbe used to stimulate blood ow and digestion. TheSilver Star can restore vitality and increase recoveryrates after illness. The buds of the Frostback Flame canbe prepared as a Tisane to cure stomach complaintsand atulence.

Using the bulb roots of any of the three will aid inthe purication of other preparations, but all of themtogether increase the benet tenfold.

During extreme cold when the bulbs are lean, thealternative preparation will yield only half as much.


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hEllEBorEAnother plant widespread across Thedas, the Helleborecan be found growing in shady, damp places. Althoughthe owers are considered attractive, it is now not ascommon in gardens due to its rumoured association withDemonic rites. There is doubt as to the validity of these

rumours, but it is certainly far more common in areasunder the Black Divine such as Tevinter. This has led tothe ower being called the Demons Rose.

As far as using Hellebore as an ingredient, the importantthing is quantity. What can be used in a tiny dose to easeparalysis and other symptoms, can be the cause of thesame effects. This precise judgement usually only comeswith great experience and as such should be the realm ofMaster Herbalists only.

Most often Hellebore is used as a poison ingredient, andit doesnt take a lot of skill to use such a toxic plant fornefarious purposes. The skill comes in disguising the

plant so that its effects are not noticed in time to take anyantidote. The symptoms are vertigo, thirst, swelling ofthe tongue and throat and suffocation. The heart rateslows and nally the victim collapses.

As the toxic effects are accompanied by an acrid taste, acommon trick is to disguise it with stronger avoureditems or administer it in when the victim is alreadyunder the inuence of a recreational drug like alcohol orDeathroot.


use: Grinding the dried leaves and stems of the

Hellebore and mixing them with Madcap Bulb willcreate a spicy powder that can be cooked into a tastylast meal.

lakrimaThis bright bloom grows in hidden wild places for themost part, but for some strange reason can be foundin great abundance at sites where major battles havebeen fought in the past. How the seeds get to thesesites, and why they grow there so well is a matter ofmuch speculation. It has even been hinted that the

seeds are now sown deliberately as a sign of respect andremembrance by those who honour the fallen.

Springtime on the plains of Hunter Fell show the eldsare with the blossoms of the Lakrima, as they once weremany years ago under the breath of the Arch Demonof Fire, Toth. Thankfully now the lands are no longerravaged by the Blight, but the crimson blooms remind allof the sacrices made by those brave few, so that all othersof Thedas might live on.

Although less in number, Lakrima can be found at thesites of the other 3 great battles against the Darkspawn

hordes and their Draconic leaders.In memory of the fallen, and for its useful propertiesit is cultivated in the gardens of most Grey Wardensfortresses if the climate is favourable. In Weisshauptit is grown in planters within the fortress Hall ofRemembrance.


use: Lakrima is used in the benecial relaxant HalesMercy, an aid to Healers whose patients struggleagainst treatment, or who are wracked by muscularspasms. This preparation has been perverted into

the wicked toxin Hales Dust, its very name a slanderagainst the compassionate soul who discovered thebenecial medicinal properties of this herb.


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madcap BulBThe challenge of the Madcap comes not from eating one,as it seems mild enough at rst... but few will eat another.

The bulb is similar to an onion or radish, but therethe similarity ends. The esh is pale yellow; oddlyunappetising. The avour begins as an acidic tingle,but slowly it builds to a re that is almost unquenchable.Heat increases for a few minutes after consumption hasended. The body begins to sweat and shiver. Even if onecan cope with the heat, the abdominal cramping and aftereffects are distressing for the individual and those aroundthem.

It would seem strange that such a plant could be usefulmedicinally, but even the Madcap has a purpose.

In small quantities it can be used to sweat out a toxin,added to a compress to revive agging vital signs andthe owers added to Hydromel in a Decoction Syrup toincrease circulation to the extremities.

In some cultures, where the rey heat of food is prized,small amounts of the bulbs are used in a Cold OilInfusion to add an extra dimension to the avour. Eventhese peoples will not touch the bulbs in their entire state.


use: Most commonly the Madcap is dried and usedin small quantities in a Tisane to purge the systemof toxins by inducing sweating. It may be used ina similar manner to revive a person withdrawnthrough extreme cold and frostbite. There havealso been cases where the increase in circulation has

revived some of the tissue in the extremities thatmight otherwise have been lost.

mintThe group of plants which have sweet zesty fragrantleaves are known together as Mints. Often used forculinary purposes, Mints have many medicinal uses aswell.

Lemon Balm, with its citrus aroma, is perfect for use in a

Tisane to lift the spirits and clear the head. It opens theairways and makes breathing easier.

Peppermint is the most powerful of these aromatics. Ithas a spicy scent which seems to go straight to the brain.Known for its stimulating properties, it can be infused inoil and then made into an Ointment which is perfect forensuring that the mind remains alert. Peppermint is oneof the main ingredients in Swift Salve.

Spearmint has longer leaves than the other varieties, aslightly furry texture and is the mildest mint known.This form is used in a Linctus for coughs and colds. It

can be chewed raw to cleanse the breath, or a cordial madeto ease croup in infants (even adults with similar wind).


use: Mint has many properties that make it usefulfor medicines. It is antibacterial, antiseptic, anti-inammatory and antispasmodic. In terms ofusefulness, perhaps only slightly inferior to Elfrootand Spindleweed. Having the advantage of both theothers in its pleasant aromas.

Dried mint can be ground and kept for months without losing its effectiveness. For most preparations

fresh mint should always be used if available.WaRning: In spite of supercial leaf similarity, do notconfuse Mints with Rashvine Nettle.


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northErn pricklEWEEdThe Northern Prickleweed is much sought after byhealers as it has many uses. However upon nding theplant one soon remembers why it is often best to getanother to harvest this for you. The plant is very fond ofits integrity, and defends itself to the fullest with razorsharp spines and the prickles for which it is named.

The owers are useful and should be collected withrestraint, as the seeds which will set amongst those lefton the plant are even more valuable. Surprisingly for aplant so covered in spikes, the seeds are silky smooth.

The plant is normally found on north facing slopes,usually in a sheltered position. It has little value as afood to most animals, but Goats and Halla are known toseek it out: perhaps they are aware of the benets that itcan bring to aid digestion and their tough mouths makeshort work of the prickles.

A Decoction of the Flowers sweetened with Honey into

a thick Syrup is sure to cure even the most disagreeablestomach complaints. A Hot Oil Infusion made from theyoung leaves can be rubbed warm into joints to reduceinammation.

The most clandestine preparation is a tisane that will helpcure the heat of the most fundamental and private partswhen it is used as a wash externally.


use: The seeds can be ground roughly and used in aTisane to relieve breathing difculties. They can alsobe made into an Ointment which is soothing on even

the most sensitive skin, even that of infants.

rashVinE nEttlEHow can a plant that bites so severely be of any benet?There are those who profess deep devotion to the Makerthat believe that by inicting the stings of the Rashvineupon themselves, they may be absolved of any wrong-doing, imagined or otherwise. This is, of course,

impossible to document for proof...The use of Rashvine to cure stiff aged rhumey joints iscommon amongst the poorer folk, while the stings willnot end the problem, the overload the senses temporarilygranting a brief respite. A more rened and less painfulversion is to use the plant to make a thick Decoction orOintment which can be lathered where required.

Washes which include Rashvine as a component actuallyreduce the itching of skin, including that which the plantin its natural state may have caused.

Nettle tea, a simple Tisane, may be drunk regularly

to increase the circulation to the extremities. Thispreparation may also help to increase the ow of amothers milk if required.

As useful as it is to the Herbalist, the Nettle is also aboon to all in a more mundane fashion. It is an easy tond herb which can be cooked quickly to provide a verybenecial, healthy addition to many different types ofmeals. Although it has little to no taste of its own, andcooking reduces its ability to bite back, it does take uponitself all of the other avours, and may even be used inwine.


use: The simple Tisane for Rashvine Nettle Tea is aneasy preparation to make, far simpler in fact thangathering the material may be.


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spindlEWEEdIt is an old country saying that spindleweed grows bestfor the sorrowful. Verdant spindleweed in a householdsgarden has often brought neighbours offering consolation,usually without even asking what might be wrong.

This originates from the plants use as a seasoning for

dishes meant to speed the recovery of the inrm. A personwho grows much of it is likely caring for the fatally ill.


note: The Dalish refer to this plant as Sorrell. Theyoften use it combined with Elfroot as a Poultice toremove infection from wounds that have turnedsour, especially those that result from bites.

There are rumours that it has some properties thatcan reduce the impact of the disease caused by theblight, although it is not a cure. A strong decoctionor Syrup made from the leaves and seeds (together

with other ingredients) must be consumed every 6Hours to hold the Taint at bay. Unfortunately unlessmore drastic measures can be taken, the victim isexpected to die (or worse) within a week.

use: Spindleweed grows wild everywhere, but seemsto be found most often where sickness is prevalent.This is convenient as it has a few ways to providebenet to those in need.

A Hot or Cold Poultice will soothe many types ofinfections and skin irritations. A vinegar made withan infusion of Spindleweed adds a gentle warmth

and spice as well as a pleasing aroma that sets themouth watering. The leaves themselves when youngcan be added to dishes adding acidity to the avour.

WolfsBanEThe most dangerous aspects of this plant are best known,but there are benecial aspects that may be obtainedas well. Most often, the benecial compounds areknown by different names to distinguish them from themore sinister derivatives. This also has the benet ofpreventing people from attempting to create their own

preparations and making a fatal mistake.

As its name would suggest, Wolfsbane is powerfulenough to kill a full grown wolf. In an area where wolfattacks have occurred, a standard practice is to bait asheep, goat or deer carcass with wolfsbane (stuffed insideand even anointed with Infused Oil) in the hope that theproffered easy meal will be the wolfs last.

Legend has it that Dane anointed his weapons withWolfsbane when he fought to eradicate the Werewolves.Today in some areas where rumours of werewolves arestill prevalent, wolfsbane is hung from windows and even

braided with wool to be worn around the neck.Under the name Akonight, it is used as a rubbing oil tosooth aching joints and relieve pain. However, shouldany of this oil be ingested it will cause terrible pain andis potentially fatal. After using, great care should betaken to wipe the outside of the bottle and burn the ragafterward. Scrupulously wash hands that have rubbed inthe oil, using saponin lather or vinegar.


use: Akonight is ground Wolfsbane root Infused inHot Oil. Rubbed into aching joints it relieves pain.

WaRning: All of this plant is highly toxic if takeninternally, yet with great care, it may be prepared bya Master Herbalist as a painkiller and sedative.


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crEaturEsLengthy discussion of the creatures of Thedas can befound in Esoterica from Thedas Volume 2: Bestiary.By no means complete, it gives overview to manythat may be encountered whilst travelling and thedangers they possess.

Within this volume it make sense to revisit some ofthose briey, paying strict attention to any ways theymay be used to aid in the preparations for the benetor detriment of others. This may include referenceto some new species that would not normally beencountered, but whose potential makes themworthy of being deliberately sought out.

There are creatures whose rarity makes them almostlegendary; these often will yield many differentingredients. Dragons are a prime example of a beastwith countless benecial components; one of thereasons unfortunately for their decline. Now that

these beasts have risen from their extinction, demandis ever present for their organs. Not that obtainingthem is an easy process...

Unfortunately the resurrection of the Dragon isan isolated event, and the same is not true for theGrey Wardens iconic Gryphons: whose tears wererumoured to cure the taint itself.

The vast majority of creatures have only one partthat is of benet as an ingredient, although it may beused in many different recipes. The Toxin Extractsare prime examples of this class.

It is possible for these toxins to be collected fromsome creatures without the necessity to kill them.This is an extremely dangerous task and shouldonly be attempted by those with the appropriateskills and training. The Antivan Crows keep BeastMasters, whose menagerie of poisonous snakes andspiders would make any sane person cringe. Easyaccess to these ingredients makes up for the effort ofkeeping them, and the dangerous task of extraction.Of course no one keeps a Dragon or a Giant spider asa pet... or if they do then the pet may be the least ofyour concerns.

There are some unfortunate rumours of propertiesgiven to creatures that are completely false, but noamount of truth or evidence can shake some peoplesfaith. The Dalish Halla is a victim of these rumoursevery few decades: Most often that the horn has theability to restore strength to manhood that has lostthe virility of youth. This is completely false! Onewishes that the Halla had the ability to exact revengeupon the perpetrators. The Wardens urge you toact as their protectors and aid our Dalish Allies inthis matter - In the name of the Hero Garahel and hisvaliant Halla steed.

There is also the blood from darkspawn and ArchDemons that is so vital to the Grey Warden order.

dragons BloodCollecting dragons blood is extremely difcult, even forthe most accomplished dragon hunter. First, one mustlocate the increasingly rare creatures. Second, one mustbleed it. However, I believe that at the moment of death,the blood loses something speciala certain ery essence,

perhaps. Of course, bleeding a live dragon is quite tricky.Dragons blood has wide variety of uses, both magical andculinary. Its an important component of rune-craftingand those like my great-grandfather enjoy a sprinkling ofthe powdered stuff to their food at the dinner table.

Discovering Dragons Blood: Potions, Tinctures,and Spicy Sauces, by Ferdinand Pentaghast

note: If at all possible, blood from a living dragonshould be collected into a bowl or even a leatherpouch. Collection into a bottle or other vessel, whileseeming logical at rst will result in problems later

for the following reason:Dragons Blood will harden into a resin-likeconsistency (as can be seen below) as it cools. Whatis full of rey warmth one minute will be cold andstill the next. If you are harvesting from a dragonthat is dead then the blood from the major arteriescan simply be excised from the corpse (as can manyother useful parts). Do make sure that the dragon isindeed dead before you begin this process.

use: The Dragon Sinnabar or dried blood is ground toa ne powder before use. That of a young Dragonlingis much less potent than that of a High Dragon.

Dragons Blood is an essential component of theEtching Agent used in Rune Crafting; similarly thatof an Arch Demon is for the Grey Warden Joining.


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toxin ExtractsThe venom or poison from various creatures is an idealingredient for many of the more sinister recipes to befound in later pages of this volume. For some there islittle need to do much for the preparation, while forothers there are many convoluted processes.

The most difcult part for many of these substancesis simply to obtain them without becoming a victimof the creature from which they originate. The safestmethod is to extract the toxin from the corpse of theanimal into a bottle which can be tightly sealed. Insome cases the whole poison gland can be removed,allowing for the actual extract to be conducted in asafer environment.

It should also be noted that while the Poison Makercan wreck havoc with small amounts of one of thesetoxins, it is also possible for a skilled Herbalist tocreate an antidote from the very same essence.

More information on the following creatures can befound in Esoterica from Thedas Volume 2: Bestiary.

giant spideR (Poisonous and Corrupted varieties)

deepstalkeRs

There are many more creatures whose bites, stings orbile are useful sources of toxin.

dragontickorgiantcaVEBloodsuckEr

This cave dwelling arachnoid feeds mainly uponDeepstalkers (which are toxic and cause paralysis)and Giant Spiders that do the same, for most of itsadolescent life. As it matures it can tackle larger prey:if you are going to try and feed off dragons, it pays tobe able to convert other toxins into something potentenough to slow down a dragonling or even a drake.It is this ability that makes the Dragon Tick such apotent donor. A toxin of sufcient strength to subduea dragon for long enough for the Tick to gorge on itsblood needs only the slightest drop to do the same onany lesser being.

The females are large (growing up to shield size) butthe males are tiny by comparison. Each male attachesitself to a female as a parasite shortly after hatching.The success of the male is determined in just a fewmoments as he selects his partner. He will surviveonly if she does. The females are ravenous afterhatching and a clutch of hundreds may be reducedto the ten strongest in minutes.

The toxin glands are found next to the mouthpartsand the saw-toothed proboscis. The toxin withinmay vary greatly between individuals dependingupon their diet. This diversity makes it extremely

difcult to create an antidote to poisons made fromthe Dragon Tick, unless exactly the same source isused.

sErpEntsSnakes or serpents come in two basic types - thosethat have venom and bite to subdue their prey, andthose that capture theirs with muscular coils andsqueeze it to death. Obviously the former are theones from which the toxins are extracted.

It is possible to extract the venom from a livingsnake by having it bite into a prepared vial througha membrane of ne cloth. Obviously it can be quitedifcult and dangerous to persuade the serpentto cooperate, and this limits the reusability of thesource.

Some notable species are:

antivan WHip tail: This cubit long Adder has a fatbody until the nal quarter where it becomes thinnerthan a little nger. This whip tail is used as a lurefor prey; enticing them to come close in the hope of

gaining a meal, and instead becoming one.nevaRRan nigHeR: This snake is black in body andin mood. While most other serpents will ee if giventhe chance, the Nigher possesses ferocity to attackat every opportunity. One of the most deadly of allserpents, the Nigher has enough venom to kill tenmen one after the other. Add to this the fact thatthe Nigher has the speed to be able catch a runningman, and there is little doubt that its reputation isdeserved.

sandWindeR: Found in desert locations where thesand burns any skin in touches, the Sandwinder hasa curious solution. With icking motions of its bodyit slides sideways across the sand keeping only twopoints of contact with the hot surface. This curiousgait does leave it vulnerable to capture as it rarelyobserves all its surroundings as it hurries from onepatch of shade to the next in search of food.

HunteRHoRnHoop snake: Native to the HunterhornMountains, this serpent has to be one of the weirdest.It is a soft blue-grey in colour, camouaged perfectlywith the rocks of the slopes. For the majority of itslife it slithers as any other serpent in search of food.

When attacked, it shows the origin of its name:Grasping the tip of its tail in its mouth, it stiffens itsbody with a ick, and sends itself rolling down thehillside away from any danger. This behaviour is sostartling that the attacker is usually left bewilderedand the snake has reached safety before the attackercan react. Unfortunately for the Hoop Snake, thishabit makes it easy to catch if you have nets set upbefore startling the snake towards them. The venomis mild by comparison to other serpents, but hastemporary paralysing and pain numbing qualitieswhich have many medical applications.


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minEralsThe Herbalist or Poison Maker can make use of thebotanical wealth of Thedas as well as the resourcesprovided by her creatures. Although it is perhaps theminerals from the soil and below that are the mostspectacular ingredients. These give rise to potent

weapons for both attack and defence.Most of these minerals are found below ground, soit is not surprising that the Dwarves know the mostabout them. If one wishes to discover all there is toknow about the Gifts of the Stone, as they wouldsay, one would need a thousand lifetimes to delvein the Deep Roads. One would then need anotherthousand to go through the Shaperate records andto recover those from the lost Thaigs. And then onemight stumble over something new while attendingto necessity during the next visit to the Deep Roads.

Of course the Dwarven folk have done these things,

and the answers are recorded in the Memories. For aSurfacer to gain access to these is a rare event. Mostof the knowledge the Grey Wardens possess hascome from those Dwarves who have chosen to join,or been chosen by, the Grey.

The most notable of these was a member of the MinerCast who married a member of the Shaperate forlove rather than family advancement. Devastatedwhen his love was lost during childbirth, he vowedto continue in her place and work to record theknowledge of the ancestors into the memories. As aresult, much that might have been considered trivialand mundane about the life and skill of the miningcaste is recorded in minute detail. This includes thelocations of many mineral deposits, and the signs thatmight indicate hidden treasures within the stone.

When rumours began to circulate that this man mightbe considered for a paragon he ed to the surface,ashamed to think that he may have overshadowedthe work of the wife he had intended to honour.Many years later he realised that his contribution waswhat she would most have wanted, and in truth hehad no shame to bear. Yet he had found honour andacceptance within the ranks of the Grey, and once herealised the truth of his lifes work, he shared whatknowledge he could recall.

Much of the information recorded at the WardensFortress is of little use to those who do not intend tospend long years within the Deeps mining. Howeverthe properties of the various crystals and substancesfound therein is useful for many including Mages,Herbalists and Poison Makers.

Many of the most spectacular crystals and gems fromthe deeps end up as media for Dwarf Craftsmen andArtisans. The Dwarves are beholden to the Stone,

and value her treasures highly. Even the lowest castdwelling will have some small token; revered as areminder of the blessing the Stone provides.

firE crystalA Lifestone crystal that has formed in close proximity to astrong heat source such as a volcanic vent or lava channelwill become a Fire Crystal.

The heat energy becomes trapped within the matrix of thecrystal and lies stored until the crystal is broken and that

energy released. This potential can be tapped or harnessedin various preparations to protect from re, or to causere damage.

The Fire crystals themselves are things of beauty. Theyare used by Dwarf Artisans to make sculptures and somehave even managed to set these in such a way that theyreact with components within their mountings to createa gentle warmth. One of these structures is consideredto be amongst the most prized possessions of many NobleHouses.

Songs of the Stone, Treasures of the Deeps by

Aerthmyre Geochrystnote: Handling Fire Crystal is best done with gloves(non metallic) as the slightest crumble of the crystalstructure may release heat enough to singe bareesh.

use: The carefully prepared restone can be used tocreate a balm that will protect the wearer from reand heat; the most potent balm can deect even thebrunt of Dragon ame.

The crystals can also be prepared in a number of waysto inict their re damage upon a target. An enemy

may be caught by surprise as his opponents swordssuddenly burst in to ame - this and the additionaldamage inicted can turn the tide of a battle.


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frostrockIn the cold of some deeps, close to trapped and stillwaters, the chill of the silent stone can seep into lifestone.This causes the crystal to become dense and deep blue asthe chill is infused into the Frostrock.

Less common than Fire Crystal, the Frostrock radiates

cold. Due to the strange nature of the crystals formation,it does not seem to stop producing cold until the crystalis destroyed. Once this occurs all the freezing energy isreleased into the air or to be trapped within an alchemicalformulation.

The Noble Houses of Orzammar try to collect spectacularspecimens of Frostrock to use as a feasting centrepiece,which provides a soft blue light, pleasing visual appealand keeps the food and drinks placed in close proximitypleasantly cool.


Aerthmyre Geochrystnote: As the Frostrock continually radiates cold,insulated gloves or at least those of sturdy leather area necessity unless one wishes to risk frostbite.

use: The uses of Frostrock are similar to those of FireCrystal and other Lifestone varieties.

Special attention should be paid to Ointments thathave a minute amount of powdered Frostrock addedto the nal preparation: this adds a small amount ofcooling or numbing to the area which is benecialin certain circumstances. However errors in the

proportions can cause the skin to blister, so these areusually only prepared by a Master Herbalist.

frozEn lightningHere lies one of the mysteries of the Deep Roads: the Songof the Stone captured vibrating with a crystal lattice.Some say that when Lightning hits the ground in theworld above, it travels through the stone to be capturedwithin a lifestone. This seems a little far fetched, butthere are relatively few sources of this crackling electrical

energy generated within the Stone herself. This may bethe reason that Frozen Lightning or Stones Pulse is oneof the rarer forms of Lifestone.

Due to its volatile nature, Frozen Lightning cannot beused by Artisans except those of the highest skill. Thesepieces must be installed within a special cage designed bythe Paragon Faredeh. Any stray sparks released from thecrystal are captured by the mesh of the cage and returnedto the stone. If they were left in an uncontrolled stateanyone passing by might be injured by stray shocks.

A smaller version of Faredehs cage is used by the miners

who collect these crystals. As it needs to be portable, ithas a trailing tail which grounds the sparks, and is slungbetween two miners upon a timber pole.

Songs of the Stone, Treasures of the Deeps byAerthmyre Geochryst

note: Only a fool would handle Frozen Lightningwithout the proper equipment. The least that couldbe expected is a tingle that makes the hair stand onend, the worst could be fatal.

use: Frozen Lightning may be used in similar fashionto other types of Lifestone crystals. More caution

must be taken in preparation, as the use of anytype of metallic object during processing could bedisastrous.


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glittErdustGlitterdust is the powdered form of a rock found along theWounded Coast. When explorers brought the sparklingrock to the markets of the Free Marches, it becameimmediately popular among wealthy ladies who crushedit and applied the powder to their faces. The added

brightness and lustre to the skin, however, soon paledin comparison to the developing rash and coughing ts.As it turned out, Glitterdust is dangerous if ingested orinhaled. Its also extremely ammable, as several ladiesdiscovered after powdering their hair while standingnext to a candle. Unfortunately, this resulted in a dozendeaths by conagration. These days, Glitterdust is usedsparingly, and only by experienced alchemists. The mostcommon form of the substance is Volatile Glitterdust.If gathered from caves where darkspawn dwell, the rockproduces a powder known as Tainted Glitterdust.

The Alchemists Encyclopedia, by Lord Cerastes of

Marnas Pellnote: It is wise to wear a scarf over the nose andmouth while preparing Glitterdust. If at all possiblemake your preparations in natural light as everylamp or candle adds to the risk of the Glitterdustcatching re.

use: Glitterdust is mostly used for detrimentalpreparations. Since it was discovered to be bad forthose who used it to augment their complexions,there have been no other even slightly positivepreparations. Instead it puts those side effects into play and provides a powerful additive to deadlypoisons.

lifEstonEWithin the Stone are many gems and crystals, moststriking of which are the Lifestones. These are luminousclear shards in their natural state, pure and cleanrepresenting the Living Stone.

The crystal structures of the Lifestones vary somewhat,and some varieties become attuned to different formsof natural energy. Close proximity to Lyrium andan energy source can cause the Lifestone to become areservoir and as it is infused, its state changes to take onthe distinctive form and properties of its energy type. Insuch a way are Fire Crystal, Frostrock, and Stones Pulseor Frozen Lightning created.

There are two other forms of infused Lifestone, rst theantithesis of the Lifestone; one that is perverted by theBlight Taint. The other is more curious, the Spirit Shardwhich combines the inuences of Lyrium with etherealinuences from the beyond.

All forms of Lifestone are valued as gifts of the Stone, anddue reverence should be sown when extracting them.


note: The true Lifestone glows slightly from withindue to its growth in proximity to Lyrium.

use: Lifestone in its natural form has absorbed someof the properties of Lyrium. As such it can be used toenhance the properties of other materials in variouspreparations.

Lifestone is often used as an additive in antidotessignicantly improving their effectiveness.


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lyriumMore valuable than almost any substance in Thedas,Lyrium is perhaps also the most dangerous. In Tevinterit can fetch prices higher than diamond as the mage lordsof that land vie for even a small amount. Lyrium is apowerful magic amplier and when folded into metals

produces magical effects of amazing potency.Apart from the Dwarven lands however, it is anextremely controlled and regulated substance. TheChantry maintains complete monopoly of its export fromthe Dwarves, ensuring they control who can receive itand the price asked. Needless to say the Chantry is quitewealthy because of this.

The Chantry maintains a religious defence of itsmonopoly. They claim Lyrium to be the Waters ofthe Fade described in the Canticles of Threonides, theessence of Creation that the Maker used to form theworld. Amongst the Dwarves it has an almost equally

revered position. They see it as the Gift or Song ofthe Stone, given over specially to the Dwarven people fortheir joining with the Stone.

Over half of all wealth in Orzammar is due to the tradeof Lyrium to the surface. But even then the Dwarves arefrugal in their sales. Only a tiny fraction of the preciousore is sold to the surface. The greater majority of Lyriumis given over to the most skilled Dwarven Craftsmen inorder to fashion powerful magical weapons and armour ofunsurpassed quality.

In its raw unprocessed form Lyrium is extremely

hazardous. Only a few select Mining Caste Familiesbrave its extraction, following the song it resonatesthrough the Stone. The Dwarves have developed a greattolerance of Lyrium but even they can still be physicallyand psychologically damaged by its unprocessed form. Toa non Dwarf Raw Lyrium can sear the esh and burn themind, whilst to a mage it is almost immediately fatal.

Processed Lyrium is much safer, although prolongedexposure can still be detrimental and lead to addiction.

Esoterica from Thedas Volume 1: Vault (moreinformation, including the dangers of exposure andaddiction can be found in the same volume).

Lyrium can be found in several forms, each with itsown hazards and found is different localities.

liquidlyriumMost often Lyrium is found in liquid form. This is themost dangerous and most difcult to extract; minersmust dig down past the deposit and set up a LyriumWell to draw the Lyrium from within the Stone.

This form of Lyrium is not possible to mine withoutspecial equipment and training. Contact with the

liquid metallic form can be instantly fatal as theliquid is absorbed straight through the skin into thebloodstream; stopping the heart within seconds.

While it is the most difcult form to handle, it is thebest for use as an additive in the forging of enhancedmetals for weapons and armour although a Golemis required to carry out the process. Liquid Lyriummixes with molten metal making the required alloy.

crystallinElyriumThe crystalline form, although less common, is farmore easily mined in a traditional manner. This formcan sometimes be found in the Deep Roads as theCrystals can grow straight out of the oor or walls.This makes it easier to collect and handle (as long asthe crystals are not fractured) but still risky.

lyriumsandIn some special circumstances the Lyrium formssmall particles like coarse sand. It is most likely thatthey are the remains of very old crystals that have

been pulverised. Lyrium Sand is reasonably stableand needs very little preparation to make it usable.

lyriumdustRarely occurring naturally, the dust form of Lyrium iswhat the various types of processing aim to replicate.Dangerous if inhaled, the dust is usually kept in asaturated solution: 1 Distilled Water to 10 Lyriumwhich is referred to as Processed Lyrium (one doseis 10% of this amount).

note: Lyrium in any but the dust or processed state

cannot be used safely in any recipe; unlike mostingredients it cannot simply be collected and added.Processed Lyrium is the form used in all the recipeslisted later in this volume.


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opal& othEr gEmsThe Stone contains many treasures besides the metalsmost commonly mined. These Gems are most often usedto decorate items as they once adorned the Stone herself.

There are tales that certain gems add properties to variouspotions and remedies, or that they can purify or identifythe presence of poison. Most of this is false, but there arenumerous records of gifts of gems that have harboured amore sinister purpose.

Many of the harder gems are used for grinding andpolishing metals if they are not of the highest quality.This way all of the Stones gifts are put to use.


note: Gems can be categorised depending on theirrarity, usability and value as follows:

HigH-Range gems

Diamond, Ruby, Emerald

mid-Range gems

Sapphire, Topaz, Amethyst, Malachite, Opal, Jet

loW-Range gems

Fluorspar, Garnet, Quartz, Greenstone

use: For grinding tough ingredients it may benecessary to use a hard grinding gemstone such asGarnet or Quartz. Although other gems are harder,they are more valuable than is justied for thispurpose. However for delivery of contact poisons, abeautiful gem is a worthwhile investment, especiallyif you are able to recover it later.

orichalcumLike lyrium, orichalcum is a metal most commonlyencountered in liquid form. Unlike lyrium, however,Orichalcum forms pools and must be drawn like waterrather than mined.

Deep Orichalcum is the most common type of the metal,

and is often found in places where opals are mined.The rarer Crystalline Orichalcum is found in smallpools in the mountains. Folk wisdom says that a dropof Orichalcum mixed with wine is a potent aphrodisiac,though it has a pungent smell similar to lye, so I couldnot bring myself to put this legend to the test.

An Alchemical Primer of Metallurgy: Volume One,by Lord Cerastes of Marnas Pell

note: Like all metals, Orichalcum will expand andcontract according to the temperature around it. TheParagon Chalvin devised a way of containing this

liquid metal in a marked tube that was delineated instandard increments. Since that time it has been usedby Dwarf Smiths and Artisans to accurately judgethe temperature of metals they are smelting. This isone of the reasons for the extremely high quality ofDwarf metalwork.

An Herbalist or Poison Maker that can obtain oneof these devices and learn the use of it, will nd thepreparation of recipes requiring heating to be easierafter their rst successful result.

use: In recipes, Orichalcum is used mainly fordetrimental purposes. Folk wisdom that runs contra

to this is likely to be false. It would be wise not to testsuch things on anyone or anything you hold dear.


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spiritshardWhen the Heart of the Stone is opened to the Beyond, aLifestone may change and become a vessel of spiritualenergy or a Spirit Shard.

The Spirit Shard swirls with pulsing clouds of manyhues from pink through purple to blue. While an Opal

may also contain many colours, they are xed in place,whereas a Spirit Shard appears to change constantly.

The Spirit Shards occur in places where the beyond hastouched the real world, where there has been great deathor some other event that disturbs the natural peace ofthe Stone. Spirit Shards are most commonly found inrediscovered Thaigs, where many Dwarves were lost tothe Darkspawn or other darkness. As a result reverenceand sorrow should be displayed and offerings made to thestone before a Spirit Shard is removed.

These are the rarest variety of Lifestone to be found

naturally, but like all but the pure form, they may bearticially constructed by a mage with the appropriateskill. Using an articial Spirit Shard is considered to befar less of an insult to the stone than using the naturalvariety.


note: Spirit Shards are known to react to certainindividuals. These people are usually those who havehad close contact with death or ethereal experience.For those seeking to become Spirit Healers, a smallpiece of Spirit Shard is used during the ritual to bond

with a benecent entity.

use: Spirit Shards are used in recipes that have effectupon the mind and things from beyond the veil.

taintEd lifEstonEWhile Lifestone is the bright glowing heart of the Stone,it can become dark and corrupted if in contact with theBlight Taint for long periods. The crystal still seems tohave a slight luminous quality, but it is now dark andsinister in colour.

It is within the deepest parts of the Deep Roads that theDarkspawn dwell, and there can be found the TaintedLifestone. Obviously one doesnt casually stroll downinto this territory, and so few samples will be collectedfrom these deeps. During a blight the Darkspawnencroach into higher tunnels, and so the TaintedLifestones may be found closer to habitable areas.

Within recent times, some areas long abandoned to theDarkspawn are being reclaimed. As the creatures of thetaint are driven out, the lifestones they have corruptedwith their presence are available to harvest.


Aerthmyre Geochryst

note: It is surprising that something so corruptedcan have a purpose, but perhaps it is the Lifestoneitself and its formation close to Lyrium, that mitigatethe effect of the Blight Taint.

Tainted Lifestone is the main ingredient of theCorruptor Agent used by Poison Makers andHerbalists as a component of many recipes.

use: Tainted Lifestone is used in equal quantitieswith its pure counterpart as part of the formula forthe Grey Wardens Joining Chalice. Blood from an

Arch Demon and fresh blood from Darkspawn arethe only other ingredients known to any but thehigher members of the Order.


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EthErEalSome crafting ingredients come from sources that arefar from mundane. These ethereal ingredients are theremains of creatures from beyond the veil, or of thingsof this world that have succumbed to their inuence.Some of these items are useful to incorporate into

potions and poisons; even for weapons against thosesame ethereal forces.

ash rEsiduEThe almost intangible remains of some spirits are meredust once the demonic forces return to the veil. Thisresidue has a slight sheen after the demonic contact, butcan be ash, sand or even dust.

Of things from beyond the Veil by Sharn Kalell

use: Ash Residue retains a link to the fade and itsdiffuse nature makes it easy to use. If one wishes

to weaken the barrier between the real world andthe beyond, drinking a tisane of the residue (withhydromel) will enhance natural ability especially ifa small amount of lyrium potion is added.

Those who wish to do Dream Sending may also ndit easier if they partake of a similar drink with warmmilk before sleep.

corpsE gallInsidious forces can cause the dead to rise again. These

animated corpses retain some of the demonic essencewithing their disintegrating bodies once they are againput to rest. As it has a connection to the fade, this residuecan be utilised to target those same forces.


use: Corpse gall is the remainder of the internal organsand bowels of a reanimated or possessed corpse.Although it is difcult to obtain, not to mentionunpleasant, this sticky dark red slime can be used byPoison Makers. Although it is best when collectedfresh, older samples can still be utilised but most

of the bodies with disintegrate within days.

dEmonic ichorWhere a corpse has been possessed by a powerful demon,it will in turn retain a stronger demonic essence once thedemon is banished. This manifests within the heart andcan be recovered once the demon has been banished again.


use: A Revenant, Arcane Horror or Abominationcan yield Demonic Ichor. Although it is difcult to

nd, this thick, black residue can be turned into verypotent poisons.

skElEtal splintErsThe undead who rise as skeletons when mobilised bydemonic forces have little substance but their bonesand any armour they may have possessed. Once theyare destroyed, any armour usually rusts and the bonesquickly crumble.


use: If bone is collected quickly and preserved, it ispossible to carve points for arrows or bolts from thematerial. As it is light and porus, it holds poison oraming concoctions well. Its ethereal nature alsomeans that it will do additional spirit damage.

tEarsofthE fadEIf one were to physically enter the fade, one would see aconfused world where all natural laws are rent asunder.

Strange twisted growth arise on the ethereal plain. Upontheir branches can sometimes be found small crystals.


Use: The tears contain positive ethereal energy, muchless common that the negative produced by demons.Almost as hard as a Diamond, but pale lavender incolour, the Tears are prized by Spirit Healers. Theyenable their Spirit companions to temporarily owinto the Tear and be placed upon a patient in orderto more directly apply their healing forces. Onceused in this manner the tear will crumble as the spirit

returns to its host.

Wisp EssEncEIt is often forgotten that Demons vary greatly in power,and that some encroach lightly upon our world, stillmaintaining a strong link to the fade, while others possessa host as we have previously seen. Yet we occasionallysee remnants, Wisps of what they once were - the fadedremains of Demons who have lost their power, beenunable to nd a proper host or been vanquished, perhapseven by another demon. The Wisp is all that remains

of the spirits mind, still linked to the Fade, but capableonly of one all-pervading thought - a hatred of all livingthings, of everything it can never be.

Esoterica from Thedas Volume 2: Bestiary

use: Although difcult, it is possible to capturea Wisp: Using a spell such as Winters Grasp toimmobilise it and then placing it within a containermarked with a glyph of preservation. A WatchersStone is one of the products of this process - a cleargemstone within which the Wisp is housed. Thecreation process is difcult, but in the end the Wisp

will choose to survive within the gem rather than bedestroyed. It then feeds on energy from any hostholding the gem, and gives off light in exchange.


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TERMINOLOGy

part ii

TERMINOLOGy.

mEthodsand prEparations. . .


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mEthodsThere are many ways of preparing ingredients foruse. Some preserve the ingredient, others makeit easier to use while in other cases the treatmentmay activate the required properties (or removeundesirable ones).

The following processes may be required as part ofthe Recipes that follow, so a basic outline is included.Should further information be required, consultationwith a Master Herbalist may be enlightening. It isalso worth noting that many of these processes aresimilar to those used in the culinary arts, and soadvice on methodology may be sought therefrom.

oilsOften the most useful vector for herbal propertiesis the Essential Oil which may be extracted by

grinding, pressing or squeezing the appropriatepart. Salt is sometimes added as an aid to grinding(as occasionally is sugar).

An extracted Essential Oil is highly concentratedand may be far stronger than required and is hard toproduce in great quantities.

In these cases an extracted Essential Oil can be addedto a carrier oil to disperse or dilute its concentration:An example would be in the preparation of the leavesfrom Frostback Felicities which must be ground withsugar (if bulbs are not being used). These are then

added to a cold infusion before they are transformedinto the Distillation Agent (see Recipes).

Instead of the sometimes difcult extraction processthe oil may be infused into a carrier oil such as OliveOil (from the warmer Antivan and Rivaini climates)or Almond Oil (from the more temperate climates).

Infused Oils can be either hot-infused or cold-infused.Cold-Infused oils take much longer to produce thanHot-Infused oils, but retain better quality.

note:All oils should be stored in tightly sealed vessels ina cool, dry place.

cold oil infusion:1. Fill a jar with the ingredients you want to use. Bruise,or chop roughly if required. Place into a container, butallow space for oil to enfold the components.

2. Cover the ingredients with oil and then tightly seal thecontainer, then place it in a warm position to steep.

3. Let the oil infuse for 2 to 3 weeks, while the oil takes onthe traits of the ingredients. Strain the oil through necloth over a bowl to collect the oil. Squeeze, preserving asmuch oil as possible. Discard the used ingredients.

4. Add fresh ingredients to the jar and add the oil back in,and steep again. At the end of a moon cycle, strain again.

5. Repeat the infusion for as many time as required to getthe correct strength of oil.

hot oil infusion:1. Combine the ingredients together with a Carrier Oilin a heatable container. This can then either be heated

directly over a re or over a heated bowl of water is moresubtle heat is required (for delicate ingredients). Theingredients should be between half the quantity of the oiland equal amounts.

2. Heat until the ingredients appear to have beenconsumed by the oil and take on a shrivelled appearance.

3.Allow the oil to cool before straining as per Step 3 ofthe Cold Infusion. Repeat if required.

note: The Dwarves of Orzammar have developed amethod for Hot Oil Infusion directly over their moltenlava rivers in specially constructed vessels. This is a

difcult and risky process, but virtually the only way toextract the essence of something like Dragonthorn.

EssEntial oilsina BasE oil1. Fill a clean vessel with the Carrier Oil you are using.

2. Add the selected Essential Oils drop by drop. (Thisis the best method for combining different types of oilstogether.)

3. Seal the vessel tightly and shake to blend the oils

4. Leave the vessel to sit for a day before using, but shake

the preparation each time before use.


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1. Using an earthenware bowl or pot, combine the waterand ingredients. It is best not to use metal pots as thesesometimes react with the component ingredients.

2. Slowly bring the mixture up to the boil and then leavefor a quarter hour if you are using fresh ingredients, ortwice as long if the components are dried.

3. Strain the liquid into another container. If thisdecoction is being taken internally, a sweetener such ashoney may be added to make it more palatable (unless therecipe precludes this).

syrupsA Syrup is simply one of the above preparations,usually a decoction or infusion, made with asweetener added during the heating phase. Theseare most commonly used just to make the resultantmedication more palatable, but in some cases suchas throat irritation from coughing the honey itself ispart of the balm.

lohocs&linctusLike a Syrup, the Linctus or Lohoc is a sweetenedpreparation designed to be licked up or sucked. Theprocess is similar to making the Syrup except theadditional boiling is required to reduce the watercontent down and leave a much thicker stickierresult.

Some of these are even set like toffee sweets to besucked upon and are especially efcacious whenadministering to children.

tincturEsThe process of making a Tincture is similar to anormal infusion, except that the ingredients aresoaked in a cold liquid; generally alcohol. Again, the

essential components of the ingredients are absorbedinto the liquid.

An alcoholic Tincture is the rst part of the processfor making a cordial or liqueur; which is done byadding sugar Syrup, honey or liquid sweetener totaste.

1. Take a jar or container with a tight tting lid and addthe base ingredients. Cover with the alcohol (sometimesdiluted with water). Close the lid tightly.

2. For the best results then place the container in a cooldark place. Ensure that it is not damp, as that mightencourage bad bacteria and mould.

3. Leave the Tincture to set for 1 to 2 weeks, dependingupon the ingredients. Fresh and or soft ingredients willtake less time than hard, dry ones.

note: If you are making a Tincture with many differentingredients, each might be added at a different stage,

with the strongest added last as they take the least timeto set their mark upon the liquid. Also it is important tonote that if alcohol is left in contact with some stopperingmaterials it may dissolve them.

4. Once the liquid has reached the correct strength (orconcentration) it should be strained and placed intotightly stoppered containers and then stored in a cool dryplace.

tonicsor spicEdWinEsEtcA spiced wine or tonic wine is made by steeping

other ingredients directly in the wine. Steeping maytake 2 weeks to reach correct strength.


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EquipmEnt

This can also be done with mulled ciders, ales andheated mulled wine. This is done by heating thebeverage with the ingredients and is usually servedwarm. It is important that heating is only done gentlyso as to not completely remove all the alcohol.

VinEgarsFlavoured or medicinal vinegars can sometimes beused for such mundane things as cooking, but thereare times that a vinegar can be the correct base formedicine (the acidic taste can also hide things thatare more sinister).

Preparation can be done in the same manner as anOil Infusion; either hot or cold.

poulticEs&plastErsOne of the easiest preparations to make is a plaster

or a poultice. Mashed botanicals and/or otheringredients are applied to the skin as a dressing. Aplaster usually has a layer of cloth between the skinand ingredients, while the poultice is applied directlyto the skin. A plaster can contain harsher ingredientsas the fabric diffuses the intensity, where a poulticewill be faster to act as there is no barrier.

coldpoulticEsIt seems fairly intuitive; a Cold Poultice is intendedto cool the area, reduce inammation or irritationand will contain soothing ingredients.

1. Assemble the selected ingredients

2. Combine them together and ensure they are wellincorporated. Any dry ingredients should be rehydratedbefore using in a poultice. Powders should be combinedwith water to form a paste.

3. Spread the poultice across the area to be treated and, ifthe area cannot be immobilised, cover with a bandage ofclean cloth.

hotpoulticEsWhere heat is required to draw out infection, to easediscomfort or to reduce congestion, a Hot Poulticeis the solution. The poultice is also moist and willsoften the tissue as well.

The method is virtually the same as that for a Cold

Poultice, except that the ingredients are heated witha small quantity of water (or hot water is added tothe prepared ingredients) before being applied to therequired location.

Grain is often added to the mix as it will begin toferment and maintain the heat within the poultice.

Anything with very strong ingredients should onlybe left in contact with skin for a short time, whilemilder ingredients can be left for longer.

comprEssEsor fomEntationsFor very delicate areas it may not be advisable toplace ingredients directly on them. A compress isessentially a Plaster without the poultice part.

Simply soak clean cloths in a strained infusion ordecoction. These can then be placed directly upondelicate areas including eyes. The compress can beused hot or cold., the simplest cold compress beingwater with a few traces of lavender to sooth headacheand fever.

trochEsPowdered ingredients can be hard to transport andadminister. Sometimes adding them into a smallcake or troche is the solution, especially if they areto be taken internally. A simple paste made of ouror sugar and water can be combined with a powder,shaped and allowed to dry.


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EquipmEnt

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EquipmEntAlthough the tools required for making Remediesor Poisons are similar, it is important not to get thetwo mixed up if you intend to prepare both; this mayrequire you to obtain 2 sets of apparatus, or to havedisposable objects for brewing toxins.

Although the Master level preparator may have fancyitems and be working from a proper shop, there aresome basic things that are needed before you canbegin even as a Novice.

cauldronThis heatable vessel can come in many shapes andsizes, the important features are that it either hangsover a re on a tripod or hook, or that it supportsitself on its own legs as in the example shown.

spoonsMost preparations will require stirring from time totime. Most of the time using ordinary spoons willsufce. Although it is not usually a good idea to usea metal spoon unless you have tested the effect of theingredients upon a non-essential piece of the same

material: Some preparations will dissolve metals.

A simple wooden stick washed and peeled of barkwill usually do just as well if there isnt a spoon tohand - especially if it is to be discarded afterwards.


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Basic prEparations

storagEFor both the nished preparations and the rawingredients you will need plenty of storage. Leatherpouches will sufce for most things, especially if youare travelling, but some items benet from properstorage jars. Many items also need time to dry.

With the nished items some of them can go intowaxed cloth, some go into bottles and of coursegrenades are very specialised containers indeed.

tindEr BoxEven in the wilds it is possible to nd materialsto burn for a re, but unless you wish to spendconsiderable time at the process, a quick method forignition is essential.

The basic components are a piece of int and a steelupon which to strike sparks. It is also useful to havesome tinder like straw, dried mushroom or cloth toensure the sparks have something upon which tocatch. Keep these all as dry as possible in a box.

There are of course other ways of making re...

Basic prEparationsAs well as the methods for combining andadministering herbal preparations, there are a fewagents and compounds that make simplify recipes.For some recipes the level of their effectiveness isdetermined by the addition of advanced agents.

simplEformulaBasic combinations that simplify terms in the recipesthat follow. Simple Formula can be prepared without

any great skill by any herbalist from Novice levelup. These preparations do not keep well, and mustbe prepared at the time of use. They are listed heresimply to shorten descriptions for later recipes.

hydromElIs a mix of Honey and Water, often used for soothingfever, coughs and stomach ailments. As an emergencyit can be combined with milk to make a quick antidoteto swallowed caustic poisons, administered after apurgative.

oxymElA combination of equal parts honey, old vinegar, seasalt and boiled water. This is most often used to loosenphlegm as an expectorant, but can be combined withother ingredients for other purposes. In some casesan Oxymel can be used effectively to treat snakebitesbut only when combined with a tourniquet to stopthe toxins spread.

oxyalmE

Similar to Oxymel but without the honey.

Flint

Steel

Tinder


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EssEntial agEntsThese three compounds are essential for many of therecipes in this section. These are more complicatedformulations that are recipes in their own rights.They are integral to many other recipes, but arestable preparations that can be made in bulk and

in advance. Some skill is required to successfullyprepare a batch of these agents - which is enough tomake 10 uses.

distillation agEntThe three bulbs that make up the Frostback Felicitiesare chopped roughly and added to a small quantity ofoil to make a Hot Oil Infusion. If the bulbs themselvesare not available then the leaves must be used, butground with sugar rather than being chopped beforeadding to the oil.

Then add fresh quantities of botanicals twice afterstraining the oil. Allow the oil to cool after the thirdstraining.

The nal part of the preparation is to get a smallquantity of nely ground clay. This is added insufcient quantity to absorb the oil until it is almostdry. Spread out the clay and allow it to take up the restof the oil. Over a few days this will dry and becomea soft powder imbued with the characteristics of theFrostback Felicities.

When this powder is added to a preparation it hasthe remarkable ability to remove any impurities and

dramatically increase the quality of the result.

A solution with Distillation Agent added is left tosettle overnight. Then the puried

esoterica from thedas volume 3 - apothecaria

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