06-12-2009, 09:02 AM
Ok, so in the interest of anyone who has ever used an herb or other substance for something other than its intended purpose... I thought it would be nice to have a serverwide consensus on the effects of different items. There is no canon information on this (that I can find), so I think this will just have to be server-specific information and nothing more.
I'm posting a useful list that I found, and adding to it based on information I've read around the 'webz. If anyone has used herbs or essences or whatever in their RP, feel free to post below and I'll add it to the guide. If we can agree on the uses for these different substances, I'm planning on making an IC post of a book written by my elf Cerae, who has more than a casual interest in the recreational use of plants and magic.
Disclaimer: I may toss in a few real-life equivalents here, just to give a better idea. I'm also including a full list of effects (if I can guess at them) with every item, so you'll still understand what the herb does, even if you don't know much about real-life drugs. Don't ask me about any of the real-life stuff. If you know about it, you know it. If you don't, I'm not going to explain it to you. Nothing personal, I just don't want anyone learning about potentially dangerous real-life stuff here. Gotcha?
Without further ado.... (again, NOT canon... feel free to correct or debate)
Herbs
Dreamfoil
Uses: Often brewed as a tea, can also be ground into a powder. Smoking is possible but less common. Produces a thick white smoke.
Effects: Small doses gives a mellowing, satisfied feeling. Relieves symptoms of magic addiction, but only for a short time. Moderate doses cause drowsiness, and high doses induce immediate sleep. Concentrated powder is sometimes used as a drink additive to incapacitate a victim.
Withdrawal: None reported, further study may be required.
Cured Bloodthistle (dried for smoking)
Uses: Smoking.
Effects: Gives a relaxing, revitalizing feeling to Blood Elves only. Other races can smoke it, but it might be rather weak or unsatisfying, with a flavor that might seem floral and "frippy". Offers mana to Blood Elves, satisfying their cravings. Has its own psychologically addictive properties similar to cigarettes, but this may be directly linked to mana addiction. Offers a far weaker physical withdrawl period than pure bloodthistle, but most elves who don't use the stuff wouldn't know this.
Withdrawal: Can include headache, irritability, fatigue, mild nausea.
Pure Bloodthistle (not cured or dried)
Uses: Eaten/chewed, mashed into an elixir, or mashed, reduced, and pressed into capsules.
Effects: Offers an energizing, revitalizing feeling to Blood Elves only. Chemically and psychologically addictive. Physiological effects like caffeine, or in higher doses, like lesser amphetamines (namely speed and MDMA). Empowering and satisfying, but sustained use is required to keep from suffering "lows." In higher doses, it is a powerful empathogen, producing intense euphoria, energy, and a feeling of good will and closeness to others. To most other races, consuming this plant's leaves or petals is akin to eating potpourri. Side effects of high doses include clenching of teeth, elevated body temperature, and pupil dilation.
Withdrawal: Minor doses usually only result in lethargy or dysphoric mood for a short time. Higher doses can result in lethargy, dysphoria and hypersomnia for a few hours to a day after the effects wear off. Long term side effects include memory alteration or loss, risk of depression.
Concentrated Bloodthistle
Uses: Mashed, simmered, or various other methods for producing highest concentrations of active chemicals. Usually eaten.
Effects: Like many drugs, once a certain threshold is reached, it can have effects that are unlike the effects of lower doses. Concentrated Bloodthistle works as a powerful muscle relaxant with depressive properties. Depending on the dose, immediate side effects can include drowsiness, disorientation, or hypersomnia. Care should be taken, as this drug is highly addictive if used irresponsibly.
Withdrawal: (I'm pulling this from painkiller addiction info, correct me if you think it should be different) Once addicted, going through withdrawal is extreme and painful. Symptoms can include tremors (sometimes seizures in especially heavy users), alternating sensations of heat and cold, pins and needles, and severe body aches (especially in the legs).
Tainted Bloodthistle (Bloodthistle painted with Nightmare Vine Resin)
Uses: Chewed or eaten.
Effects: A dangerous combination of chemical substances. Known as "getting red", "seeing red", "climbing the vine", "swinging the vine". Nightmare Vine has chemical properties that are magical and fel, and can enhance and energize an individual of any race, but this energy can reach dangerous levels, and anyone who has not become used to the toxin will likely become physically ill. Can also cause hallucinations.
The hallucinogenic and narcotic effects of the concentrated Nightmare Vine resin is combined with the stimulant (for Blood Elves) effects of the Bloodthistle, making the results of consumption similar to the consumption of an 'upper' and a 'downer'. The results are euphoric and mind-fuzzing, but can also be deadly due to the opposing effects of the drugs on the body's physiology. Highly addictive physically after sustained use.
(note for reference: to me this sounds like 'candyflipping,' taking a mixture of MDMA and acid.)
Withdrawal: Intense nausea, often accompanied by vomiting. Extreme dysphoria, chills, sweating. Heavy users may experience seizures during withdrawal.
Felweed
Uses: Smoked. Produces a thick, green acrid smoke.
Effects: Distortion of perception, especially of time. Makes the user feel euphoric, energetic, talkative, and mentally alert, especially to the sensations of sight, sound, and touch. (Think marijuana laced with cocaine.) It can also temporarily decrease the need for food and sleep. Overdoses can result in cardiac arrest.
Withdrawal: Can include tremors, chills, and paranoia.
Swiftthistle
Uses: Commonly made into a tea, can also be chewed directly.
Effects: Tea is a moderate stimulant. Chewed leaves have a milder effect.
Withdrawal: None known.
Ghost Mushroom
Uses: Eaten.
Effects: Intense psychoactive. Known to produce hallucinations, and euphoria. The user becomes hypersensitive to surroundings, circumstances and events. Paranoia can be triggered by simple things.
Withdrawal: Unknown.
Glowcap
Uses: Harvested as needed. No known method of preservation for later use.
Effects: Provides a surprisingly strong source of light. Lasts about an hour.
Withdrawal: N/A
Peacebloom
Uses: Binding accelerator. Oral, and physical application.
Effects: When mixed with various anti-coagulants or any oral infused medication increases the rate of absorption. Also quite aromatic.
Withdrawal: None
Silverleaf
Uses: Oral consumption and topical application.
Effects: Provides a minty flavor and scent in its use. Often used in teas or other food recipes. Can be used to clear nasal congestion. Found in some perfumes.
Withdrawal: N/A
Briar Thorn
Uses: Applied topically.
Effects: When applied to cloth articles or watered surfaces creates a rather irritable residue. Residue can lead to skin irritation, skin sores and other misc. infections
Withdrawal: N/A
Earthroot
Uses: Eaten directly, or brewed in a tea.
Effects: When ingested increases ones relaxation (similar effects to Valerian Root). Sedative effect. Can lead to chemical dependency.
Withdrawal: Symptoms of chemical dependency can include headaches, irritability, or increasing stomach cramps.
Bruiseweed
Uses: Topical application.
Effects: Skin tone foundation makeup. Blend or change skin colorization, as well as cover unsightly scars, tattoos, and bruises. For external use only.
Withdrawal: N/A
Purple Lotus
Uses: Oral or intravenous.
Effects: Lethal poison in large doses, small doses only affect muscle control for a short period of time. Can disable a person for a number of hours/days.
Withdrawal: None, however it is possible to develop a tolerance for its effects.
Fire Bloom
Uses: Extraction of flammable liquid.
Effects: When applied to frost bit skin or dried earth and dehydrated flora, the cytoplasm found in the plant's stems acts as a flammable liquid.
Withdrawal: N/A
Mana Thistle
Uses: Chewed/eaten, and brewed as a tea.
Effects: Provides a boost of mental alertness as well as energy. (Think Thistle tea but for those Magi staying up late studying old dusted tomes.)
Withdrawal: Irritability, hunger, loss of weight over long periods.
Talandra's Rose
Uses: Oral, intravenous, and topical application.
Effects: Talandra is Northrend's best kept secret. Its aromatic qualities make is an ideal and well sought out perfume, as does its thinning properties when applied as a coagulant for calming potions i.e. [Potion of Nightmares]. As a tea, it has the inherent quality to settle ones nerves and aid digestion. In baked goods provides an addictive quality, perhaps boosting one's profits (Think KFC's secret ingredient.) As a salve, it is often believed to have an age defying quality that allows its application to erase the signs of aging.
Withdrawal: None cited.
Terocone
Uses: Crushed into a fine powder and snorted.
Effects: High amounts of energy for a medium amount of time, similar to caffeine or speed.
Withdrawal: Symptoms can include headaches, random rage, and paranoia.
Lichbloom
Uses: Crushed into a powder then mixed into an elixir.
Effects: Provides mana. Mild hallucinations are possible, especially auditory (hearing things). Extreme doses have not been studied.
Withdrawal: Massive headaches and/or inability to cast spells at random.
Nightmare Seeds
Uses: Eaten/chewed
Effects: Causes intense visual hallucinations, sometimes interpreted as visions. Also distorts visual perception.
Withdrawal: Extreme paranoia, hallucinations of evil (even in normal settings) have been reported. Can cause temporary paralysis due to fear in weaker individuals.
Magical Items:
Help me out here...
Other (not directly herbal or magical in nature):
Sicco Orbs
Uses: Small balls of highly concentrated extract of radiation found in Gnomeregan. Consumed by putting into a bag and inhaling. Usually accompanied by a saltless bread in order to neutralize potential negative effects.
Effects: Produces an intense although short-lived high. Symptoms are varied and can range from sensations of disembodiment, to hallucinations, disorientation, or (usually pleasant) numbness of limbs, similar to when a part of the body has 'gone to sleep' and is recovering. Long-term use results in psychological instability, starting with paranoia and memory loss, and eventually progressing to complete insanity.
Withdrawal: While continued use invariably results in insainty, winthdrawal symptoms are lesser known. Headaches are likely.
Voodoo Flour
Uses: A very fine white powder, snorted up the nose.
Effects: Believed to have gotten it's name from the hallucinations it causes.
Withdrawal: Unknown.
I'm posting a useful list that I found, and adding to it based on information I've read around the 'webz. If anyone has used herbs or essences or whatever in their RP, feel free to post below and I'll add it to the guide. If we can agree on the uses for these different substances, I'm planning on making an IC post of a book written by my elf Cerae, who has more than a casual interest in the recreational use of plants and magic.
Disclaimer: I may toss in a few real-life equivalents here, just to give a better idea. I'm also including a full list of effects (if I can guess at them) with every item, so you'll still understand what the herb does, even if you don't know much about real-life drugs. Don't ask me about any of the real-life stuff. If you know about it, you know it. If you don't, I'm not going to explain it to you. Nothing personal, I just don't want anyone learning about potentially dangerous real-life stuff here. Gotcha?
Without further ado.... (again, NOT canon... feel free to correct or debate)
Herbs
Dreamfoil
Uses: Often brewed as a tea, can also be ground into a powder. Smoking is possible but less common. Produces a thick white smoke.
Effects: Small doses gives a mellowing, satisfied feeling. Relieves symptoms of magic addiction, but only for a short time. Moderate doses cause drowsiness, and high doses induce immediate sleep. Concentrated powder is sometimes used as a drink additive to incapacitate a victim.
Withdrawal: None reported, further study may be required.
Cured Bloodthistle (dried for smoking)
Uses: Smoking.
Effects: Gives a relaxing, revitalizing feeling to Blood Elves only. Other races can smoke it, but it might be rather weak or unsatisfying, with a flavor that might seem floral and "frippy". Offers mana to Blood Elves, satisfying their cravings. Has its own psychologically addictive properties similar to cigarettes, but this may be directly linked to mana addiction. Offers a far weaker physical withdrawl period than pure bloodthistle, but most elves who don't use the stuff wouldn't know this.
Withdrawal: Can include headache, irritability, fatigue, mild nausea.
Pure Bloodthistle (not cured or dried)
Uses: Eaten/chewed, mashed into an elixir, or mashed, reduced, and pressed into capsules.
Effects: Offers an energizing, revitalizing feeling to Blood Elves only. Chemically and psychologically addictive. Physiological effects like caffeine, or in higher doses, like lesser amphetamines (namely speed and MDMA). Empowering and satisfying, but sustained use is required to keep from suffering "lows." In higher doses, it is a powerful empathogen, producing intense euphoria, energy, and a feeling of good will and closeness to others. To most other races, consuming this plant's leaves or petals is akin to eating potpourri. Side effects of high doses include clenching of teeth, elevated body temperature, and pupil dilation.
Withdrawal: Minor doses usually only result in lethargy or dysphoric mood for a short time. Higher doses can result in lethargy, dysphoria and hypersomnia for a few hours to a day after the effects wear off. Long term side effects include memory alteration or loss, risk of depression.
Concentrated Bloodthistle
Uses: Mashed, simmered, or various other methods for producing highest concentrations of active chemicals. Usually eaten.
Effects: Like many drugs, once a certain threshold is reached, it can have effects that are unlike the effects of lower doses. Concentrated Bloodthistle works as a powerful muscle relaxant with depressive properties. Depending on the dose, immediate side effects can include drowsiness, disorientation, or hypersomnia. Care should be taken, as this drug is highly addictive if used irresponsibly.
Withdrawal: (I'm pulling this from painkiller addiction info, correct me if you think it should be different) Once addicted, going through withdrawal is extreme and painful. Symptoms can include tremors (sometimes seizures in especially heavy users), alternating sensations of heat and cold, pins and needles, and severe body aches (especially in the legs).
Tainted Bloodthistle (Bloodthistle painted with Nightmare Vine Resin)
Uses: Chewed or eaten.
Effects: A dangerous combination of chemical substances. Known as "getting red", "seeing red", "climbing the vine", "swinging the vine". Nightmare Vine has chemical properties that are magical and fel, and can enhance and energize an individual of any race, but this energy can reach dangerous levels, and anyone who has not become used to the toxin will likely become physically ill. Can also cause hallucinations.
The hallucinogenic and narcotic effects of the concentrated Nightmare Vine resin is combined with the stimulant (for Blood Elves) effects of the Bloodthistle, making the results of consumption similar to the consumption of an 'upper' and a 'downer'. The results are euphoric and mind-fuzzing, but can also be deadly due to the opposing effects of the drugs on the body's physiology. Highly addictive physically after sustained use.
(note for reference: to me this sounds like 'candyflipping,' taking a mixture of MDMA and acid.)
Withdrawal: Intense nausea, often accompanied by vomiting. Extreme dysphoria, chills, sweating. Heavy users may experience seizures during withdrawal.
Felweed
Uses: Smoked. Produces a thick, green acrid smoke.
Effects: Distortion of perception, especially of time. Makes the user feel euphoric, energetic, talkative, and mentally alert, especially to the sensations of sight, sound, and touch. (Think marijuana laced with cocaine.) It can also temporarily decrease the need for food and sleep. Overdoses can result in cardiac arrest.
Withdrawal: Can include tremors, chills, and paranoia.
Swiftthistle
Uses: Commonly made into a tea, can also be chewed directly.
Effects: Tea is a moderate stimulant. Chewed leaves have a milder effect.
Withdrawal: None known.
Ghost Mushroom
Uses: Eaten.
Effects: Intense psychoactive. Known to produce hallucinations, and euphoria. The user becomes hypersensitive to surroundings, circumstances and events. Paranoia can be triggered by simple things.
Withdrawal: Unknown.
Glowcap
Uses: Harvested as needed. No known method of preservation for later use.
Effects: Provides a surprisingly strong source of light. Lasts about an hour.
Withdrawal: N/A
Peacebloom
Uses: Binding accelerator. Oral, and physical application.
Effects: When mixed with various anti-coagulants or any oral infused medication increases the rate of absorption. Also quite aromatic.
Withdrawal: None
Silverleaf
Uses: Oral consumption and topical application.
Effects: Provides a minty flavor and scent in its use. Often used in teas or other food recipes. Can be used to clear nasal congestion. Found in some perfumes.
Withdrawal: N/A
Briar Thorn
Uses: Applied topically.
Effects: When applied to cloth articles or watered surfaces creates a rather irritable residue. Residue can lead to skin irritation, skin sores and other misc. infections
Withdrawal: N/A
Earthroot
Uses: Eaten directly, or brewed in a tea.
Effects: When ingested increases ones relaxation (similar effects to Valerian Root). Sedative effect. Can lead to chemical dependency.
Withdrawal: Symptoms of chemical dependency can include headaches, irritability, or increasing stomach cramps.
Bruiseweed
Uses: Topical application.
Effects: Skin tone foundation makeup. Blend or change skin colorization, as well as cover unsightly scars, tattoos, and bruises. For external use only.
Withdrawal: N/A
Purple Lotus
Uses: Oral or intravenous.
Effects: Lethal poison in large doses, small doses only affect muscle control for a short period of time. Can disable a person for a number of hours/days.
Withdrawal: None, however it is possible to develop a tolerance for its effects.
Fire Bloom
Uses: Extraction of flammable liquid.
Effects: When applied to frost bit skin or dried earth and dehydrated flora, the cytoplasm found in the plant's stems acts as a flammable liquid.
Withdrawal: N/A
Mana Thistle
Uses: Chewed/eaten, and brewed as a tea.
Effects: Provides a boost of mental alertness as well as energy. (Think Thistle tea but for those Magi staying up late studying old dusted tomes.)
Withdrawal: Irritability, hunger, loss of weight over long periods.
Talandra's Rose
Uses: Oral, intravenous, and topical application.
Effects: Talandra is Northrend's best kept secret. Its aromatic qualities make is an ideal and well sought out perfume, as does its thinning properties when applied as a coagulant for calming potions i.e. [Potion of Nightmares]. As a tea, it has the inherent quality to settle ones nerves and aid digestion. In baked goods provides an addictive quality, perhaps boosting one's profits (Think KFC's secret ingredient.) As a salve, it is often believed to have an age defying quality that allows its application to erase the signs of aging.
Withdrawal: None cited.
Terocone
Uses: Crushed into a fine powder and snorted.
Effects: High amounts of energy for a medium amount of time, similar to caffeine or speed.
Withdrawal: Symptoms can include headaches, random rage, and paranoia.
Lichbloom
Uses: Crushed into a powder then mixed into an elixir.
Effects: Provides mana. Mild hallucinations are possible, especially auditory (hearing things). Extreme doses have not been studied.
Withdrawal: Massive headaches and/or inability to cast spells at random.
Nightmare Seeds
Uses: Eaten/chewed
Effects: Causes intense visual hallucinations, sometimes interpreted as visions. Also distorts visual perception.
Withdrawal: Extreme paranoia, hallucinations of evil (even in normal settings) have been reported. Can cause temporary paralysis due to fear in weaker individuals.
Magical Items:
Help me out here...
Other (not directly herbal or magical in nature):
Sicco Orbs
Uses: Small balls of highly concentrated extract of radiation found in Gnomeregan. Consumed by putting into a bag and inhaling. Usually accompanied by a saltless bread in order to neutralize potential negative effects.
Effects: Produces an intense although short-lived high. Symptoms are varied and can range from sensations of disembodiment, to hallucinations, disorientation, or (usually pleasant) numbness of limbs, similar to when a part of the body has 'gone to sleep' and is recovering. Long-term use results in psychological instability, starting with paranoia and memory loss, and eventually progressing to complete insanity.
Withdrawal: While continued use invariably results in insainty, winthdrawal symptoms are lesser known. Headaches are likely.
Voodoo Flour
Uses: A very fine white powder, snorted up the nose.
Effects: Believed to have gotten it's name from the hallucinations it causes.
Withdrawal: Unknown.
