I'm writing a Pathfinder module (woot!) for the upcoming Serpent's Skull adventure path, and it'd be useful to know if there are any established addictive or illegal drugs in the campaign world of Golarion. Anyone know?
Thanks!
I'm writing a Pathfinder module (woot!) for the upcoming Serpent's Skull adventure path, and it'd be useful to know if there are any established addictive or illegal drugs in the campaign world of Golarion. Anyone know?
Thanks!
Pesh. Detailed in "Dark Markets, a guide to Katapesh," It's a Narcotic Cactus-type plant. It's on the Katapesh flag, even. There's even a pseudo-prestige class (really a feat chain) that gives users of Pesh increased spellcasting ability.
Yay for our digital wizards!
Awesome. Thank you!
Nah, there are no drugs in Golarion. Don't be silly!
Pssst! Meet me in the alley behind the tavern in five minutes, bring gp.
Is there a substitute for Opium?
Nah, there are no drugs in Golarion. Don't be silly!
Pssst! Meet me in the alley behind the tavern in five minutes, bring gp.
"Quick, Yorrgash! Get the lads and the largest clubs you can find, and be out back in six minutes. And this time? Fewer witnesses."
I mean... perfect! You already have yourself a satisfied customer. I'll be there in just a jiff, as soon as I acquire my funds from my mercantile lockbox.
And thanks.
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Most medicinal herbs would assist a hero to relax and would help increase the recovery rate of lost Hit Points. The use of medicinal herbs would interfer with a wizard's ability to commit new spells to memory, but would enhance the level of communion between a cleric and his God, and may even be a requirement in order for a cleric to receive certian spells.
I hope this adds a little more flavour than the warrior gets stoned bit that some think about.
I hope this adds a little more flavour than the warrior gets stoned bit that some think about.
Sure! And thanks for the ideas. This thread has been really useful.
Historically people will pay a premium for something that gives them pleasure - whether it tastes good, makes them feel better about themselves, or gives them some other sort of advantage. I'm taking a look at some of the power groups in Golarion who either need or thrive on money, and it's good to understand whose hands those drugs flow through. There are a whole mess of plot hooks there.
On the same subject, everybody seems to assume recreational drugs are illegal around the inner sea (at least in Avistan).
This is weird. As far as I know, ilegality of substances in the real world is something that became common in the 20th century (and probably will be turned down a notch in the 21st). Certainly in my game if a PC/NPC uses something that reminds of Opium (like Pesh) the police/constabulary/dotarri won't care (maybe the Hellknights will...)
What do you think?
I had to cut most of the drug section which was originally intended for "Adventurer's Armory". Simply ran out of space. As Daigle mentions, I sent it to Wayfinder 2.
You might also find the rules for addiction useful. I pretty much took the assumptions found in the descriptions of many of Paizo's existing drugs and codified them a bit.
I think in my campaign we will have a law that permits medicinal pesh
This is weird. As far as I know, ilegality of substances in the real world is something that became common in the 20th century (and probably will be turned down a notch in the 21st).
Most of society has always condemned recreational drug use (especially refined drugs). I beleive there are old testament and Koran verses on the subject.
An RPG society openness would probably depend on their openness to the arcane. As well as the society's alignment, Drug addicts wont obey a lawful society's rules.
As for the legality in the 21st century being reduced you must be a under a drug induced haze :) I disagree it will probably get stricter as chemical intake will become regulated to stop obesity and that will out drug users.
Should also be noted, that regulation and restriction always cause higher prices, an increase in the criminal element, and more violence in the trade. Much like alcohol prohibition, drug prohibition creates its own set of problems. Which set of problems is worse is a normative argument...
There's a reason organized crime doesn't much get into the distilling business anymore.
While pesh has had the spotlight as far as drugs in Golarion, I've always been more impressed with shiver, which was featured in the Curse of the Crimson Throne adventure path. It's nasty stuff, but the idea of using spider venom to make a drug is just a neat idea.
Most of society has always condemned recreational drug use (especially refined drugs). I beleive there are old testament and Koran verses on the subject.
Quran and Bible aside, most cultures have not in fact put a blanket prohibition recreational drug use. See the use of alcohol throughout most human cultures, or the use of tobacco. Or caffeine.
Also check out D.C.A. Hillman's book The Chemical Muse for a look at drug use in the classical world, medicinal and otherwise.
Most of society has always condemned recreational drug use (especially refined drugs). I beleive there are old testament and Koran verses on the subject.Quran and Bible aside, most cultures have not in fact put a blanket prohibition recreational drug use. See the use of alcohol throughout most human cultures, or the use of tobacco. Or caffeine.
Also check out D.C.A. Hillman's book The Chemical Muse for a look at drug use in the classical world, medicinal and otherwise.
Looking at primary cultures, most intoxicants weren't/aren't used as recreation. The imbibing of such substances is usually ritualized and overseen by an elder or shaman.
Thanks for the tip on the book. I'll have to add it to the growing list of things that I should read but probably will never get around to in my lifetime.
Quran and Bible aside
Thats a huge segment of the population and a significant period of time to set aside.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prohibition_(drugs)
back onto my original Q Does Opium exist or is there a substitute for it?
This is weird. As far as I know, ilegality of substances in the real world is something that became common in the 20th century (and probably will be turned down a notch in the 21st).Most of society has always condemned recreational drug use (especially refined drugs). I beleive there are old testament and Koran verses on the subject.
An RPG society openness would probably depend on their openness to the arcane. As well as the society's alignment, Drug addicts wont obey a lawful society's rules.
As for the legality in the 21st century being reduced you must be a under a drug induced haze :) I disagree it will probably get stricter as chemical intake will become regulated to stop obesity and that will out drug users.
Firehawk, I chose to respect the current law in my country and so I am sadly not "under a haze". It just looks like outside of the US societies are going to be less conservative in the future. I'm not going to argue about that, there is a chance you are absolutely right about the future. I just don't know if I want the government to make kola illegal just because it makes people obese.
Back on topic, as Dr 3 confirmed, rec-drugs WERE NOT condemned in most societies, and specifically in Europe and Asia Opium was very popular among the higher classes. it became illegal towards the 20th century. Marijuana-based drugs were always popular, especially in the arab world, despite the fact that you are right- according to some interpretations of the Kuran you should not do any drugs (alcohol is strictly forbidden). As for the old testament, there is nothing there which prohibits alcohol/drugs. In Judaism in general, there is only one rule that basically tells you not to do things that are harmful to your body (although many rabbis smoke cigarettes themselves).
If Golarion is loosely based on renaissance Europe, I would have to guess rec-drugs are common, legal, and also frowned upon by large groups of people. The kingdoms of Golarion are not law-states and have very limited interest/ability to control everything that people do. It is much more profitable for a king to tax the Pesh trade than to try and ban it (and of course, the kings could be users themselves). Cheliax is really a nice exception. Thrune didn't only bring devils into the empire, it also brought order and law, which includes the novel and modern idea of control of substances. Other "evil" realms can do just the opposite, push Pesh to the masses, keep them sedated and lower the chance of revolution.
As for religious sanctions- remember that the inner sea is extremely pluralistic in terms of religion. Maybe the monks of Irori forbid the intake of all drugs, but Calista's cult mandates the use during ceremonies. Desna's followers frolic at night-time raves, Cayden's followers imbibe ridiculous amounts of alcohol, Gozreh's people may take "natural" hallucinates and so on. I don't want to imagine what Zon Kuthons people are taking, but their religion is mostly illegal anyway :)
Quran and Bible asideThats a huge segment of the population and a significant period of time to set aside.
Except that those cultures, you know, don't prohibt intoxicants.
Alcohol is used throughout the "Christian" world, as were other substances at various times including cocaine, opiates (laudunum), tobacco, caffeine, and cannabis.
Ditto the Muslim world--as alcohol can still be found in some Islamic nations today, despite the Prophet's prohibition. To say nothing of caffeine, kef, cannabis, etc.
And then of course, their are the countries without religious prohibitions.
Many of these things are outlined in the wikipedia article you thoughtfully cited, but apparently didn't read.
Somebody pass me the peace pipe.
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Kyra taking advantage of a Hookah
[tangent] A friend who came back from Desert Storm (where he drove trucks for the Army) said that driving in Saudi Arabia was terrifying, as all of the local truckers took regular hashish breaks. Drinking is against the rules, but apparently it's fine and dandy to blaze up on the job! [/tangent]
It would be interesting to see what the local cultures think of various drugs.
One could make a case that Andoran would have strict drug laws, because they are used to enslave people and make them less free, *or* make an equally valid case that Andoran governing principles don't see 'the system' as having any business telling people what they can and cannot eat, drink, inhale, etc. depending on where Andor draws the line between 'rights of society' and 'rights of the individual.'
Cheliax and Taldor might make it illegal only for those of lower status to have access to the good stuff (for 'their own good'), while passing around snuff boxes like party favors amongst the decadent nobility, sitting around all owl-eyed at the end of the party, dissing on neighboring countries and giggling.
Qadira and Osirion might go the other direction, with the higher-classes eschewing such things, while the lower classes (and, especially, the slaves) are kept passive through various cheap means, such as chewing some sort of leaf, or drinking beer-bread.