Poison

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Demon's dance. © Fantasy Flight Games
Citadel Politics. © Fantasy Flight Games
A poisoned well in Dorne. © Fantasy Flight Games
Poison may also be delivered by coating a weapon - by Felicia Cano. © Fantasy Flight Games

Many poisons are used throughout the Seven Kingdoms and in the East. The Maesters of the Citadel study the histories and qualities of various poisons in addition to their healing arts, but their use seems to be more widespread in the Free Cities[1] and the assassins' guilds. Poisons are also used in the further east, such as in Meereen, and in Qarth, where the Pureborn are notorious for offering poisoned wine to those they consider dangerous. [2]

About

See also: Images of Poison

Poison is regarded with fear and loathing by knights and high lords alike in the feudal society of the Seven Kingdoms. The poisoner is considered to be beneath contempt,[1] and that no true man kills with poison.[3] Poison is felt to be a weapon of cravens[1] and cowards,[4] eunuchs,[1] women,[1] and Dornishmen.[3]

Common poisons

Common poisons include nightshade, derived from a plant, and powdered greycap, derived from a variety of toadstool. Animal and insect venoms such as basilisk and manticore venom are also known to be used, though they are harder to gather. Manticore venom is particularly vicious and can be treated to make it work more slowly, causing its victim to die in slow agony. Every hedge maester knows the common poisons.[1]

Rare poisons

Rare poisons include the strangler, which is made from a plant found only in the Jade Sea. It kills by closing the windpipe and therefore suffocating its victims.[5] It is a poison that has been used in the past to kill kings, a reason many kings now employ food-tasters.

The tears of Lys is an odorless and colorless poison, killing by attacking the stomach and bowels.[6]

Ambiguous poisons

There are also ambiguous poisons. Moon tea aborts pregnancies, which makes some maesters reluctant to call it a medicine. Sweetsleep brings deep sleep in small doses, but larger doses can kill.[6] Large enough doses of most medicines can be fatal; the difference with sweetsleep is that the fatal dose is still quite small relative to other medicines. A maester must therefore be very careful when administering it.[7][8] Some poisons do not kill, but only make the victim indisposed for a time.[9]

Administering poisons

Arya Stark's target bites the poisoned coin. © Fantasy Flight Games

Poisons are commonly administered to victims in food or drink, which can also serve to mask their taste and odor. Because of this, noble kitchens are often guarded, and food tasters are employed to protect their masters' lives with their own. Even so, clever poisoners manage to slip past the safeguards from time to time, and at least as many nobles' deaths are caused by a poisoned cup or dish as by a bloodied blade, if not more so. Poison may also be delivered by coating a weapon or even through the skin. An assassin may even coat a gold coin with poison, and pass it to the target who is poisoned when he bites the coin to test its value.[10][11]

List of known poisons

Characters known to use poison

Poison is Tyene Sand's chosen weapon. © FFG

Characters known to have been poisoned

Melisandre drinks from the poisoned wine. © Fantasy Flight Games

Characters suspected to have been poisoned

Survivors of attempted poisonings

Quotes

Schemes of the Scholar - by Mike Capprotti. © Fantasy Flight Games

The poisoner is beneath contempt.[1]

—Aethelmure

All the world knew that a maester forged his silver link when he learned the art of healing—but the world preferred to forget that men who knew how to heal also knew how to kill.[5]

—thoughts of Cressen

No true man killed with poison. Poison was for cravens, women, and Dornishmen.[3]

—Victarion Greyjoy

Poison is a foul and filthy way to kill.[13]

—Balon Swann, to Tyene Sand

You told me to put the tears in Jon's wine, and I did.[14]

—Lysa Tully, to Petyr Baelish

I begged Lord Arryn to use a taster, in this very room I begged him, but he would not hear of it. Only one who was less than a man would even think of such a thing, he told me.[15]

—Varys, to Eddard Stark

I was weaned on venom, Dalt. Any viper takes a bite of me will rue it.

—Gerold Dayne

Poisoners invariably choose the choicest dishes.[16]

—the Tattered Prince

We know more of [poison] in the Free Cities. It is the tears, never doubt it. The old maester would have seen it soon enough, so he had to die first. That is how I would do it. Not that I would. Poison is ... dishonorable.[17]

—Rego Draz, discussing Androw Farman's plot

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 A Game of Thrones, Chapter 25, Eddard V.
  2. ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 40, Daenerys III.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 56, The Iron Suitor.
  4. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 33, Eddard VIII.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 A Clash of Kings, Prologue.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 A Feast for Crows, Chapter 34, Cat Of The Canals.
  7. ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 23, Alayne I.
  8. ↑ A Feast for Crows, Chapter 41, Alayne II.
  9. ↑ A Clash of Kings, Chapter 25, Tyrion VI.
  10. ↑ A Feast for Crows, Prologue.
  11. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 64, The Ugly Little Girl.
  12. ↑ The Sons of the Dragon.
  13. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 38, The Watcher.
  14. ↑ A Storm of Swords, Chapter 80, Sansa VII.
  15. ↑ A Game of Thrones, Chapter 30, Eddard VII.
  16. ↑ A Dance with Dragons, Chapter 60, The Spurned Suitor.
  17. ↑ Fire & Blood, Birth, Death, and Betrayal Under King Jaehaerys I.
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