[Runequest] On The Dangers of Hazia Addiction

[Lev Lafayette]

On The Dangers of Hazia Addiction

(A rebuild of the rules in 'Sun County' Chaosium/Avalon Hill, 1993, p9)

A Medical Report by Jalmara Yelmsfoot, White Woman, High Healer of
Chalana Arroy Temple, Sun Dome to the Most Bright Ruler of Sun County,
Light Son, Count Solonthos Ironpike.

Concerning The Dangers of Hazia

My dear Count,

In the name of the most kind and peaceful, Chalana Arroy.

It has come to my increased attention that the usage of the euphoric
herb, hazia, is increasing among members of the population. I wish to
alert you to the dangers of this narcotic and the serious danger it
represents to the people of your land.

Hazia, also known as "dummy" grows naturally in the Sun County region
and indeed throughout all of the Prax grasslands as a brown-leaved,
short, flowering and somewhat oily plant. It is unusually sturdy,
requiring only minimal fertility of soil and rainfall. Indeed, it is
known to be particularly useful as a preventative against soil erosion.

I have discussed the matter with Hector, your librarian. He believes
that the plant has embodied some of the spirit of the land, in a most
literal sense. When consumed, either through eating (such is the habit
of the Dark Men) or dried and smoked, which is more common, the effect
on the user is a period of euphoria, which renders the user immune to
pain, and a shorter period of Discorporation, as per the ability of the
shaman of this land. Such Power would indeed be useful if it were not
for the most damaging side effects that come with this drug.

During the period of Discorporation, the user's body is completely at
the mercy to anything in the mundane world. When smoked, this effect
varies in minutes according to the potency of the drug and the feeling
of euphoria lasts for five times that period. During the period of
euphoria the user's movements are sluggish, to say the least.

Worse still is the after-effects. The drug is seriously addictive. I
have known men to succumb to its power after only a single dose; after
all, it removes all pain during the period of euphoria and provides a
fleeting vision of the world of spirits. To many this must seem quite
appealing, however it is incredibly dangerous to one's agility and
health. I have seen grown men die within a week of having only taken a
modest quantity of the drug, their nervous system and heart reduced to
nothing.

Most disconcerting however, it has come to my attention that many
mercenary-types are taking the drug whilst engaging in missions against
chaotic and darkness entities in the hope that scouting during the
period of discorporation.

I understand that you have extremely harsh penalties for producers and
traffickers of this drug, including the death penalty. I urge leniancy;
treat this as a medical problem rather than a criminal activity. Many of
those who engage in production and distribution only do so because of
their own poverty. A dose of hazia which sells for 5 guilders can be
produced for only 1 guilder. However an addict will typically use 5
guilders worth a day. This of course, reduces most farmers to abject
poverty and causes serious damage to the wealth of even the most
well-off farmers.

Yours, in the name of Yelm and the Son of the Sun God, Yelmalio etc,



Jalamara


RuneQuest (3rd edition) rules

The Potency of Hazia is from 1-10, typically 5 for a SIZ 5-15 person -
adjust as required. The street price is equal to the potency in silver.
Cost of production - with two crops per annum being the norm - is 1
silver per 5 POT. Smoked hazia provides discorporation for a number of
minutes times the potency and euphoria for a number of full turns times
the potency. Euphoria means the character is immune to the effects of
pain, including fatigue and being reduced to minus hit points in
non-critical regions. Eaten hazia provides discorporation for a number
of full turns, but with a range of only 1m. The period of euphoria is
measured in hours. During discorporation DEX is reduced to 0. During
euphoria, DEX is reduced by 10.

Roll each time hazia is taken, POT vs CON. If the roll is failed the
character is addicted. They may be addicted multiple times; apply all
results with an addiction value equal to the POT of the consumed drug.
Each day they do not receive a dose of hazia equal to their addiction
value the character will lose a point of DEX and CON. A character who is
addicted and is offered hazia must roll POW vs their Addiction Value to
refuse the offer.