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Belladonna, also known as wolfsbane,[10] monkshood,[2][3] or deadly nightshade, was a type of poisonous herb found in the Realms[11] that was related to horseradish.[1]

If you fear the changer moon
If befall'd by curse or doom
If you're in the lycan's power
Seek the belladonna flower.
— An old rhyme.[5]

Description[]

Being a type of flowering plant, belladonnas produced delicate purple bell-shaped flowers and black glossy berries. Its leaves and roots contained substance called atropine.[9][12] If one were to cast speak with plants on some belladonnas, the plants would typically speak to the caster about lycanthropy and werewolves.[13]

Abilities[]

Belladonna were most famous for their ability to cure lycanthropy. However, they were also toxic - anyone eating them was likely to find themselves weakened physically.[10] Consumption of their flowers was capable of inducing state of death-like sleep.[9] Some claimed even the plant's touch was toxic and required protective gloves to harvest.[11]

Habitats[]

Belladonna was known to grow in parts of the High Forest,[11] in Bloodbark Grove in the High Moor,[14] as well as on the small Isle of Balduran, in the Trackless Sea[6]

Beyond the Prime Material plane, belladonna could be found in both the Feywild[7] and parts of the Domains of Dread.[1]

Uses[]

Belladonna iwd2

Belladonna plant from the Frozenfar region.

If a victim bitten by a lycanthrope ate a sprig of belladonna within an hour of the bite, they had a chance of not contracting the disease.[10][15] The belladonna, however, had to be relatively fresh, not picked any later than a week ago.[10] Though consumption of belladonna worked equally as well for giants and giant-kin infected with lycanthropy, they needed to consume much larger amounts than the smaller humanoid races.[16] Beyond its use with lycanthropy, it could be used to make a sedative.[2]

Magic[]

Belladonna was used as a material component for a variety of charms, potions, spells,[7] and obscure necromantic rituals.[11] Because of this they were frequently harvested by hags and witches.[7]

History[]

In the Year of Rogue Dragons, 1373 DR, during a full moon Ryld Argith consumed a belladonna and its three leaves from a branch he received from Yarno's grandfather after the former boy bit the drow on the wrist in his werewolf state that same evening. Belladonna prevented his first lycanthropic transformation.[20][21]

Appendix[]

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

External Links[]

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the following links do not necessarily represent the views of the editors of this wiki, nor does any lore presented necessarily adhere to established canon.

References[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Nigel Findley (1993). Van Richten's Guide to Werebeasts. Edited by Andria Hayday. (TSR, Inc.), p. 28. ISBN 1-56076-633-6.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Gary Gygax (1979). Dungeon Masters Guide 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 220. ISBN 0-9356-9602-4.
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Ed Greenwood, Jeff Grubb (August 1987). “DM's Sourcebook of the Realms”. In Karen S. Martin ed. Forgotten Realms Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 82. ISBN 0-88038-472-7.
  4. Obsidian Entertainment (November 2008). Designed by Tony Evans. Neverwinter Nights 2: Storm of Zehir. Atari.
  5. 5.0 5.1 5.2 Larian Studios (October 2020). Designed by Swen Vincke, et al. Baldur's Gate III. Larian Studios.
  6. 6.0 6.1 BioWare (May 1999). Designed by James Ohlen. Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast. Black Isle Studios.
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Rodney Thompson, Claudio Pozas, Steve Townshend (2011). Player's Option: Heroes of the Feywild. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 14, 135. ISBN 978-0786958368.
  8. Gary Gygax (1978). Players Handbook 1st edition. (TSR, Inc.), p. 35. ISBN 0-9356-9601-6.
  9. 9.0 9.1 9.2 Cryptic Studios (June 2013). Neverwinter. Perfect World Entertainment.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 178. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
  11. 11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3 Steven F. Johnson (March/April 1998). “Witches' Brew”. In Christopher Perkins ed. Dungeon #67 (Wizards of the Coast) (67)., p. 9.
  12. 12.0 12.1 Black Isle Studios (August 2002). Designed by J.E. Sawyer. Icewind Dale II. Interplay.
  13. J. Allan Fawcett (July 1996). With Great Risks. Living City (RPGA), p. 15.
  14. Beamdog (March 2016). Designed by Philip Daigle, et al. Baldur's Gate: Siege of Dragonspear. Beamdog.
  15. Reynolds, Forbeck, Jacobs, Boyd (March 2003). Races of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 145. ISBN 0-7869-2875-1.
  16. Brian P. Hudson (December 1999). “The Dragon's Bestiary: Giant Lycanthropes”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon #266 (TSR, Inc.), pp. 76–80.
  17. Julia Martin, Eric L. Boyd (March 1996). Faiths & Avatars. (TSR, Inc.), p. 160. ISBN 978-0786903849.
  18. Anthony Pryor (June 1995). “Campaign Guide”. In Michele Carter, Doug Stewart eds. Spellbound (TSR, Inc.), p. 96. ISBN 978-0786901395.
  19. K. Steven Miller. The Search for the Circle of Vehlarr: Part Three. Wizards of the Coast. Archived from the original on 2008-05-19. Retrieved on 2018-12-18.
  20. Lisa Smedman (February 2005). Extinction. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 11. ISBN 0-7869-3596-0.
  21. Lisa Smedman (February 2005). Extinction. (Wizards of the Coast), chap. 16. ISBN 0-7869-3596-0.
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