A large, ruby-red pepper, found in dry regions; much prized by alchemists and gourmands alike.
Full Description
Dead peppers are huge compared to most peppers, with an average one weighing in at a hefty ten pounds. Well over two feet long, they also have a deep red hue that makes them easy to see from leagues away - the better to avoid the patches where they grow. Dead Peppers are rarely cultivated, and many people consider them a weed; they're too hot for human consumption, and most animals who eat them will become ill for weeks afterwards. However, when handled properly, or fed to the right beasts, the results can be spectacular.
Magical Properties:
When properly prepared by an alchemist, a Dead Pepper can be eaten with little more side effect than a case of severe heartburn, often lasting a full day. Those who enjoy the benefits of the prepared pepper's power are willing to suffer this, however, often claiming it is a small price to pay for the benefits.
When prepared and eaten by a humanoid, Dead Peppers bestow a celerity upon the eater, increasing their speed and granting greatly enhanced reaction times. In addition, the salivia of the consumer thickens with the byproducts of the pepper, bursting into flame when exposed to the air long enough to dry; in effect, this gives the eater the ability to spit small fireballs for a short time. This tends to put species which perspire by breathing off the pepper, as having one's tongue burst into flame is a highly unpleasant experience.
For species capable of fire breath already, the pepper's effects are somewhat more spectacular; the pepper actually enhances the natural fires of the creature, turning the flame breath into a blindingly hot napalm-like blast, clinging to surfaces for a few seconds with a far greater heat than normal. Many myths speak of these creatures having ancestors who could not breathe flame, but ate such a regular diet of the peppers that their bodies changed.
Additional Information
There are a few rare species who can eat Dead Peppers unprepared; these races gain all of the benefits of the prepared pepper, but rather than suffering heartburn, they instead develop a short-term case of manic hyperactivity.
Some few particularly deranged alchemists have attempted to concoct a fermented brew from the peppers; the resulting liquid, while alcoholic, is also highly toxic and prone to combustion on contact with the air, releasing poisonous fumes in the process. It has some small demand in the trapmakers' market as a result, and among poison-resistant creatures as a particularly impressive liquor.
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Wow, nice :D Just make sure your character doesnt find these in the middle of a forest and try to cook and eat one.
' granting greatly reduced reaction times'
Is this supposed to be increased reaction times?
Otherwise, an interesting item.
4/5
I like this. It is a nice piece of ecologic color.
It would be fun if the Dragons were one of the species that could eat them. It could be used as the folk explanation for why Dragons breath fire.
It could also be a component for a firebreathing potion used by performers and Dragon Monks. :)
*Makes a marinade of Dead peppers for some Pheonix feed chicken quedsadillas*
Whoooo dats some good cookin' I gauron-Tee!
Of course if the hasted individual can be caught and forced to drink buttermilk, the effects end.
I like it. :) A PC could take a bite of one by mistake if he/she was not careful.
I like it. It is different and somewhat refreshing.
But why is it called Dead Peppers? Does it grow where there is an abundance of the dead? Only grows on the soil of a battlefield soaked in blood perhaps, hence its coloration?
I like Moons idea on the dragon folklore. Gives a perfect tie in with the natural world, or unnatural in a fantasy setting that is.
Very nice plant post.
I'm on to you, now!
Dead peppers, the thing from Final Fantasy that make chocobos fly! HA!
...Yeah, I think I was watching the Final Fantasy Unlimited anime at the time I wrote this up. It has a very similar effect on Chobi....
On the other hand, I think I can probably give it a better fleshing-out now.
I think that I see a camp of fire-breathing Gypsies in the adventurers' future...
The Folk (Fae,etc) would have fun with these as well.
Hmmm. What if you were to ferment these babies?
Updated: Updated, fleshed-out, and otherwise adjusted.
An unique ingredient,, sure to "spice up" an otherwise dull chili cook off.
Like Mourngrymn asked, what is the reason behind it's odd name? Does it perhaps partially fungal based, only growing in the chests of moldy cadavers, eventually replacing the heart?
A refined thick oil from this pepper could also be used by creative adventurers as a coating to make temporary flaming weapons or blanket a floor in fire.
A very interesting sub. I suppose that fermenting them would make some *real* firewater, Valadaar!