Even at the best of times, goblins and alchemy don't mix well...
Full Item Description
This elixir is usually encountered on the body of a goblin, sealed in whatever happened to be handy when the maker of it distilled the foul substance. The color is invariably a filthy-looking mix of putrid green and rotting brown, and exposing it to air produces a horrific stench that leaves most unable to do anything but hold their last meal down. Many have decided that the foul elixir is a stink bomb of epic levels that the goblins were killed too swiftly to use, when in truth the potion is much, much deadlier, although only goblins and their close cousins can stomach the revolting flavor to drink it.
The Potion of Explosive Entrails is created by a mixture of secretions of any spiders, poisonous amphibians, toxic molds, and other deadly poisons the alchemist can lay their hands on, all brewed in a kettle with a thick base of goblinoid blood. Left to sit over a low flame for two weeks, and then stained through sacks of molding grain, the resulting elixir has the power to turn the drinker into a powerful explosive, although the cost is such that few but the stupidest or most suicidal of goblins ever dare to use it.
History
The origins of the Potion are lost to the crude nature of goblin history, but most of them generally agree that it was first used in the old wars when the dwarves and their allies forced the goblins from their ancestral homes. Rather than surrender the caverns, brave goblin heroes, who would be honored if anyone could remember who they were, stood near weak structural points in the caverns and quaffed the foul potion, leading to tremendous explosions that brought the caverns crashing down when their foes struck them down.
In the present age, the foul potion occasionally sees use among the most fanatic goblins, who drink it before charging into battle so that when their foes strike them they can take their enemies with them.
Magic/Cursed Properties
The Potion of Explosive Entrails requires a short while to work, but when quaffed it has the following effects:
Immeadiately, it begins to react with the gastric acids of the drinker, combining to form a thick liquid that explosively ignites on contact with air.
After fifteen minutes, the body begins to absorb the foul liquid into the blood, effectively making the blood of the drinker highly flammable, and explosive enough that in most cases any scratch will cause the liquid still in the digestive tract to explode as well.
After half an hour, any scratch will make the drinker explode, as the liquid begins to permeate the flesh as well as the blood, effectively turning the unfortunate soul into a walking bottle of nitroglycerin.
The only way to avoid this explosion is to subdue the drinker and keep them in complete safety for a minimum of 24 hours, by which time the substance begins to break down as the body processes it. Some creatures with exceptionally slow metabolisms may remain volatile for much longer, however.
Scrolls
Twists, chapters, and details meant to stream with the submission — not general discussion.
No scrolls yet — leave one if you have a twist worth keeping.
Sign in to plant an idea scroll.
Award XP
Enjoyed this? Sign in to thank Kassil with blade clashes — 5 XP each, up to 25.
5 10 15 20 25Sign in to award XP.
Discussion
Reader talk, questions, and feedback — not scrolls.
No comments yet — be the first voice in the hall.
Sign in to join the discussion.
Other takes
No other takes yet — the best compliment on the Citadel is a Retelling.
Bonds
Curated bonds across the Citadel. Kindred Favors are another thread in the same weave.
What an explosive idea! :)
Goes well with the image of critters and cannon fodder - they need ways to survive the harsh persecution by other races... and sometimes it means to sacrifice a few of them.
What a fiendishly nasty surprise for any band of adventurers, the goblin bomb-man
Goblin suicide bombers.
Goblin Bombs. Woohoo! I like the stink factor. It is a good self deception for the humans and other races.
Goblin suicide bombers, indeed. And more, if a tribe was known for explosive tendencies (and, no doubt, breeding like rabbits) when cut, the sightof one holding a dagger to his own throat would likely be enough to set off panic attacks in any locals.
It's a very unique and origonal idea for a roleplaying setting, and I give you tons of props for that. However, the ending explanation felt a little rushed. Isn't it a little unrealistic that spider venom and goblin blood would make someone explosively sensitive to impact? I can imagine the formation of flammable gases, but for an explosion, you need not only that, but fire. Where does the fire come from?
I think this would work better if the explosion was less 'James Bond Shoots a Tanker'-like, and more of a 'hard' explosion. Hmmm...ok, I'm being really specific here...but if you could just hear me out - Instead of a huge fireball, think more of a huge bang and a shockwave of air. Nothing fantastic to look at from across a field, but still deadly as heck for anyone nearby.
That, or you could just use magic to explain the fireball. Anyway, despite my nitpicking, I thought it was overall good work!
There's no need to use magic; there are a fair number of substances that can combust on contact with others - in this case, it combusts on contact with something in the air.
Quite an interesting idea. I liked it, overall. Be nice to know more specificly how it was made, or what happens if something goes wrong in the creation process. (I would think that it would have to be a very specific recepie to get the exactly correct chemical reaction each time.)
As far as how they explode without fire...Well, in battle blades, armor and shields often clash, causing sparks. And, there are explosives that will ignite without fire. Some react to air that way. Anyway, the way I picture it is more of a napalm type substance.
Nice work. :)
Honestly, long after making this, my guess would be that the key component is the mixture of oxidized goblin blood and stomach acid; the other stuff is merely superstition on the part of the goblin witch doctor and alchemists. Mind you, this stuff can /only/ exist like this in a high fantasy world with a fair tolerance of absurdity.
Fireblood Elixir would likely be a less absurd way consideration of the Potion.
Goblin Bombs :) of explosive entrails, no less! I am mildly amused.
Goblin bombs, yes. I am less pleased by this entry these days. The explanation behind it is lacking.
Um.
Er.
I simply can't imagine the first one to try this.
"What did you make Urk."
"I dunno."
"I bet you your toenails that Mikey would eat it."
"You are on."
BOOM
If they're Kuramen goblins, the first one to try it was either the inventor, who was convinced that THIS batch would do what he wanted, or else it was someone or something chained to a table in a medical lab as a 'test subject'.
I think I have to use this one in my next game. I like it.
I see the Fireblood Elixir as a somewhat more logical and less inexplicable version of this potion.
This is perfectly gobliniod in its nature - using one of the few advantages that race has.
I see no need to into its details or how it works - its a potion in a fantasy realm. Where you trying to shoehorn it into modern or sci-fie, then you need to start wiggling.
Good job!