From the translated documents of the
late Morito Hashimoto:

The enlightened sages and alchemists of
today know only a fraction of the lore that
was known in ancient times across Kara-
Tur. One such field of lore involves the
study of the lotus plant. In this time, when
many seek to rediscover those forgotten
lores, knowledge of the lotus is most eagerly
sought after. In my position as a
courtly scribe, I have recovered much of
this lost knowledge. Due to my advanced
years and the imminence of my death, I
feel obliged to make this knowledge available
to all who may find it of interest. Of
this knowledge I now write.

Through extensive experiments and
research, I have recovered much knowledge
regarding the 6 major lotus flowers.
Of the legendary blue lotus and the mysterious
gray lotus, I have discovered nothing
but vague rumors; this information makes
up the appendix of this paper. The paper
has been divided into two sections: the
first deals with the proper method of
obtaining the flower and preparing the
dust, and the second deals with the properties
of the various lotus dusts.

Much of the information in the following
sections have been collected from various
tomes. Although these sources have been
generally reliable, there has been no opportunity
to fully test the methods described.
It is unknown whether any of the
six major forms of the lotus still exist in
the lands of Kara-Tur. If they do, they will
most likely be found in a hot, swampy
place, such as tropical swamps, marshes,
and coastal jungles.

The flower and its fragrance
The lotus grow in thick, leafy bushes
which carry anywhere from a single blossom
(the black lotus) to a dozen flowers
(the green lotus). Each flower is borne on
a single stalk which grows up to 3? in <>
length. It should be noted that, even as a
flower, the lotus can be most dangerous.
The blossoms generate a fragrance which
acts either as an aphrodisiac (the brown,
red, and yellow lotus) or as a powerful
sedative (the black, green, and purple
lotus).1 The fragrance of the gray lotus is
rumored to cause a state of catalepsy,
whereas the fragrance of the blue lotus is
believed to cause pleasant hallucinations.

The effects of the lotus's fragrance last
as long as the victim remains within 10? of
the plant. These effects wear off after the
victim has left the area, dissipating within
an hour?s time.2 A damp cloth held over
the nose and mouth can provide sufficient
protection against the flower?s alluring
fragrance.

As an aphrodisiac, the lotus affects any
person inhaling its sweet aroma. Failure to
cover one?s nose or escape from the aroma
causes the victim to become enamored
with the first person of the opposite sex
he or she sees. As a result, the target of
this contrived affection becomes irresistible
to the victim. This effect lasts as long
as the victim is within olfactory range of
the lotus.

In rare instances, the aphrodisiac effects
of the lotus may continue for an exceptionally
long period of time, giving the
unfortunate victim an unwanted form of
everlasting love. It is a small mercy of the
Celestial Bureaucracy that this instance is
quite rare.3 In either event, as a result of
this continued affection, the victim will
often perform any request the loved one
makes -- perhaps leading even to loss of
honor.4

As a sedative, the lotus affects any creature
inhaling its heavy fragrance. This
aroma slows a victim?s actions and causes
a noticeable loss of motivation.5

Harvesting and preparation
Two days after being harvested, the
lotus flower begins its inevitable degenerative
process. Any attempt to prepare dust
from a flower after this point is destined
to fail. The lotus flower must be prepared
within this two-day period. To prepare the
dust to its full potency, one must adhere to
the following procedure.

First, wash the flower in water from a
hot spring; this starts a unique chemical
reaction within the flower's substance.
Place the washed flower in a bowl of pure
silver (any other metal causes an adverse
chemical reaction which destroys the
potency of the dust, making it useless);
store it uncovered in an area of total darkness.
After one day has elapsed, the flower
will have degenerated into an unwholesome
pastelike matter.

At this point, one must spread the lotus
paste around the inside of the bowl and
place it in an oven of moderate heat (approximately
100^o F) for two days. This <format>
produces a dust with a color similar to
that of the petals of the original flower.
The dust should be stored in an airtight
glass vial until used. One flower produces
one dose of dust.

The most common method of using the
dust is to hurl it at an opponent. In some
cases, a blowgun is used to provide the
impetus for the vial. When the vial breaks,
it produces a cloud of hemispherical
shape, 10? in diameter. Because of its fine
consistency, the dispersed dust remains
suspended in the air for one to four minutes.
Of course, this period of suspension
is dependent upon prevailing wind conditions
and upon spells which affect the
flow of air. Note that this method of dispersion
does not work with purple lotus
dust, which must be administered in food
or drink to be effective (see the notes
below). In all cases, one full dose of dust
must be used to produce the effects listed
in this paper.

In all cases, lotus flowers are difficult to
locate and harvest, as their fragrances are
enjoyed by a variety of beasts which feed
upon humankind in preference to all other
creatures. Reptiles seem to be unaffected
by the fragrances of these plants, though
they are said to enjoy the odors; thus,
snakes and biting lizards are a special
hazard, and dragons are said to be equally
immune to the effects of the lotus.

Properties of lotus dust
Black lotus. This is the most dangerous
of the lotus types. Its orchidlike flower is
dull black, while the center and pistils are
of a similar, shinier color. Anyone who
inhales black lotus dust falls unconscious
at once and is at grave risk of dying within
one to four minutes. Even if Heaven smiles
upon the victim, he is unconscious for one
to six hours. No known antidote, not even
sorcerous and holy means, can help a
doomed victim.? The wisdom of Heaven
has seen that the black lotus is of the
rarest sort, seldom seen even by the beasts
of the wilderness.

Brown lotus. This lotus is nearly as
dangerous as the black lotus. The flower
of the brown lotus has light brown petals,
a dark brown center, and gray pistils.
When its dust is inhaled, the victim is
afflicted with a long-lasting mental lethargy
unless fortune and swift action save
him. If the Lords of Heaven are indifferent,
the dust reduces the victim?s mental
capacity and judgment to childlike levels.
Even if the victim's reason survives, mental
capacity is affected for a short period
afterward. This loss is recoverable over a
period of a few weeks, and the shukenja?s
power to neutralize poisons and venoms
will speed the process. Normal healing is
only possible if the victim rests in quiet
and peace during this time. Failure to do
so delays the healing process by one week
per day of strenuous mental activity.7 This
lotus is quite rare, too.

Green lotus. This is the most common of
the lotus types. The flower has deep green
petals, a light green center, and bright
yellow pistils. The dust of the green lotus
affects its victim through inhalation. It
produces a temporary paralysis which
usually lasts for seven to twelve hours. If
fortune smiles upon the victim, the paralysis
lasts four hours or less 8.

Purple lotus. Unlike other lotus dusts,
the purple lotus dust must be ingested in
order for it to be effective. Within one to
twelve hours of ingestion, the victim becomes
afflicted with a debilitating sickness
which lasts for one to four days. If the
victim?s fate is unfortunate, the recipient
will die from the toxins built up in the
system. The flower of the purple lotus has
red-violet petals, a deep purple-black center,
and bright yellow pistils .9

Red lotus. This flower closely resembles
the purple lotus, save that its fragrant
petals have a reddish-orange hue. When
the dust from this lotus is inhaled, it
causes the victim to experience intense
hallucinations for five to eight hours.
These hallucinations overpower the victim
and may cause permanent insanity if the
victim has been incautious or is unlucky .10

Yellow lotus. This flower has wide, yellow
petals, yellow pistils, and a glossy
brown center. If its dust is inhaled, the
victim usually suffers a lethargy similar to
that caused by the brown lotus. The difference
is that the victim is afflicted with a
physical lethargy which weakens the
character and impairs his motor coordination.
Even if the victim is fortunate, he will
lost a degree of strength and coordination
for an hour?s time. Seriously affected
persons return to normality in a period of
several weeks if they are given rest and
freedom from the need for movement.
Failure to do so delays the healing process
by one week per day of strenuous
activity.?

The effects of the fragrances of the lotus
blossoms and potent dusts may be removed
in a number of ways. Any curative
potions, spells, or magic items that restore
health from poisoning will negate all effects,
save for those of the black lotus.
Spells such as neutralize poison protect a
character from the effects of both the
fragrance and dust of the lotus, as will a
scroll of protection from poison and similar
magic items, potions, and spells. Characters
heal at a normal rate and recover
from the effects of these toxins as normal
unless stated otherwise.

Appendix
Gray lotus. It is doubtful that this type of
lotus ever truly existed (very likely, it is
merely the result of overworked
imaginations). In any event, all references
to the gray lotus are affiliated with the
necromantic arts and, more specifically,
the plane of negative matter. The fragrance
of the gray lotus is believed to
cause a state of catalepsy. This state lasts
for as long as the victim is near enough to
the blossom to sense its odor. Once the
victim is removed from the area, the effects
wear off within one to four hours.
Permanent effects from this lotus are
undocumented, although prolonged effects
lasting for up to four weeks have
been mentioned in various tomes. 12

According to various sources, gray lotus
dust is used by honorless necromancers to
create mindless servants. When the dust is
inhaled, the victim becomes as a zombie,
acting upon the commands of the first
person who gives them and no one thereafter.
References state that these effects
last for up to nine days. It is assumed that
the dust is made in the same manner as
prescribed for the other types of lotus
flowers, though some unknown substance
is added to the flower as a reactant.

Blue lotus. This is undoubtedly the most
powerful of the lotus types. It is an
orchidlike flower with sky-blue petals, a
dark purple center, and deep blue-black
pistils. As a flower, the blue lotus produces
an odor which causes mildly pleasant
hallucinations. According to legends, inhalation
of the dust increases one?s sensory
perceptions (producing abilities similar to
the magical properties of clairvoyance and
clairaudience, it is said). It is further believed
that blue lotus dust has the ability
to double the range or duration of a spell
(these effects last for no longer than one
day). There are, however, unfortunate side
effects to the prolonged use of this dust. If
a person uses blue lotus dust more than
once in the same week, a chance exists
that the victim will perish with each subsequent
use, as if he had inhaled the dust of
the black lotus. 13

Gaming footnotes
The DM should place these plants wherever
desired within the Oriental campaign
world, keeping in mind that their profound
effects should make them extremely
rare. Clans of ninjas, sages, and the like
may have knowledge of where the lotus
may be found ? but the knowledge itself
is of great price and may not even be for
sale (much less meant for anyone else to
know).

1. These effects occur unless a saving
throw vs. poison is made at + 1.

2. The effects last 10-60 turns.

3. These effects are identical to those of
a philter of love if a saving throw vs. poison
( + 1) is made, save that neutralize
poison, rather than dispel magic, cures the
affliction. There is a 10% chance that the
effects last 2-5 weeks.

4. Any reasonable request, that is. The
victim is allowed a 1d20 saving throw
against the beloveds charisma to see if the
action is performed. An enamored victim
will never perform an action which endangers
himself. If the loved one?s life is endangered,
though, the enamored
character may attempt to render all possible
aid. Note that it is possible for two
characters of the opposite sex to be affected
simultaneously; this does not mean,
however, that their affections will be
toward each other (although the chance
does exist). Actions which cause a loss of
honor immediately produce a second
saving throw vs. poison at +4 on the roll.

5. To avoid this sedative effect, a character
must roll a saving throw vs. poison
at + 1. Failure results in the temporary
reduction of both a victim?s speed and
dexterity by half. This reduction remains
in effect as long as the victim is within
smelling range of the lotus. Once away
from the area, the effects fade as described
earlier. In some instances, however,
the sedative effects of the lotus may
continue long after initial exposure (occurring
5% of the time, as rolled on 1d10).
These effects are not permanent (as the
effects listed above may be), but can last
for a prolonged period of anywhere from
1-4 weeks.

6. A saving throw vs. poison at -2 on
the die roll is required to survive. Even if
one survives, a trancelike lethargy affects
the victim upon awakening from the
drugged sleep, giving the victim a - 2 to
all attack and saving-throw rolls for 2-12
hours more. A neutralize poison spell has
a 5% chance per level of the caster of
being successful in aiding any character.

7. A saving throw vs. poison must be
made, or the victim receives the equivalent
of a feeblemind spell for 2-5 weeks. A
successful save reduces the victim?s intelligence
score by 1-4 points, each point being
recovered after one hour?s rest. A neutralize
poison spell removes the effects at
once.

8. If a saving throw vs. poison at - 1 is
failed, the former effects occur. The latter
effects result from a successful save.

9. A saving throw vs. poison at -2 is
required at the end of the 1-4 day period.
Failure indicates death. During the time of
the illness, the victim?s hit points are reduced
by 90% (round fractions up) and
cannot be recovered save by magical cures
such a neutralize poison spell.

10. A saving throw vs. poison is required
to escape these effects. The hallucinations
are invariably bizarre, are accompanied
by auditory and other sensory input, and
are extremely unpleasant and frightening;
the DM must administrate the effects of
this flower as desired. Permanent insanity
can be acquired if a second saving throw
vs. poison at +2 (made only if the first
saving throw fails) is failed; this save is
made at the end of the 5-8 hour period of
hallucinations. The nature of the insanity
inflicted is randomly determined.

11. The victim?s strength and dexterity
are reduced by half (round fractions up)
for 3-6 weeks by this lotus, if a save vs.
poison is failed. If the save is made, the
loss lasts for only 2-8 turns, and only one
point from each score is lost.

12. A save vs. poison at -2 is required
to escape the gray lotus?s effects. The
trancelike state that results from a failed
saving throw has a 5% chance of lasting
5-30 days instead of merely 1-4 hours, and
(as usual) results in the victim being paralyzed
and mentally fogged (as if stunned).
The unusual use of the gray lotus as a
means for producing ?zombie? servants
(noted in the following paragraph) has a
more profound effect, resembling a charm
person in nature but being more profound
and deep-seated. The DM should
arbitrate the details on the creation and
effects of this drug, supposing that such is
allowed within the campaign being run. It
is suggested that the bones of undead
beings be used in the preparation of this
substance, and that it have a duration of
2-9 days (if a save vs. poison is failed by
the victim). Self-destructive actions, if
commanded, are not obeyed (as per a
charm person spell).

13. A save vs. poison is made upon
breathing the fumes of this lotus (if such is
allowed within the campaign). If the save
is made, nothing happens. If failed (and
failure can be automatically allowed if a
person is actually trying to breathe the
aroma), the victim feels as if his spirit is
leaving his body, and he may travel about
for a short time and peer into nearby
areas as a spirit-being. This has all the
effects of a combination of the psionic
disciplines clairaudience and clairvoyance,
lasting for 2-20 rounds. The victim?s body
remains motionless and limp during this
time. Afterward, the user?s ?spirit? returns
to his body, and he may act normally,
though he will feel sleepy and tired for a
short time. However, if used more often
than once every five days, the user must
make a system-shock saving roll based on
his constitution, or else he will die 1-4
rounds after inhaling the dust.

If mixed with at least 5,000 gp worth of
diamond dust, the blue lotus can extend
the range and duration of any divinationtype
spell by twice the listed amounts. No
other spells are so altered.