Potion of Toughening
by Richard Lucas
Art by Roger Raupp



Quaffing this potion will immediately add 2-18 (d12 + d6) hit
points to the consumer's current total, even if the final total exceeds
the maximum number of hit points possible for the character. However,
these new hit points are held in reserve. Any damage taken by
the character will first be taken off the character's own hit points;
only after all of these hit points are gone will hit points be deducted
from those bestowed by this potion.

The duration of this potion (and the hit points granted by it) is
only 7-12 turns. Thus, if someone has received extra hit points from
this potion and has lost all of his normal hit points, he has a limited
time to find a way to heal himself of at least some of the damage he
has taken before the potion wears off and his extra hit points disappear.
If this happens, the character will collapse unconscious with 0
hit points and continue to lose 1 hit point per round thereafter (as
per the DMG, p. 82). Unless the stricken character receives aid,
death will occur at -10 hit points. Any normal method of healing
injuries (cure spells, potions of healing, etc.) will work on such a
character.

If the drinker loses all of his normal hit points and all the hit
points bestowed by the potion, he immediately falls unconscious (or
dies; see below) and is considered to have a negative total of hit
points equal to the number of points that were granted by the potion.
If this number is between -2 and -9, the character has a chance
of recovering if he receives aid before sinking to -10. If this number
is -10 or lower, the character dies instantly.

Potions of toughening should only be taken singly; if a second
dose is consumed before the first one has worn off, the second dose
has no effect, and the drinker must make a system shock roll or die.

Experience Point Value: 300
Gold Piece Sale Value: 600

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Magic Items - Dragon Dragon #91
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