Neither fire nor ferocity brought Beowulf to his knees. It was poison that sealed the king’s fate, presaging an era of warfare, darkness, and death for his kingdom, guaranteeing the dragon would have the last laugh even in death.
Many Beasts have venom in their arsenal, from the wyvern’s sting to the hydra’s poisonous breath, but none more so than the Gorgons. Plague and poison literally run through their veins, much like the dreaded basilisk, whose mere touch was deadly and whose seeping poison scorched the earth in its wake.
Applying the poison requires a touch attack (p. 165), but activating the Atavism itself is reflexive.
Dice Pool: None
Action: Reflexive
Normal Effect: The Beast’s touch applies either the Drugged Tilt or the grave version of the Poisoned Tilt to the victim. The player chooses which effect when this ability is used. Outside of combat, the poison lasts for a number of turns equal to the Beast’s Stamina and has a Toxicity rating equal to (10 – Satiety). The victim’s veins burn as the venom courses through his veins, eating away at him like acid, all while his vision swims and his head sickly throbs.
Low Satiety: The Beast’s venom is particularly insidious and long-lasting. In combat, increase the damage caused by the Poisoned Tilt or the Defense and Speed penalties from the Drugged Tilt by the Beast’s Lair rating, in addition to the normal effect. Out of combat, add the Beast’s Lair dots to the poison’s duration.
Satiety Expenditure: Venom drips from the Beast’s fingertips and greenish-black streaks course through the veins of his arm as he reaches out with a concentrated dose of poison. In addition to the other effects, the Beast’s touch applies the player’s choice of the Insensate or Stunned Tilts. Strength drains out of the victim, who struggles just to remain upright and functioning, leaving him vulnerable to whatever the Beast has in store for him. Vicious Gorgons prefer to render their victims helpless so they can watch and better appreciate their slow death from the normal poison.