Boric Serum

An apothecaries' preparation from boric acid that will have some effectiveness against character wounds, infections caused by fungus based monsters and when employed against giant insects. Boric serum is typically contained in a glass phial, in units of 1 fl. oz. All effects described below describe applications of 1 fl. oz. Note that applying a greater volume of boric serum to wounds or infections will be detrimental to the patient.

Treating wounds: boric serum will close a bleeding wound, while simultaneously restoring one hit point to the wounded character. Note, however, that for each additional application of boric serum to a patient that has been treated within the last 24 hours, there is a 10% cumulative chance that an overdose will cause 1-4 damage to the character being treated. Boric serum will not heal hit points except when directly applied to a wound.

Treating fungal infections: boric serum will combat the effects of various fungal creatures, depending on the attack form. While boric serum will not heal either damage caused by fungal creatures, it will transform necrotic damage into 'ordinary damage' - meaning that damage so transformed will not further continue the loss of hit points by the sufferer. Each application of boric serum will transform 1-4 hit points of necrotic damage - but note, as with treating wounds above, each additional application of boric serum within a one-day period may cause additional damage to the sufferer (it would both transform the necrotic damage AND add additional damage with each application). Violet fungi, green slime, yellow mold and numerous other creatures cause necrotic damage.

Insecticide: boric serum is too weak to cause damage to insects; however, if an ounce of boric serum can be effectively splashed upon a giant insect, it will become obsessed with cleaning itself for 2-8 rounds before it can attack. This cleaning will be frenetic and will cause the insect to retain its armor class; very large insects will still cause incidental damage. However, insects so affected by boric serum can still be attacked; as well, the use of boric serum will ground flying insects as they attempt to clean themselves. Once clean, the insect can attack normally.

To hit with a phial of boric serum (a greater volume will add +1 to hit per additional ounce but will not increase the time the insect needs to clean itself), it requires an attack of 2 action points (AP) and the character to successfully hit against AC 10. Hitting a flying creature with boric serum requires a successful hit against AC 3.

See Equipment Notes