Serpent's Tears

Summary

Serpent's Tears is a poison possessed by Sucks as part of his Poisoner class move in Dungeon World. The poison takes its name from a Kate Bush song, as Abdul notes during Session 3. Sucks carries three uses of this poison and employs one during the campaign's encounter with the Sniff Lord, coating an arrow with the substance before firing it at the creature.

Properties

Serpent's Tears functions as a combat enhancement poison with a specific mechanical effect: anyone dealing damage to a target affected by it rolls twice and takes the better result. This advantage applies to all subsequent attacks against the poisoned target, making it a tactical asset when facing formidable opponents.

The poison is applied by coating weapons—in the observed instance, an arrow fired at the Sniff Lord. Once the poison enters the target's system, it produces visible physical effects: convulsions and violent head-shaking, confirming that the substance has taken hold even when the delivery mechanism itself deals minimal damage.

History

Session 3

During the confrontation with the Sniff Lord, Sucks decides to use one of his three applications of Serpent's Tears. Abdul remarks on the poison's name, observing its connection to Kate Bush's song. Sucks coats an arrow with the poison before shooting it at the Sniff Lord.

Though the arrow itself deals minimal damage, the poison takes effect immediately: the Sniff Lord convulses several times and shakes its massive head from side to side. This reaction confirms that the Serpent's Tears has successfully entered the creature's system, creating a mechanical advantage for subsequent attacks against it.