Black Lace
Black Lace speeds up metabolic and neural function, giving the user exceptional advantages in combat, and to a lesser degree in other areas. It was originally developed by the United States military and used extensively during the Quebec Crisis and the Second Civil War. In the 2010's, it leaked into the black market, and was even relatively cheap by the 2020's, becoming popular with street gangs. Use almost entirely dries up by the 2030's, with more widespread understanding of its drawbacks, and wider availability of better steroids and combat drugs.
Lace has drawbacks that make it even more dangerous: The residue builds up remains in the user's neural gaps for years, causing sluggishness and pain that can only be overcome through further use of larger doses of the drug.
Primary Effects:
- "High" lasts for 6 - (natural) stamina hours.
- High can be extended with a larger dose, which counts as two extra doses to determine addiction.
- -1 die penalty to all split actions (Thus, a two-way split would be performed at -1/-2, rather than -2/-3).
- +1 die to Strength and Stamina pools.
- -1 die penalty due to damage.
- -2 difficulty to courage
Primary Drawbacks:
- Over-use of enhanced strength can cause damage to muscles as the body pushes past its limits.
- Crash: User is fatigued physically and mentally, for 12 - stamina hours. -3 to all pools.
- Rage: Self Control or Rage rolls are made at +2 difficulty (including self-control to resist hunger). Even minor provocations can send the user into a berserker rage. Humans roll willpower at difficulty 7, or enter a state almost exactly like a vampire's frenzy.
Extended Use:
- Mental Dependence: Roll current willpower after every use (difficulty 7 or 8 depending on nature). Failure indicates that the user is unwilling to undertake anything at all challenging (even social situations) without the crutch of being high. (Treat as a derangement).
- Reduced Lifespan: Lace burns hot, and effectively ages its user by three months for each dose taken. Yes, these are the good, middle years it is taking (physical ageing penalties occur that much sooner).
- After every use, roll Stamina at a difficulty of (1 + the number of doses taken in the last three months). Failure indicates chemical dependence.
- Crash penalty increases to -4, and is permanent. A single dose of Lace eliminates the penalty for an hour. Two more doses give normal effects.
- Courage and Willpower effectively drops to 1 while not "high." Willpower is normal in regards to obtaining more Black Lace.
Detox:
- With time (years or more), the penalty will decrease to -2.
- Willpower and Courage return at a rate of 1 per year of deprivation.
- Experimental 2030's nanosurgery can remove the residue from the neural gaps, at the cost of decreased sensitivity of the neurons. The penalty is eliminated, but the user's wits and intelligence are permanently reduced by 1. (DON'T botch the medicine roll!)
