So simple question. How does argyria affect certain diseases/affliction in the world of D&D
Long and Short, Argyria occurs due to the build-up of silver in the organs, skin, hair, and eyes of a person. Obvious signs of the disease are the afflicted persons skin turning blue or blue-grey. In most cases Argyria is not harmful in the long term, but isn't really something that can be cured either (as the body does not break down or use silver in any natural process).
If someone suffers chronic argyria (or a race is naturally prone to argyria) what would that condition do in response to say Lycanthropy (or therianthropy) and Vampirism?
Well, there's also the strong indications that Argyria that leads to kidney problems and deficits in night vision. You're talking about a disorder that's fairly exotic by contemporary and historic occurrence. That said silver sulfides prescribed to me to reduce the possibility of scarring from second degree powder burns over an area about the size of two half dollar coins worked in that a dermatologist has to do a double take to even be sure there's any scarring over where the wound area was. I guess part of the question would be outside of silver mining or some game world industrial process where people are exposed to massive amounts of silver, how common would this trait be and how would one go about acquiring it. As for game effects, unless a lycanthrope is trying to eat the character, I doubt it should have any effect. If a lycanthrope eats Argyria presenting flesh or a vampire drinks blood from an Argyria presenting body, you could have some sort of negative effect, like poisoned or sickened, or something similar to whatever effect garlic has in your game world (if garlic works). Other DMs may say null effect. I mean does drinking a quart of holy water effect a vampire if you're bitten? I think we're in that realm.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
You make a valid point, but let's say for the sake of argument that we aren't inherently talking about average humans, there are, and have been, races in D&D with extraordinary traits and biologies, and on the off chance a race is prone to argyria or tends to have blue coloration (which would indicate either a high amount of silver in their body, or they produce cyanin as a pigment which is equally rare).
Depending on source material, consumption of garlic in the presence of vampire can result in vampire simply not biting you (due to the smell alone), and vampires tricked into consuming blood from those who have consumed garlic are negatively affected (to varying degree by source material). Silver on the other hand (which is a necessary ingredient in holy water anyway) seems to inhibit the regenerative properties of both Vampires and Werewolves. I question perhaps if one bitten by either foe would contract the illness when presenting a body clearly infused with a counteragent.
I mean, it's your game so ultimately it's up to you. Or if it's your DM's game then it's ultimately up to them.
I'm sure you could do a variant human say a whole society that revolves around silver mining, or maybe some sort of Eberron like industrial process where silver byproducts are in the air so much the whole community has the trait. So home brew Argyria as a feat these people could take a variant human. Someone can also take the feat as part of level progression (I'm thinking how Batman spent years breaking his back so he'd be immune to Bane's signature move in Batman v Bane round two, or how Wesley developed a tolerance for iocaine powder in The Princess Bridge).
As for the game effects of the condition, maybe it's the garlic effect and the vamp or werewolf would find someone with the condition unappetizing (doesn't mean they can't kill the character with the condition, just won't feed). Or it afflicts the werewolf of vamp with the "sickened", or rather than condition in spells tends to behave mechanically like "poisoned". Would either monster contract Argyria by feeding on an individual with the condition, I doubt it. Rather, I'd imagine the sickened effect would run its course through werewolf metabolism or vampire indomitable-ness rather quickly, allowing the monsters something like a CON save each turn to save it. That's how I'd do it, and this sort of thing is more likely to be a judgment call than something that will ever be argued for against through any RAW.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I feel you are taking the question in reverse. I am wondering if one with argyria would contract lycantopy (theriantrhopy) or vampirism if bitten.
Silver doesn’t appear to cure the curse, it overcomes the regenerative properties of the werewolf/vampire. As such I wouldn’t say it prevents being infected if bitten. It would probably feel very uncomfortable for someone who is infected, however. Just my interpretation though, do what’s most interesting for your game regardless.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
I feel you are taking the question in reverse. I am wondering if one with argyria would contract lycantopy (theriantrhopy) or vampirism if bitten.
Aha, you are right, I did have your query backwards. I could follow Pangurjan's logic, and maybe push it, a vampire created from someone with Argyria may have a bad skin condition, and a werewolf with mange.
If a human with argyria was immune to vampirism, they'd just die then. Immunity from a werewolf could be possible, but that would definitely have to be a human variant feat consumer. Not sure I'd allow it or not. Even though negatives ability score mods are not supposed to be a thing in 5e, I think I'd insist on a -2 con if a character elected a condition that offered blanket immunity from werewolf curses. Then again, elves have that charm immunity, so my conclusion is it's an interesting question.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
In the 5th Edition of Dungeons and Dragons, and in every previous edition of which I am aware, Silver has had nothing at all to do with Vampires. Nor does Garlic, for that matter. Nor does a Holy Symbol unless the Cleric is using their ability to Turn The Undead.
Silver does not help you against the Curse Of Lycanthropy. You need Silvered Weapons to bypass their immunity to normal weapons. That's it for Silver. Lycanthropes of all sorts are not burned by silver, nor does it harm them if they eat it. (And yes, I know perfectly well that the word "lycanthrope" applies specifically to Werewolves, and that the correct general term is "Therianthrope". Tell that to the people who wrote the Monster Manual. You will find all the different kinds of were-creatures under the entry for Lycanthrope.)
So according to the D&D rules as they stand, Argyria provides you with no benefits what-so-ever against Vampires or Lycanthropes.
Geann, is correct, I thought Vampires had the same resistance to non magical weapons except silver, but it is not in the rules. OP did mention how powdered silver was integral in the making of holy water and given that and the infenrals and were-creatures non-resistance to silver, I just presumed that it applied to vampires too for some reason.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
So simple question. How does argyria affect certain diseases/affliction in the world of D&D
Long and Short, Argyria occurs due to the build-up of silver in the organs, skin, hair, and eyes of a person. Obvious signs of the disease are the afflicted persons skin turning blue or blue-grey. In most cases Argyria is not harmful in the long term, but isn't really something that can be cured either (as the body does not break down or use silver in any natural process).
If someone suffers chronic argyria (or a race is naturally prone to argyria) what would that condition do in response to say Lycanthropy (or therianthropy) and Vampirism?
Well, there's also the strong indications that Argyria that leads to kidney problems and deficits in night vision. You're talking about a disorder that's fairly exotic by contemporary and historic occurrence. That said silver sulfides prescribed to me to reduce the possibility of scarring from second degree powder burns over an area about the size of two half dollar coins worked in that a dermatologist has to do a double take to even be sure there's any scarring over where the wound area was. I guess part of the question would be outside of silver mining or some game world industrial process where people are exposed to massive amounts of silver, how common would this trait be and how would one go about acquiring it. As for game effects, unless a lycanthrope is trying to eat the character, I doubt it should have any effect. If a lycanthrope eats Argyria presenting flesh or a vampire drinks blood from an Argyria presenting body, you could have some sort of negative effect, like poisoned or sickened, or something similar to whatever effect garlic has in your game world (if garlic works). Other DMs may say null effect. I mean does drinking a quart of holy water effect a vampire if you're bitten? I think we're in that realm.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
You make a valid point, but let's say for the sake of argument that we aren't inherently talking about average humans, there are, and have been, races in D&D with extraordinary traits and biologies, and on the off chance a race is prone to argyria or tends to have blue coloration (which would indicate either a high amount of silver in their body, or they produce cyanin as a pigment which is equally rare).
Depending on source material, consumption of garlic in the presence of vampire can result in vampire simply not biting you (due to the smell alone), and vampires tricked into consuming blood from those who have consumed garlic are negatively affected (to varying degree by source material). Silver on the other hand (which is a necessary ingredient in holy water anyway) seems to inhibit the regenerative properties of both Vampires and Werewolves. I question perhaps if one bitten by either foe would contract the illness when presenting a body clearly infused with a counteragent.
I mean, it's your game so ultimately it's up to you. Or if it's your DM's game then it's ultimately up to them.
I'm sure you could do a variant human say a whole society that revolves around silver mining, or maybe some sort of Eberron like industrial process where silver byproducts are in the air so much the whole community has the trait. So home brew Argyria as a feat these people could take a variant human. Someone can also take the feat as part of level progression (I'm thinking how Batman spent years breaking his back so he'd be immune to Bane's signature move in Batman v Bane round two, or how Wesley developed a tolerance for iocaine powder in The Princess Bridge).
As for the game effects of the condition, maybe it's the garlic effect and the vamp or werewolf would find someone with the condition unappetizing (doesn't mean they can't kill the character with the condition, just won't feed). Or it afflicts the werewolf of vamp with the "sickened", or rather than condition in spells tends to behave mechanically like "poisoned". Would either monster contract Argyria by feeding on an individual with the condition, I doubt it. Rather, I'd imagine the sickened effect would run its course through werewolf metabolism or vampire indomitable-ness rather quickly, allowing the monsters something like a CON save each turn to save it. That's how I'd do it, and this sort of thing is more likely to be a judgment call than something that will ever be argued for against through any RAW.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
I feel you are taking the question in reverse. I am wondering if one with argyria would contract lycantopy (theriantrhopy) or vampirism if bitten.
Silver doesn’t appear to cure the curse, it overcomes the regenerative properties of the werewolf/vampire. As such I wouldn’t say it prevents being infected if bitten. It would probably feel very uncomfortable for someone who is infected, however. Just my interpretation though, do what’s most interesting for your game regardless.
Want to start playing but don't have anyone to play with? You can try these options: [link].
Aha, you are right, I did have your query backwards. I could follow Pangurjan's logic, and maybe push it, a vampire created from someone with Argyria may have a bad skin condition, and a werewolf with mange.
If a human with argyria was immune to vampirism, they'd just die then. Immunity from a werewolf could be possible, but that would definitely have to be a human variant feat consumer. Not sure I'd allow it or not. Even though negatives ability score mods are not supposed to be a thing in 5e, I think I'd insist on a -2 con if a character elected a condition that offered blanket immunity from werewolf curses. Then again, elves have that charm immunity, so my conclusion is it's an interesting question.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.
In the 5th Edition of Dungeons and Dragons, and in every previous edition of which I am aware, Silver has had nothing at all to do with Vampires. Nor does Garlic, for that matter. Nor does a Holy Symbol unless the Cleric is using their ability to Turn The Undead.
Silver does not help you against the Curse Of Lycanthropy. You need Silvered Weapons to bypass their immunity to normal weapons. That's it for Silver. Lycanthropes of all sorts are not burned by silver, nor does it harm them if they eat it. (And yes, I know perfectly well that the word "lycanthrope" applies specifically to Werewolves, and that the correct general term is "Therianthrope". Tell that to the people who wrote the Monster Manual. You will find all the different kinds of were-creatures under the entry for Lycanthrope.)
So according to the D&D rules as they stand, Argyria provides you with no benefits what-so-ever against Vampires or Lycanthropes.
<Insert clever signature here>
Geann, is correct, I thought Vampires had the same resistance to non magical weapons except silver, but it is not in the rules. OP did mention how powdered silver was integral in the making of holy water and given that and the infenrals and were-creatures non-resistance to silver, I just presumed that it applied to vampires too for some reason.
Jander Sunstar is the thinking person's Drizzt, fight me.