| Chinese Gu Box | |
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Origin |
Chinese/Japanese assassins |
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Type |
Wood medicine box |
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Effects |
Contains a virulent wasting poison |
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Downsides |
Will spread unless re-contained |
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Activation |
Exposure |
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Collected by |
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Section |
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| [Source] | |
Origin[]
Gu was a venom-based poison associated with cultures of south China, particularly Nanyue. The traditional preparation of gu poison involved sealing several venomous creatures (e.g., centipede, snake, scorpion) inside a closed container, where they devoured one another and allegedly concentrated their toxins into a single survivor. Gu was used in black magic practices such as manipulating sexual partners, creating malignant diseases, and causing death.
This practice made its way to Japan very early, and it is believed gu played a part in many notable assassinations. This single medicine box was retrieved from a disgraced rōnin formerly associated with Kira Yoshinaka. By the rōnin's account the gu was used to assassinate Uesugi Tsunakatsu in 1664 and prior to that by Tsunakatsu's mother Shoko-in to murder her daughter-in-law Haruhime in 1658.
Effects[]
When opened the box appears empty. The mere act of opening the box near an item of food or where it can be directly inhaled by another person will infect them with the gu. The gu toxin is slow acting and painful, causing cramps, nausia, dizziness, loss of consciousness and internal bleeding before eventual death. No medication will have any effect in preventing this.
Once the initial victim has passed, their final breath will carry the gu toxin and spread it further via either respiration or consumption. This can, if unchecked, lead to a gradual plague scenario. The toxin does not seem to survive on surfaces and requires immediate post-death contact to spread. The only way to prevent the eventual death in to have an infected victim spit the gu back into the box, instantly curing them.
Given the legends surrounding the creation of gu, and it's known Japanese origin as opposed to Chinese, it is highly suspected the other such gu vessels may exist. None have been located thus far.