Neurosia
Panic in a Bottle
"A fear so palpable, so toxicating, that it corrodes both the bottle and the mind."
Neurosia is the collective term for the blood, toxin, gas, and other such substances that come out of Dreadnoughts, an extremely dangerous insectoid beast originating from The Winding Abyss; an infamous Pocket Realm taking the form of a near infinite cave system/dungeon.
As long as you have a method of containing corrosive fluids it's surprisingly easy to harvest, especially since they're filled with the stuff; the catch being that you have to hunt it in the first place, a feat that not many can put onto their resume.
The substance itself is remarkably versatile, able to exist in multiple different states each with different uses and effects. Though this information applies more to hunting them as the Dreadnoughts themselves are the only ones capable of changing its state. The most relevant are the liquid state and the gaseous state.
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Corrosive Fluid
The main function of Neurosia first and foremost is to be used as a corrosive. Dreadnoughts will use ample amounts of the stuff to blast onto rock and stone in order to soften and burrow their way through, which it is disturbingly effective in doing. Their chitin is unaffected by the corrosion and, since it literally comes out of them, it's safe to assume that the soft body underneath is similarly resistant.
The second, much more horrific usage, is to aid in the consumption of prey. Dreadnoughts eat the same way that spiders do, because of fucking course they do. Their strategy is to beat their prey into submission and, once they have a firm hold with their massive claw, inject it with an irresponsible amount of the toxin to both paralyze and liquefy the victim's insides.
It's theorized that the Dreadnought can control the fluid's corrosive potency, and to a surprisingly accurate extent at that. This came about after reports of adventurers being consumed in the same way despite our lack of an exoskeleton to contain all the schlop.
Psychogenic Gas
Hunting, or being hunted, by a female Dreadnought in particular is an especially dangerous situation. This variety has the unique ability to diffuse the toxin into a gaseous state and disperse it in a small area either around or in front of them. Breathing this substance in is not recommended.
The smell is often described as a sort of rotting menthol, a painfully irritating burn on the sinuses that's simultaneously disorienting and demanding of any focus you have left. It's in this hyperfocused state where the real effect starts to kick in.
The purpose of this toxin is to induce panic, amnesia, and, depending on how the prey reacts, allow the Dreadnought to deal with them in whatever matter she deems advantageous for her. Often this is just hunting for food, but in some cases the disoriented prey may be used as a living hive for the Dreadnought's eggs or as bait to lure additional prey closer to their hunting grounds. The latter is most often the case with adventuring parties.
Rarity
Type
Association
Common Price
Additional Notes
Mechanics
Neurosia
Alchemical | Consumable | Injury | PoisonLevel 8+
Saving Throw DC 25 Fortitude;
Maximum Duration 7 Rounds;
Sickened 2, Frightened 3 (1 Round)
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Eugh, I definitely don't want to come across a Dreadnought!
Explore Etrea | Summer Camp 2025
AGREED
While I would love to go on an adventure, writing them is enough for me.