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Did you know...ninjas use aconite?
I borrowed a book from the local library called "Secrets of the Ninja" by Hiromitsu Kuroi to do a little research for my post-DH plot bunny where Snape runs off to Japan to try and forget about Lupin. He would be staying with the tengu shapeshifters who had a small role in my Always series, and I had a vague idea that a tengu patrol that Snape was accompanying would be attacked by a band of ninjas.
Yeah, I know--Snape fighting ninjas; sounds like crack fic, right? ;) The scene might or might not make it into the final draft, but I was doing the research mostly to amuse myself, and I was reading the section on ninja weapons when I came across the entry for the "fukiya" ("blow pipe"):
Yeah, I know--Snape fighting ninjas; sounds like crack fic, right? ;) The scene might or might not make it into the final draft, but I was doing the research mostly to amuse myself, and I was reading the section on ninja weapons when I came across the entry for the "fukiya" ("blow pipe"):
"This ingenious weapon is a type of blow-pipe that uses a dart made from a sewing needle wrapped in paper. It is extremely accurate. The tip of the needle is dipped in a poison, such as aconite, which kills the victim before he can even open his mouth."
(from "Secrets of the Ninja," p.65)
W00t! Ninjas use aconite! I can't believe it! Now I really have to use this idea for my fic! I had originally planned that Snape's tengu lover (hooked up with on the rebound, trying to get over Lupin, who is still married to Tonks) would be injured by some unnamed poison smeared on a ninja's sword blade, and Snape would save him and nurse him back to health. But this aconite idea is just too good to pass up, since Snape would obviously be experienced in dealing with it.
Interestingly enough, in my Always series, I had Snape collaborate with a Japanese Potions Master to create the Wolfsbane Potion. It was actually Snape who came up with the breakthrough research, but he let his Japanese colleague take the credit, partly because he didn't want to blow his cover with the Death Eaters, but of course mainly because he didn't want Lupin to know that he still had feelings for him. At the time, I didn't know whether aconite even grows in Japan, but it's nice to have confirmation that it does. ^_^
I also didn't know that aconite was so deadly that such a small amount can apparently instantly kill someone. I mean, I knew it was poisonous, but I didn't know it was that dangerous. It could have some interesting implications in the wizarding world, like maybe it can only be purchased with a special license. I also had Snape teaching some of his advanced students how to brew the Wolfsbane Potion, but if I were writing the fics now, I would probably either take out that scene or make a point of him supervising them very closely. I also know that I wrote at least one scene where Snape kisses Lupin after he drinks the potion, and can taste lingering traces in his mouth--which means that he could accidentally have poisoned himself! ;) But I guess I could say that the aconite in the potion has been diluted to a less deadly mixture, or that its poisonous properties are offset by some other ingredient.
Then again, regarding the students' safety, Hogwarts seems pretty lax about it. They handle hellebore in Potions class, which I believe is also poisonous, and they play games where bludgers hit people in the head, and they're sent on detention into a forest filled with centaurs, giant spiders, and god knows what else!
Damn, now I might have to do some research on the effects of aconite poisoning if I want to use the idea in my story. But I was so tickled that my random research came up with an indirect link to the HP series!
Cross-posting to IJ; apologies to IJ users for the double post.
(from "Secrets of the Ninja," p.65)
W00t! Ninjas use aconite! I can't believe it! Now I really have to use this idea for my fic! I had originally planned that Snape's tengu lover (hooked up with on the rebound, trying to get over Lupin, who is still married to Tonks) would be injured by some unnamed poison smeared on a ninja's sword blade, and Snape would save him and nurse him back to health. But this aconite idea is just too good to pass up, since Snape would obviously be experienced in dealing with it.
Interestingly enough, in my Always series, I had Snape collaborate with a Japanese Potions Master to create the Wolfsbane Potion. It was actually Snape who came up with the breakthrough research, but he let his Japanese colleague take the credit, partly because he didn't want to blow his cover with the Death Eaters, but of course mainly because he didn't want Lupin to know that he still had feelings for him. At the time, I didn't know whether aconite even grows in Japan, but it's nice to have confirmation that it does. ^_^
I also didn't know that aconite was so deadly that such a small amount can apparently instantly kill someone. I mean, I knew it was poisonous, but I didn't know it was that dangerous. It could have some interesting implications in the wizarding world, like maybe it can only be purchased with a special license. I also had Snape teaching some of his advanced students how to brew the Wolfsbane Potion, but if I were writing the fics now, I would probably either take out that scene or make a point of him supervising them very closely. I also know that I wrote at least one scene where Snape kisses Lupin after he drinks the potion, and can taste lingering traces in his mouth--which means that he could accidentally have poisoned himself! ;) But I guess I could say that the aconite in the potion has been diluted to a less deadly mixture, or that its poisonous properties are offset by some other ingredient.
Then again, regarding the students' safety, Hogwarts seems pretty lax about it. They handle hellebore in Potions class, which I believe is also poisonous, and they play games where bludgers hit people in the head, and they're sent on detention into a forest filled with centaurs, giant spiders, and god knows what else!
Damn, now I might have to do some research on the effects of aconite poisoning if I want to use the idea in my story. But I was so tickled that my random research came up with an indirect link to the HP series!
Cross-posting to IJ; apologies to IJ users for the double post.