Curing Lycanthropy with alchemy

[kottakinge]

Hello there!
My PCs are just finishing the fan-adventure "a calling to Vebrek" (GREAT GREAT GREAT adventure, possibly one the best i ran), and two of them are cursed with wolf lycanthropy.
In this adventure there is a NPC called Dr Vardeau, an alchmist who is specialist for curing disease like lycanthropy.
unfortunatly there are no games rules about using alchemy to cure such a disease.
I LOVE alchemy in Ravenloft, these new science is about to change the face of the world (it's fun and restreint magic a lot, good in a low fantasy settings world).
I wonder how Dr Vardeau could cure the PCs, i guess this will include potions with moonflowers and the such.
By the way, i guess alchemical cure will be less reliable that the traditionnal ways (kill the bloodline, atonment and the such) and will take much more time.
I was thinking of a long term tratment, a special diet or any other tricks to keep the wolf at bay
Any other ideas?

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

There's a spiritual purgative, which isn't actually a cure, but could pass it from one person to another.

There's also the Suppress Lycanthropy spell, which could be made into a potion with the Brew GReater Potion feat. Not a permanent cure, but a drug to keep in it check.

[kottakinge]

Cool!
Thanks Gonzo!
Did the spiritual purgative is described in the VRA?

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

Cool!
Thanks Gonzo!
Did the spiritual purgative is described in the VRA?

yes, it's in the high alchemy chapter.

[Jimsolo]

Here are some ideas.

1. A Lamordian doctor who offers an herbal mixture that will cure lycanthropy. In reality, he's a huckster peddling snake oil, but he doesn't believe he's doing any harm, since he doesn't think werewolves exist!

2. A mesmerist from Dementlieu who can hypnotize someone, planting suggestions deep in their subconscious to control the beast. This has to be repeated on a regular basis, of course.

3. A shadowy figure who volunteers to help. The stranger is the servant of a powerful vampire. The vampire in question is so attuned to wolves, he has developed the ability to control even werewolves! Within the range of his Children of the Night ability, he can prevent werewolves from turning. (He can also make them turn, but the servant conveniently leaves that part out!) The vampire wishes to offer the afflicted PCs a deal: in exchange for letting him move to their homeland unmolested, he will keep the werewolves among them from ravaging the populace. Of course, they will have to keep their excursions abroad brief to prevent accidents, but such is the price we pay, no?

Only number three specifies a trigger which makes the change start. (And it doesn't require it, by any means.) I would stress that you can make the trigger for the PCs be anything, so they don't have to be confined by the moon cycle. (It might even work for you as a DM to let them have a 'fake' cure only to see the full moon go by with no changes. They will think they're cured, and you'll have a timb bomb you can use later.)

In any event, hope that helps.

[kottakinge]

Pretty cool Jim!
I love the idea of the mesmerist, i guess Dr Vardeau will have some skills at hypnotize people.
I love the idea that there is no 'permanent' cure with this modern medicine.
When you want to be cured for good, then it's the old school's way (kill the progenitor, and blablabla)
When they will realise that maybe they will reconsider the offer of their comrade Lazlo, a young Gundarike priest of the Morninglord that talked about a holy relic that cure Lycanthropie in Barovia

[Delyun]

Domains of dread had native Rangers learn the ability to create a potion that works some of the time. It only works on infected Lycanthropes. Cursed or Natural Lycanthropes it has no effect. Few would go through the effort to do this since it takes a month to gather and properly brew it. The potion takes affect immediately and the person must be there to drink it once it is done or it loses potency for every hour the drinking is delayed.

[Gonzoron of the FoS]

Another thing worth noting is Vjorn Horstmann's Primal Serum, which induces Lycanthropy, rather than curing it.