So, for once in my life I am actually researching in order to have some level of realism. (Shocking!)

My plot hinges around the villain killing off the majority of his country's royal family in order to get himself and his wife on the throne (which works because she's a direct relation). However, he does it subtly, by poison(s?) in a "special ink" he gives his wife to use in writing to her family.

My problem is that this is pre-industrial fantasy, which puts a lot of modern poisons right out, and that, since the poison is in the ink, it has to be absorbed through the skin, which nixes a whole 'nother slew of poisons.

I've considered Aconitum, which would be very easy for him to get, but I'm not sure how much it would take for a killing dose, or even if the toxicity would remain in dried ink.

Batrachotoxin would be perfect, since I'm pretty sure that even dried, you still shouldn't touch it due to its high toxicity. But it would be extremely hard for him to get, and therefore extremely expensive, and I'm not sure he has that sort of money.

Arsenic trioxcide might work, but again there are issues of availability and dosage, and whether or not such a society would even be aware of it.

Alternate suggestions welcome, though I'd prefer something that acts quickly, and, highly preferable, affects the heart or causes paralyzation of all the muscles (and thus asphyxiates) rather than masses of messy side-effects. It's supposed to be subtle, after all.

My mom also brought up an interesting point earlier: how is it that Meline (villain's wife, and the letter writer) doesn't get poisoned? My mom did suggest gloves, but the catch is that Meline does NOT know about his plot. So she is unwittingly his accomplice (and is quite horrified by this fact, when all is said and done). Ink is, I've found, a very messy medium, even when trying to be careful, so this is something else I'd be glad of suggestions regarding.

Thanks in advance!

What if, instead of the ink, a hollow wax seal on your character's letters contained something vile? Then, when the seal is broken open, bada-boom--nastiness ensues. If so, with some tweaking of how the letters are sealed (by a trusted servant of the male character?), you could hide inside the hollow seals some truly hideous biologic agents, many of which actually existed ages ago. For example, anthrax. Anthrax spores infect the skin of livestock, and are found in dirt. If anthrax is inhaled, it is fairly quickly fatal. Anthrax has also been spread (in one research case report) to textile workers who inhaled the spores from goat hair. Perhaps your character could mail someone a lovely infected scarf to wrap around the face? Other possible toxins--botulism toxin (needs to be licked/eaten), inhaled plague, and ricin (from castor beans--in the Vegas news recently). There's a Medscape Bioterrorism Preparedness review if you want more clinical info--but be warned, you may not sleep after reading it ever again.

My mom also brought up an interesting point earlier: how is it that Meline (villain's wife, and the letter writer) doesn't get poisoned? My mom did suggest gloves, but the catch is that Meline does NOT know about his plot. So she is unwittingly his accomplice (and is quite horrified by this fact, when all is said and done). Ink is, I've found, a very messy medium, even when trying to be careful, so this is something else I'd be glad of suggestions regarding.

I'm no expert on poisons, but for this problem, if there's an antidote of some sort to the poison you pick, then perhaps the husband is slipping it in his wife's food or drink so that she doesn't die as well?

Although I like the above poster's idea of the broken seal as well.

The plot is a great one, by the way - very clever scheme by your character. :)

--------------------

NaNo 06 - The Game - Won
NaNo 07 - Destination: Beautiful - Failed miserably

SF 08 - Untitled - TV script - 0% completed

Thank you - I do think it a rather clever plot; I just hope I can do it justice in the writing! Hee.

As for the suggestions, epepinous, they are all interesting, but not quite as subtle as Menschal is going for. *g* Besides that, they all have a rather high risk of killing those other than the intended victim, and when mail is carried a-horseback, that could be a big inconvience. He's not trying to start a wide-spread endimic, after all. :P Though, the hollow seal IS a rather neat idea; I may have to think on it more.

The antidote suggestion... Might work. Except none of the stuff I've looked at and seriously considered have antidotes or cures - at least, not in a pre-industrial world. And even in our modern times, some can't be cured. Soo... *shrug* Thanks for your thoughts, though!
________________
NaNo'04: Fail.
NaNo'06: Fail.
NaNo'07: Win. :D
Screnzy!08: We'll see...

Can't get enough NaNoWriMo? Try To Boldly NaNo!

Do women at that time wear gloves? Like, fancy lady like gloves? Or if she was writing outside and it was cold, she might be wearing gloves. And it could be at his suggestion, but she doesn't think twice about it. (Oh, wear your blue gloves today, it's cold out, or, Wear the pink ones, they're so lovely). :)

Sounds like you're well on your way! Just to clarify--the toxins I mentioned (with the possible exception of inhaled concentrated plague where not so much is known about it) do NOT cause an epidemic. Only the person who inhales the toxin is infected--neither inhaled anthrax, botulo-toxin nor ricin is transmitted to anyone else after exposure. Good luck with your nefarious plans!

Oh, I noticed that; I just meant that when mail is carried in that manner, I'd imagine it's even easier to have accidents - i.e., seal breaks too early, etc., - which would infect an unintended target(s), which would be bad and probably draw too much attention. The only ones he wants dying are the people between him and his wife, and the throne. *g*

Nefarious plans are fun! :D
______________
NaNo'04: Fail.
NaNo'06: Fail.
NaNo'07: Win. :D
Screnzy!08: We'll see...

Can't get enough NaNoWriMo? Try To Boldly NaNo!