Spice: Melange

Of all the drugs out there, Spice is the highest grade quality. The various
forms
of spices are the msot pwoerful and addictive out there. nobody is
quite sure where
the term spcie came from but some think it has to do with
the fact that some, like
melange were originaly used in food.

Melange: A complex bio-polymer originating only on Arrakis. Its several
biological activities
include interaction with various centers of the
central nervous system (CNS), interaction with
the immune system, and
deposition within the sclera of the eyes. To date the biologically active
portion of spice has not been isolated, although it is known that other
portions of the molecule
contain clycoprotein, a cupric heme and
cinnamic acid.

The interaction with the CNS is primarily in the K"hliker-Kramptz center,
which controls time- space
awareness. In mosthumans this center is
rudimentary, consisting of only a small number of cells (K-K cells)
in the central cortex of the brain. Ingestion of the spice stimulates
the growth of K-K cells so that the
individual becomes more aware of
his time-space environment. It is due to the action of the spice on the
K-K
cells that melange is addictive. If quantities in excess of 2 grams
per 70 kilograms of body weight are ingested,
addiction is encountered.
Withdrawal of the spice from an addict results in insanity and eventual
death due to the
action of the breakdown products of K-K cells on other
cells of the CNS.

The geriatric properties of melange are considerable. The addicts predicted
lifespan is increased two to four times
that of normal, depending upon the
age at which the spice was first ingested as well as the dose. When the
spice is
digested, certain as yet unidentified breakdown products are
absorbed into the bloodstream. These products interact
with T-cells of the
immune system, rendering the addict immune to most bacterial, fungal,
parasitic and viral agents
of disease. Ingestion of spice also imparts
an immunity to many common poisons.

One of the most striking results of a diet high in melange is the "Eyes of Ibab,"
the characteristic "blue on blue"
eye color: the whites and irises of he eyes
turn a deep blue. Visual acuity is not reduced by the deposition
of the blue
pigment. In fact, in the white sun light of Arrakis, the pigment acts as a blue
filter, increasing
contrast and enhancing vision. Melange is very expensive,
and highly addictive. However, because of the preponderance
of spice on the
planet Arrakis, addiction to melange will occur naturally within one or two
years of living there.
It can be postponed a year or two by including many
off-world foods into the diet, but is inevitable.

An addict requires two grams of spice per day. On Arrakis, melange is common
enough in nature to meet an
addicts requirements through normal food and drink.

Model: Melange Spice
Type:  Spice
Availability: 2, R or X
Cost: 250 (per 2 gram dose)
Game Effects:
A regular user of the spcie will have their life span doubled, trippled or even quadrupled, depending on
how early they started in life. They also gain +2D to all stamina roll to resist viral infection and posions.
A force Sensative charachter who uses Melange regularly gains +1D to the Detoxify Posion force power. They also
get +1D to all vision based perception checks as their visal acuity is increased.

If the user consumes 2 gram for every 70 kilograms of bodyweight, they get +2D to all attempts tod etect lies beying
told for 3D minutes.

If the charachter consumes 4 grams of pure spice per 70 kilograms of bodyweight, they begin receiving a special
sort of 'effect'. From this point, every 2 grams per 70 kilos of bodyweight give +1D to a temporary use of the
Farseeing force power. Unless the use is force sensative and already has this force pwoer the pwoer is assumed
to start at 1D for both Control and Sense. If more than 10 grams of pure spice per 70 kilos of bodyweight is
consumed the user must mkae a difficult stamina roll or fall into a coma for 1D weeks. More than 15 grams per
70 kilos, and it is a very difficult roll. More than 20 and it is a heroic roll. From that point on it's +15 to
the difficulty for every five grams per 70 kilograms of bodyweight consumed.

After each dose roll 2Dxnumber of times the user has taken the durg versus the user's willpower. If the user
loses, they become addicted and need two grams per day. If the person goes a week without their daily dose they
become ill suffering -1d from all die codes until they meet their quota agin. Every week this continues they go
down another 1d, when their strength hits 0D they die.