60 replies to this topic

[CeltIberian]

All Conan fans Know that Conan like to get down with the best of them. The man was

constantly swiggin on wine or whatever alcoholic drink he could get his hands on.

Then there's the talk about the opium dens and the hash. But whats all this talk

about BLACK LOTUS, and How it makes people sleep and dream and have inner-outer

body travel and all that, and peolpe sell it in the cities secretly as if a black market

drug. What actually is Black LOTUS and dont say" its a flower," because we all know

that? Oh,one more thing,, is it also called "stiggon"?

[budgie]

Not only is there black lotus but other variants as well (yellow, white etc).

By my understanding it is a plant, the sort of Hyborian equivilant of Opium. Its varieties seem to be quite rare and highly prized.
Each variety has differing effects on the body from mild euphoria ( like a painkiller) through to death.. a fave of those Stygian sorcerers...

As to it also being called "stigon or whatever" that sounds like it only was used in the first film (" would I sell stigeon to a barbarian such as you..."), cant recall it apearing in any of the novels under that name though..

Junkies.. who needs them.. get a real high.. read Conan

Budgie

[Ironhand]

Among all the varieties of lotus, Black Lotus is usually described as being the most lethally poisonous and the source of many refined poisons. In Queen of the Black Coast, Conan actually encountered black lotus flowers, to his regret.

[Isaacson]

Hi.

From the CTB movie, the street merchant (Ron Cobb), when referring to his wares, the black lotus product, says something like ... "It's Stygian, the best." - As in an import from mysterious "Stygia" (REH's version of Egypt, in the lands and time of Conan's age, and beyond etc ).

Cheers, Danny.

[alex]

"This better not be hagga."

Or something like that, I don't remember what he said exactly.

[Orkin]

No thanks, no hagga for me.

[SkiSwope]

I just finished reading Conan and the Emerald Lotus by John Hocking and enjoyed it quite a bit. It was my first non-REH Conan prose story and I was happy with the result.

It left me wondering, how many different varieties of LOTUS exist in Hyboria?

Black Lotus is mentioned repeatedly by REH and Emerald Lotus is obviously a central feature of Hocking's book. I also have a vague recollection of REH mentioning Red Lotus in one of his short stories.

Ski

Edited by SkiSwope, 05 May 2005 - 08:46 AM.

[Jery]

SkiSwope, a new member has joined the forum. His name is Lotussmoker I think. Maybe he knows the answers?

Edited by Jery, 05 May 2005 - 02:08 PM.

[Kane]

The only other one I can think of is the Purple Lotus.

Now you've got me thinking about it.
I'm going to have to go through my collection and look it up.

[SkiSwope]

The only other one I can think of is the Purple Lotus.

Now you've got me thinking about it.
I'm going to have to go through my collection and look it up.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Maybe it was Purple that I recall. Did REH simply mention this variety in passing in one of his earlier short stories?

Follow-up question -- What are the basic effects of the various varieties?

* Black lotus seems to have a strong sedative/intoxicant effect, causes fitful dreams, likely are hallucinogenic, and can cause death. Evil sorcerors seem to seek it out in order to enhance their various powers or to recover from a great expenditure of power. The living plant almost seems to have some degree of intelligence. From Queen of the Black Coast - "From a cluster of green, curiously leafed stalks, great black blossoms nodded at him. One of these had touched him. They seemed to beckon him, to arch their pliant stems toward him. They spread and rustled, though no wind blew. He recoiled, recognizing the black lotus, whose juice was death, and whose scent brought dream-haunted slumber. But already he felt a subtle lethargy stealing over him..."

* Emerald lotus is definitely a sentient being of some kind. It sat dormant most of the time, but thrived on blood and came to life in the presence of blood. Sufficent quantities of blood made it grow. It appeared to be a hybrid of some sort - half plant and half animal - created by a sorceror (Cetriss?) 1000s of years ago. The powder from its crushed leaves greatly enhanced the magical ability of wizards, but it was addictive. Once one consumed a little, they wanted ever more and more. If supply was removed, most users would descend into madness and eventually die of "withdrawal".

* Purple lotus - what did it do? I only have vague memory that it was briefly mentioned once.

On a related note, Hocking also introduced kao-kao leaves in his novel. It had reddish leaves and seemed to grant a sense of euphoria, energy, and confidence to its users. Ehtram-Fal used it to keep his mercenaries happily in his service. I imagine it was also addictive and is, likely, inspired by our modern-day coca plant.

Ski

Edited by SkiSwope, 05 May 2005 - 03:22 PM.

[Jery]

I was always curious whether Howard though about drugs by inventing the types of lotus?

Black Lotus - a mix of opium and peyotl?

[korak]

In Howard's long serial novel Skull-Face, the modern hero Stephen Costigan meets the evil Fu-Manchu style villain after becoming addicted to drugs in an opium den.

[Ironhand]

Gray lotus is mentioned in Rogues in the House; it drives men to homicidal/suicidal fury, perhaps through hallucinations. Sort of a toxic version of PCP.

Yellow lotus was inhaled by Yara the wizard in Heart of the Elephant, probably in order to have visions. He was able to return to normal conscioiusness instantly when disturbed.

[Dragon Girl]

Purple Lotus:


Yellow Lotus:



Black Lotus:



Oops, wait a minute....


Here we go!

Edited by Dragon Girl, 06 May 2005 - 04:04 PM.

[Kane]

Black Lotus:

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can see myself getting addicted to that.

[korak]

For me, it depends to some degree on whether it causes chromosome damage.

Very nice photos, DG! I did not realize all those lotuses were real plants.

[Buxom Sorceress]

GOLDEN LOTUS ? [ if i recall correctly? ]
is in the story 'the slithering shadow'.
..its either the drug that all the population are sleepy from?
..or its what the drink at the end [healing potion] was made from?

+ i think theres a list of the Lotuses in the mongoose rpg book?

[Dragon Girl]

For me, it depends to some degree on whether it causes chromosome damage.

Very nice photos, DG! I did not realize all those lotuses were real plants.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well, the lotus is a water-dwelling plant that you see in ornamental ponds a lot. There are several different species and the flowers come in white, pink, cream, peach, blue, yellow, red, lavender, and purple. That black one is a painting...I don't think I've ever seen an actual black lotus...or a green one! I don't know if this is the lotus that Howard had in mind when he wrote the Conan stories, or if he applied the name to some other species of plant (I seem to recall a reference to lotuses growing in the jungles of Khitai?), or if he just liked the exotic connotations of the name and applied it to some imaginary flower for the sake of the stories.

[Ironhand]

That Black Lotus looks like it could cause chromosome damage if you floored it!

I'm guessing that REH's use of and propensity for, the lotus, comes from the Greek myth of the "Lotus eaters", a people who grew, and were addicted to, a plant called the lotus, which induced pleasurable dreams.

[alex]

Speaking of dreams, Slithering Shadow's residents of Xuthal take some form of the lotus as well.

EDIT: sorry, this has been mentioned

Edited by alex, 08 May 2005 - 12:53 AM.