Blightshade

Blightshade, also known as [tbd] in the Shadow Dimension, is a plant native to that dimension which is commonly found there. Though rare in the main dimension, it can be reliably grown in regions close to the Shadow Dimension or otherwise suffused with chaos magic. Blightshade's name comes from its similar appearance to certain types of toxic nightshades, which it can be mistaken for in shade or at night. Like nightshade, blightshade is incredibly toxic, though its poison works on the mind. In the light of day, Blightshade is clearly much darker than nightshade, with its leaves and stems being almost totally black and its purple flowers being much more vivid. Since Blightshade is native to the shadow dimension, where there is no sun, the plant does not have photosynthesis and is instead colored by its toxic source of energy- chaos itself. The plant is highly sufused with chaos to the point where it cannot survive without it, drying to a pale color before wilting and perishing if it goes without chaos for too long.
Blightshade's effects on the psyche are terrifying to behold. Over time, those exposed to the plant develop symptoms similar to schitzophrenia, as well as mood swings, loss in memory, change in personality, and lowered intelligence. Eventually, periods of lucidity will end altogether, leaving the victim trapped in their own decaying mind. Eventually, their body will simply stop functioning altogether, their mind having decayed to mush. Luckily, Blightshade's effects are limited in scope, and have negligable effects in cases where, for example, a single plant is growing near or under a home. However, in large enough quantities, Blightshade plants themselves can cause these effects, simply by being there. However, the most effective way for blightshade to effect is person is by injecting it into their bloodstream or having them ingest it, which can cause the onset of symptoms in less than a month even for small doses. Blightshade is also dangerous if set on fire, as when burnt the plant gives off a stream of choas particles (and a nasty smell). This is the main time in which the plants are dangerous, as burned in an accidental fire or purposely destroyed out of fear they can do far more damage than if growing for many years. Occasionally people do get addicted to Blightshade, as there are ways to manipulate the chaos visions in ways that some find appealing, since they are similar to living in an augmented reality unlike many other hallucenogens. Many have claimed to be able to filter out the harmful longterm effects of Blightshade, but these are all misinformed at best, frauds at worst. Long term use of Blightshade as a drug is irrevocably damaging without the aid of extremely powerful healing magic, though short term use is typically recoverable. Long term users, while they may stop hallucenating if weaned off the drug, will still suffer personality changes and decreased intelligence, becoming little more than zombies. Blightshade reacts extremely poorly with Positive Magic, and anyone with enough blightshade in their bloodstream is liable to die on exposure, thus negating its use as a cure.
During the early days of the Duskborn, blightshade was used to commit many murder by extremists on both sides due to its abundance and extreme toxicity. It was cultivated in large quantities for this purpose, and used as an early method of biological weaponry. However, over time its use waned as the Voidheart developed a natural immunity to its toxins as they embraced chaos, while the Startouched gained a natural resistance as well as other counter measures. A black market trade for the drug does still exist, fueled by evil voidheart dealers selling through middlemen for use on the main dimension (since Blightshade grown in the shadow dimension typically has stronger effects). The plant is also used by devils for its effects on mortals, which is useful for torture.