Herbalism + Candles = Aromatherapy

[Applesauce]

Copied from an in-game OOC note, sorry for the short lines:

So I was chatting with Allegra about the states of herbalism and candles
and this idea came up. What if you could infuse candle wax with a
particular herb?

As the chandler, if you have a smokeable herb (e.g. Coamjar) and make a
candle with it, however the command would go, then as the candle burns it
will occasionally give an effect to random people in the same room, similar
to blowing a smoke ring at someone.

This could be aromatherapy with a healing or movement-restoring herb, or
just used to produce a pleasant smell. I imagine the effects would be less
than full strength, but I think it would be an interesting addition.

[Inertia]

I think chandlery is one of the least practical skills in game right now, though I greatly enjoy candles as props. Giving candles a use beyond pretty room accents and temporary light would be lovely. The idea of having someone blow smoke in your face for medical reasons is a little strange to me so that's another reason why I like the idea of being able to breathe in the healing smoke of a candle - also, candles already factor into Davite ritual, so having candles that create code-supported effects could add something cool to religious experience.

[Kinaed]

I like this, but we're reprogramming herbs right now, so there may be a delay before we look to adding this.

[SlyViolin]

HERBS YOU SAY?

Also, I've been pondering the idea of a brazier. Somethign that can be made with metals that you put a herb in, light it and the effect of the herb lingers in the room for an hour affecting people who enter and pass through it. Work also with poison smoke the theives can light to slow the reeves or knight following them.

[Leech]

Sounds a bit science fictiony to me. Wouldn't it be easier just to stick somebody with a poisoned whats-a-majig?

[Beronica]

The poisoned air, maybe. Though aromatherapy does go as far back to medieval times. The burning of herbs in braziers or in candles were common practice to help cover the smell of unwashed bodies.

[SlyViolin]

Honestly, I just want smokebombs. :(

[Applesauce]

Sounds a bit science fictiony to me. Wouldn't it be easier just to stick somebody with a poisoned whats-a-majig?

For the most part that's already built into the herbs - since the candle would be basically burning the herb and releasing it into the air, you could only infuse candles with herbs that can be used with "smokering" and possibly "dust," but maybe just smokering.

Most of the damaging / crippling / poisonous herbs are "ingest" only, and there's no equivalent command to target someone else with those herbs. I think there's only one damaging herb that can be smokeringed, and one that can be dusted, and in both of those specific cases it seems reasonable for a less potent effect to be applied to the room every minute or two. Maybe it could even alternate with just a flavor string, so you have a chance to leave the room rather be blindsided if it's a bad effect.

While I wouldn't be against using this idea for naughty herbs, I think the primary purpose is just RP. Most herbal effects are pretty meager already; reducing them to balance the fact that they would be affecting a whole room means that the effects would be barely noticeable. It's more for the smell (like Beronica said) of pleasantness in the air.