Black Keif — Brutal Alchemical Stimulant

Black keif is a stronger, harsher refinement of ordinary keif. It drives the body beyond sensible limits, increasing both strength and endurance while leaving the user vulnerable to mental influence, confusion and self-inflicted strain.

At a Glance

  • Category: Fictional alchemical drug; keif variant
  • Delivery: Ingested or inhaled
  • Campaign role: Pit fighters, shock troops, brutal labour, alchemical contraband
  • Rules provenance: The mechanics below are Pathfinder 1e material.

Edition Mechanics

Pathfinder 1e

Type: ingested or inhaled; Addiction: minor; Fortitude: DC 22; Price: 100 gp; Duration: 1 hour; Damage: 1d4 Constitution.

The user gains a +1d4 alchemical bonus to Strength and Constitution and takes a –2 penalty on saves against illusions and mind-affecting effects. When making a Strength check that could normally be attempted as a standard action or faster, the user may instead spend a full-round action and gain a further +2 alchemical bonus, taking 1d6 nonlethal damage from the strain. If the user takes lethal damage while black keif is active, they must succeed on a DC 16 Will save or become confused for 1d4 rounds.

5.5e / 2024, 5e / 2014 and 3.5e

No mechanics are presented here as official rules for these editions. Any conversion should preserve black keif’s identity as extreme physical enhancement bought with impaired mental defences, bodily damage and a risk of losing control when wounded.

What Happens in Play?

Black keif encourages characters to push harder precisely when caution would be wiser. Its enhanced Strength checks make it useful for breaking doors, lifting obstacles or overpowering enemies, but injury can turn that advantage into confusion at the worst possible moment.

Addiction & After-effects

The PF1e substance carries minor addiction but significant Constitution damage. The danger comes less from ordinary withdrawal than from treating severe bodily strain as a repeatable source of strength.

Alchemical Manufacture

The established PF1e recipe uses 30 units of brimstone, 6 of keif and 20 of urea, refined by sublimation with a retort. Craft (alchemy) DC 22; time 1 day. These are game rules, not real-world manufacturing instructions.

Encounters & Adventure Use

  • A pit champion is frighteningly strong until the first serious wound sends them into confusion.
  • Mercenaries use black keif to force a barricade before its effects wear off.
  • An alchemist needs ordinary keif for a suspiciously large commission.
  • A warehouse accident exposes evidence of an illegal refining operation.
  • A wounded ally under black keif becomes as dangerous to friends as enemies.

Keif Family

Compare ordinary Keif, Golden Keif and Wyrm Keif.

Sources & Licensing

Pathfinder Player Companion: Alchemy Manual, © 2014 Paizo Inc.; authors Jason Nelson, Patrick Renie and David N. Ross. PF1e mechanics and the core substance concept derive from the cited source; campaign-use material and edition guidance are original site material.

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