Laudanum

Laudanum is a drug made from distillations of poppies and brandy. It was used to treat the crippling pain suffered by Southron Detinan General Bell. Laudanum is an effective painkiller but also has psychoactive affects upon a person taking it and is highly addictive. Bell's continued pain forced him to take laudanum until he became totally dependent on it. The result was that his once-astute military judgment severely deteriorated. Unfortunately for the Southron cause, this deterioration corresponded with his rise through the ranks of Geoffrey's armies to commander of the Army of Franklin.