Day 91, Fall of 416 AV
Morning
Aylasa Caves
Morning
Aylasa Caves
It took two days for Medal and Coinsmith to return, but they did so within the three days time limit as stipulated by Middleman, much to everyone's relief, including that of the ingredient gatherers.
The eyebags and fatigue evident on both men's features and the mild shivering of their bodies were a testament to their diligence, and Middleman immediately ordered them to sleep in the warmth of the resting area of their caverns.
"You have some very dedicated agents, Middleman," Voodoo commented, his voice tinged with jealously as he watched the dismissed men with hawkish eyes.
"They stay in the Seventh, Voodoo. Find some others to replenish your Fifth," Middleman replied with a smirk.
"Bump roots, a giant spider, a basket of whinnis roots, a handful of rogue vines, and roots from specified plants. Excellent." Voodoo declared, taking out a series of complex looking glassware while motioning for Eridanus to help.
"Now it is your turn to be my assistant, Redeemer," Voodoo drawled, a sort of subtle superiority evident in his voice now that the tables were somewhat turned. "Take these bump roots, and grind them with the mortar and pestle until you get a mash of yellow substance."
While Eridanus began to do so with the bump roots, the poisoncrafting agent turned his attention to the more difficult task of the giant spider. It was a mindless task anyway, and all the vantha had to do was avoid mashing his own fingers in as he watched the man extract what seemed to be a series of dried vessels from the husk of the spider.
"Aged arteries," Voodoo whispered as he handled it carefully with delicate looking tongs, placing it on a small wooden plate as he slowly pulled out the trail of gory looking things from within the corpse of the giant spider.
Soon, the bump roots were mashed sufficiently, and he handed the yellow paste over to Voodoo who began to mix them with water to pour into a small flask.
Handing the basket of whinnis roots to Eridanus, Voodoo said, "Crush these, but we seek to extract the drops of blue liquid. Get enough to fill this vial."
This one required more concentration, and he proceeded to do so. As he pressed the roots down to squeeze the prized liquid from within, he realized that only one large root mostly gave out water, with a small drop of the blue liquid he sought. Thus, he had to separate them, scooping the blue liquid with a small spoon out of the puddle of water and into the vial specified. Now he knew why a basket of required, for he had to mash the entire basket, and only withdrawing enough of the blue liquid to fill the vial.
While he was doing so, Voodoo was preparing the vines and the rest of the substances that he extracted. Next, he was instructed to withdraw the liquid from the variety of roots. As taught by Voodoo, the vantha carefully slit open the roots with a small, surgical knife handed to him by the poisoncrafter, tilting the root and squeezing it red, colored liquid that looked like congealed blood into another vial. The next few roots he extracted the liquid in the same manner, though the syrupy liquid that poured forth from the roots' veins had varying shades of red. Shaking the vial to mix all the varying liquids together, he looked up to see Voodoo finalizing the preparatory work on his side as well.
Together, he aided the man in setting up the glassware and heat sources, boiling the blue liquid from the whinnis roots in order to further concentrate the substance. The paste they boiled with the various liquids extracted from the rest of the sources, while the sprinkled the powder from the arteries of the giant spider into the flask that contained the boiling substances.
Finally, Voodoo did his poisoncrafting voodoo and mixed them all together by boiling and evaporating the substances using an alembic, and what dripped out was a murky black liquid that looked like coagulated ink.
"A very nicely mixed combination of Close Call, Bloodroot, Blue Whinnis, Corona and Greenblood Oil. Separately, they each cause similar effects to what your your maledicted cup should achieve, and serve as a contingency, as well for our second target in the plan, a a certain Hagule Loreard who would be passing by Stormhold Castle in exactly one day. Sources tip that he would also be visiting that certain pub, and I have arranged such that Mister Radkleefe would be visiting at that time as well."
With a little more questioning, Eridanus figured out that the potent mixture of poisons, all concentrated into one vial made for a rather dangerous mixture. On their own, Close Call caused loss of motor skills, agility and balance. Bloodroot caused mild confusion and physical weakness. Blue Whinnis caused mild weakness followed by unconsciousness. Corona caused mild strength loss that increased to moderate loss. Greenblood Oil caused slight physical weakness. Combined together, these poisons created an effect quite similar to the cursed cup that Eridanus crafted.
"Very well then," The agent nodded. "Let us begin."
The eyebags and fatigue evident on both men's features and the mild shivering of their bodies were a testament to their diligence, and Middleman immediately ordered them to sleep in the warmth of the resting area of their caverns.
"You have some very dedicated agents, Middleman," Voodoo commented, his voice tinged with jealously as he watched the dismissed men with hawkish eyes.
"They stay in the Seventh, Voodoo. Find some others to replenish your Fifth," Middleman replied with a smirk.
"Bump roots, a giant spider, a basket of whinnis roots, a handful of rogue vines, and roots from specified plants. Excellent." Voodoo declared, taking out a series of complex looking glassware while motioning for Eridanus to help.
"Now it is your turn to be my assistant, Redeemer," Voodoo drawled, a sort of subtle superiority evident in his voice now that the tables were somewhat turned. "Take these bump roots, and grind them with the mortar and pestle until you get a mash of yellow substance."
While Eridanus began to do so with the bump roots, the poisoncrafting agent turned his attention to the more difficult task of the giant spider. It was a mindless task anyway, and all the vantha had to do was avoid mashing his own fingers in as he watched the man extract what seemed to be a series of dried vessels from the husk of the spider.
"Aged arteries," Voodoo whispered as he handled it carefully with delicate looking tongs, placing it on a small wooden plate as he slowly pulled out the trail of gory looking things from within the corpse of the giant spider.
Soon, the bump roots were mashed sufficiently, and he handed the yellow paste over to Voodoo who began to mix them with water to pour into a small flask.
Handing the basket of whinnis roots to Eridanus, Voodoo said, "Crush these, but we seek to extract the drops of blue liquid. Get enough to fill this vial."
This one required more concentration, and he proceeded to do so. As he pressed the roots down to squeeze the prized liquid from within, he realized that only one large root mostly gave out water, with a small drop of the blue liquid he sought. Thus, he had to separate them, scooping the blue liquid with a small spoon out of the puddle of water and into the vial specified. Now he knew why a basket of required, for he had to mash the entire basket, and only withdrawing enough of the blue liquid to fill the vial.
While he was doing so, Voodoo was preparing the vines and the rest of the substances that he extracted. Next, he was instructed to withdraw the liquid from the variety of roots. As taught by Voodoo, the vantha carefully slit open the roots with a small, surgical knife handed to him by the poisoncrafter, tilting the root and squeezing it red, colored liquid that looked like congealed blood into another vial. The next few roots he extracted the liquid in the same manner, though the syrupy liquid that poured forth from the roots' veins had varying shades of red. Shaking the vial to mix all the varying liquids together, he looked up to see Voodoo finalizing the preparatory work on his side as well.
Together, he aided the man in setting up the glassware and heat sources, boiling the blue liquid from the whinnis roots in order to further concentrate the substance. The paste they boiled with the various liquids extracted from the rest of the sources, while the sprinkled the powder from the arteries of the giant spider into the flask that contained the boiling substances.
Finally, Voodoo did his poisoncrafting voodoo and mixed them all together by boiling and evaporating the substances using an alembic, and what dripped out was a murky black liquid that looked like coagulated ink.
"A very nicely mixed combination of Close Call, Bloodroot, Blue Whinnis, Corona and Greenblood Oil. Separately, they each cause similar effects to what your your maledicted cup should achieve, and serve as a contingency, as well for our second target in the plan, a a certain Hagule Loreard who would be passing by Stormhold Castle in exactly one day. Sources tip that he would also be visiting that certain pub, and I have arranged such that Mister Radkleefe would be visiting at that time as well."
With a little more questioning, Eridanus figured out that the potent mixture of poisons, all concentrated into one vial made for a rather dangerous mixture. On their own, Close Call caused loss of motor skills, agility and balance. Bloodroot caused mild confusion and physical weakness. Blue Whinnis caused mild weakness followed by unconsciousness. Corona caused mild strength loss that increased to moderate loss. Greenblood Oil caused slight physical weakness. Combined together, these poisons created an effect quite similar to the cursed cup that Eridanus crafted.
"Very well then," The agent nodded. "Let us begin."
