Closed [Ino Vations]To catch a poisoner[Inoadar]

[Clyde Sullins]

The gateway sealed, all that was left of the work was to clean up, dispose or the waste, and prepare the materials into their final product, a proper poison. Clyde waited and watched as Nolan wiped things down, sprayed some type of cleaning agent into the air, and worked through the room. Clyde waited until Nolan removed his own mask, and signaled for the all clear, before taking off any of his own gear. Carefully he took of his own things, and dealt with them as Nolan did, following his lead on the proper treatment and disposal. "We should be okay now." By the time he had taken off all the poison protection gear his girl had arrived, bringing in an unknown apparatus. From his earlier mention of the steam device, he could only assume it was that. "I had originally thought to keep this atmosphere sample to run tests on, but now I think it might be best to inject into this chamber. It may help the moss keep longer. And frankly, this litmus strip here suggests a higher acidic content than our own. I think it may need that to survive longer." Clyde nodded and shrugged in turn, answering as best he could to Nolan's comments. Which admittedly was not to well, since he had little knowledge on the subject beyond what Nolan had told him. "I don't know if that's going to make any difference, but I don't see how it can hurt." “I suppose as you believe is best. Perhaps after testing out the results and the Vilemoss' reaction in different circumstances, you will know better of it.” With a gesture at the summoning gateway, Nolan then questioned the clean up. In this attempt their were no true Glyphs, no sigils or true magical symbols. Though those could be added to a gateway for specific reasons or specific triggers, Clyde had not used as such. All that had been drawn was the gateway itself, a magic in and of itself outside of Glyphing. "Is there anything you need to do before I scrub them clean? Do you know how long this stuff usually lasts after it's collected?" “Scrub? Just roll up the scroll and burn it, its served its use, and can be discarded. I'd not use the same gateway a second time, as I'm unsure how stable such a temporary and moveable one would be after already being used... Also since the parchment may have soaked up some of the essence or whatever of the Vilemoss, I'm not sure how safe it is to touch... Hard to say.” “And as for how long the Vilemoss lasts, I am not sure. I'd suggest using and preparing it as soon as possible, lest it rots or decays or loses it potency. Though if you do learn how long it lasts, its shelf life so to speak after being summoned, I would find such information interesting for reference. I'd imagine though that if you needed more, or wanted to make more poison later, you'd need me to open another gateway.” "Now that I know it's an acidic and humid atmosphere, I can proceed with a likely process. If you want to stay and watch, you're certainly welcome to." Clyde nodded, satisfied with the process so far, and his work in harvesting the poisonous materials. “Sure. I suppose I'll stay and watch, to see you process it into a poison, and then I'll probably be off.”

[Inoadar]

Setting out a second beaker with a valved pump attachment, Inoadar hooked it together and tested it. He replaced some of the reagents he'd gotten out previously as he waited for the glass balls in the Ice House to get colder. He also took a shallow tray and filled it with ice water.

He then set up a second relay tube insert. It was designed to fit in the same port inserts as the coil array, but had a single, straight, wide barrel, instead of a coil, and was made of metal, not glass. There was an hatch in the top side of the widened section.

He watched the steam grow more intense in the chamber, and at one point, hurried back to the Ice House to retrieve the glass balls, which were now coated with the powdered reagent and frost. He opened the hatch in the metal barrel and dropped them inside, in a line, until the tube was filled with them. They fit the inner diameter of the tube snugly.

He stoked the burner beneath the coil, bringing the rate of boil to a much higher, hotter rate. He was watching the progress carefully as he mumbled distractedly to Clyde, "I'm having to process this reagent first...It won't keep long...once I finish....I have to time it...just...right..." his eyes locked on the glass tube as the steam poured through it, his feet adjusting position slightly to prepare for sudden movement.

His gloved hands were poised to grip the clip releases holding the ends of the condensation coil in place. He knew they would be hot. All at once, he grabbed and squeezed, a burst of steam moistening his gloves as he yanked the coil free. Even as he dropped it on the table top, he was already reaching for the metal tube. The outside of the the tube was showing the condensation effect of the cold glass balls inside.

Inoadar quickly set the tube ends into the fittings for the boiler, and watched as the condensation started to fade at the ends. He nodded his head, counting silently and suddenly whisked the metal tube free of the gear and plunged it in the ice water. Again he counted a few ticks and then popped the hatch and dumped the contents out.

Most of the glass balls simply rolled around aimlessly, and he ignored them, not caring about the few hit the floor. But there were four in the center that were now locked together in what looked like colored ice. The poisoner pounded the glass free and quickly scooped up the frozen matter.

"Now, before it thaws!" he announced as he stepped to the second beaker. He threw the icy results in and swung the burner beneath it. The neck of the beaker had a bulbous flare to it and, while the icy reagent started to melt, Inoadar grabbed one of his vials and dripped a few drops of some catalyst into a cotton ball. He shoved this with a small prod into the neck until it occupied the bulb. "Natural thawing greatly reduces the potency." He explained as he pumped the plunger. It forced little puffs of colored steam into the cotton ball.

When there was no more to be collected, he removed the pump attachment and dumped the remaining water from the beaker. He carefully plucked a small clump of Vilemoss from the humidity chamber and slipped it into the beaker. "Okay, I have a chime to spare now." He used this time to mix a couple of powders and melt them down in a dish.

By the time the powders had melted, Inoadar had the first beaker in hand, balancing in anticipation of upending it over the dish. When he did this, the clump of Vilemoss dropped against the cotton ball soaked with the recently frozen reagent.

As the poisoner watched, the Vilemoss slowly withered, and drops of some sap or resin leaked into the cotton ball to drip through into the dissolved blend of powders in the dish below. They absorbed the color from the cotton ball as they did so, but as this colored liquid hit the blend below, the color washed out to become clear again.

"I KNEW IT!" Inoadar shouted triumphantly. "This process HAS to determine, by elimination, one aspect or another as the source of toxin." he swept up the beaker with the withered remains. "It's either the sap, or the...body...of the plant that produces it. And in this case, its the body!" he crowed with supreme confidence as he upended the beaker again to dump the blanched withered remains of the moss into his hand.

He was about to explain that they now needed only to grind the remains into a powder, when his face dropped into a look of serious concern as he realized he'd taken his glove off. He stared at Clyde as he swallowed hard. Then, regaining his scientific focus, he handed the mage his keys, "Lock me in one of the cells, and take notes of the toxin's effect, please, if you would be so kind." He turned and headed toward his office as he started to cringe in spasms of pain.

[Clyde Sullins]

After that what fell before him was a confusing flurry of action and poisoncraft. What he saw made little sense, since he lacked the base knowledge to understand it. He saw the motions and actions, but that alone was not enough to truly understand. Occasionally Nolan would speak to Clyde, at times explaining something, at times simply making a note to himself, but for the most part Clyde just watched in silence. "I'm having to process this reagent first...It won't keep long...once I finish....I have to time it...just...right..." As he did various work with cooling and heating and ice, Clyde could not help wondering if perhaps Reimancy might be of use in certain instances of this craft. Quickly heating or cooling, an effect he could cause easily enough and with much less preparation and equipment. He supposed in the long run it made more sense to have ones own equipment, but in the short term or in an instance of a need for expediency, having a more controlled reaction such as was possible via Reimancy might be useful. "Now, before it thaws!" "Natural thawing greatly reduces the potency." "Okay, I have a chime to spare now." Clyde watched as the poisoner grew excited, reaching some moment of clarity that involved dripping. Apparently through the complex process, some essence or liquid nature derived from the Vilemoss had been extracted. "I KNEW IT!" "This process HAS to determine, by elimination, one aspect or another as the source of toxin." "It's either the sap, or the...body...of the plant that produces it. And in this case, its the body!" Clyde nodded, not totally understanding his reasoning or how he had reached it, but understanding that it was the Vilemoss itself, its body, that was the poisonous material, not some byproduct or other essence held within. Clyde was considering congratulating Nolan, when the man suddenly visibly tensed and froze in mid action. For a moment Clyde was puzzled, not understanding, when he noted his hand and the poison and his expression. The master poisoner had just managed to poison himself... Taking the proffered keys, Clyde headed towards the cells to lock Nolan inside. "Lock me in one of the cells, and take notes of the toxins effect, please, if you would be so kind." It was clearly visible by his reaction that the poison was already taking effect. Once Nolan was locked inside, Clyde would let out a sigh, and watch the effects on Nolan. “Well I suppose that's one way of testing a new poison... Though I'm afraid I'll have to add accidental poisoning to my report... I think some might consider that a bit less than professional.”

[Inoadar]

"You might be surprised," Inoadar said, trying to cover his blunder, "how often a...chemist...has to test results on himself. One cannot always trust a second party to give the sort of analal..lyni...analytical insights and observations one can glean from...one's...own...body."

The poisoner's brow furrowed as another spasm of pain wracked him. It was not the pain that had him concerned though. He hoped that the mage would make that assumption, but truly it was his sudden inability to focus his thoughts that worried him. It was not as though he'd never exposed himself to mentally debilitating chemicals, but they were always compounds where he knew that would occur. So it was only the intensity and duration that were being tested. And those could be worked out after the fact.

No, this was an unknown chemical, and he needed his wits about him to make a full comprehensive analysis. He loathed that he might have to rely on Clyde to do this for him. But he was enough of a professional to set side his pride for the sake of research. "I have tested many compounds on...uhh...myself. but I have to admit I had not...had not...I would...uhh...since this is an unknown...uhh...thing...What was your name again?..."

He seemed to recall his line of thought again, "Oh yes. I would probably test it on...on...my slave...Buh...Bur...something...he can take suitable notes when I'm...uhh...I'm trying to remember something...Oh yes! Burke! that was his name...I mean, IS his name. Sorry Burke." the slave was nowhere around, of which Clyde was no doubt well aware. If he said anything about it though, the confused poisoner took no notice. His thoughts were becoming increasingly focused on food.

He started to struggle against Clyde's hold, seeing the open door to the cells. But he managed to recall that he'd asked the mage to do it. Still, there was a note of hesitance to his voice, "Are you going to get me something to eat when you put me in there? I'm petching starving all of a sudden. In fact, make a note...of...a ummm...note...note...ice...notice how good it smells in here? Voice! I'm hungry."

No further observations of any value were forthcoming for the next several bells as the poisoner sank into a subhuman level of focus on nothing but food. He didn't even seem to notice the sound of the cell closing behind him, as he hurried to a coil of rope and began chewing on it.

[Clyde Sullins]

While on a physical front Nolan attempted to play off his mishap as being on purpose, the roiling feelings coming off of him and his aura made it clear this was not the case. While many emotions and feelings were hard to pinpoint or understand, at least at first, pain, especially strong and immediate pain, was much harder to hide. Pain was something coming off of Nolan in tangible colored waves of brown murkiness, along with the sensation of teeth biting down on a rock. The stronger it became the more it swamped out and obscured other things, letting them fall into the background. It did however occur to Clyde just then that this was perhaps one way of falsifying or throwing off such a emotion reading, by masking it with a stronger emotion, in this case pain. Something he might find of use later, or a useful bit of knowledge should someone attempt it in another setting. "You might be surprised how often a...chemist...has to test results on himself. One cannot always trust a second party to give the sort of analal..lyni...analytical insights and observations one can glean from...one's...own...body." “Yes, I could perhaps believe that as true in some cases, though I don't believe that in this case. I'm fairly certain that any possible enhancement in observation would be cancelled out by the diminishment of ones own thought processes and observational ability by the effects. Though I suppose in other less drastic poisons it might be a useful tool.” "I have tested many compounds on...uhh...myself. but I have to admit I had not...had not...I would...uhh...since this is an unknown...uhh...thing...What was your name again?..." Clyde shook his head, as it was clear to even the casual observer that the poison was affecting him mentally. Leaning towards the top of Cha, or her head as Clyde preferred to think of it, Clyde leaned down and spoke under his breath out loud, as if he was whispering conspiratorially to someone, or depicting the scene to a person who could not see, said person being Cha the blue Magic Staff herself. “Subject's mental faculties appears to be impaired by the effects of the poison, which appears to be taking affect quite quickly. Subject also seems to be losing coherence, and is suffering possible memory lose.” Quickly enough Nolan carried onward with his words, as if he had not even stopped. "Oh yes. I would probably test it on...on...my slave...Buh...Bur...something...he can take suitable notes when I'm...uhh...I'm trying to remember something...Oh yes! Burke! that was his name...I mean, IS his name. Sorry Burke." “Subject further seems to be affected in his ability to access memories, in this case names, that of someone he interacts with on a regular basis. Subject seems distracted, and having trouble keeping his train of thought and in keeping up with his own conversation. Subject is apologizing to someone who is not here, apparently unaware of this fact.” As he neared the cell door, Nolan began to struggle, forcing Clyde to concentrate more heavily on getting him inside. His question intrigued him, as the sudden shift to the topic of food seemed... Off. "Are you going to get me something to eat when you put me in there? I'm petching starving all of a sudden. In fact, make a note...of...a ummm...note...note...ice...notice how good it smells in here? Voice! I'm hungry." Smiling and pressing him forward, Clyde nodded and assured the poisoner. “Oh, yes, yes, I'll have some food along in just a moment, a full meal, a banquet, just as soon as you are safely stored away.” Once he was locked into the cell, Clyde was able to continue on with his odd rambling notations to Cha, as he watched Nolan, and examined him auristically. “Subject appears focused entirely on food. Subject has gone so far as to consider a piece of rope as food, and is currently attempting to injest it.” As he watched the focus of emotion coming from Nolan slowly shifted, from one of pain to one of... Another. Clyde could not quite name the feeling, but it was a deep roiling pain, paired with the sound of wind whistling through an empty room. The earlier pain seemed to shift, with this new feeling taking dominance. Due to his mention of food, and his attempt to eat rope, Clyde could only assume it was somehow associated with hunger. But it was hard to pinpoint or truly and completely understand. “Subject appears to have reached a steady state, with a continuing focus on eating to the exception of all else.”

[Inoadar]

...Hunger...

He couldn't remember the last time he ate. He licked crumbs of whatever he'd last devoured from the floor. It triggered a memory of some bread. Bread he'd been given only chimes before. He had a vague sense that the man beyond the bars had given him that. Already the memory was fading again...He couldn't remember the last time he ate...

He looked up at the man. He felt that he ought to know his name, or title, or something. But he could not generate the interest in knowing it. His only interest was in eating. But it occurred to him that it might help bring about another feeding...Now it was suddenly all-important to recall. He wracked his brain for a few moments and managed to dredge up the name "Sullis" He didn't know if this was the man's first or last name, but he somehow recalled the need for the gesture of respect to place the word "mister" before anything he called him.

"Mister Sullis. Please...more food." He didn't even consider whether he knew his own name or not, until a little girl's crying caught his attention. She was saying "Uncle Nolan" repeatedly, and asking Mr. Sullis what was wrong with him. He had enough awareness of language to realize her context indicated that she was asking about himself. As well as the fact that her tearful eyes were locked on him. So he was apparently "Uncle Nolan". It was irrelevant. All there was was hunger. He continued to plead for food.

There was puzzling sense that he did not want to see her crying, and that it was his own fault that she was. But it didn't really seem all that important. She smelled good though, he noticed. In fact, it struck him that he'd noticed this before. His mouth watered anew. Had it ever not watered? "Gods, I'm starving, Sullis! FEED ME!..PLEASE!"

He heard the man saying something. He didn't know if he was talking to the girl or the big stick he was holding. He didn't know if he was warning her again about getting too close to him. He had a flash of memory about nearly getting his hands on her when she'd first entered the holding area. 'Voice! She would have tasted so good!' he thought. His hunger spiked again. He didn't even think about the fact that he had no clue where the interjection of "Voice" had come from. Or what it meant.

A second man came in, younger, but larger than the man with the stick. But he paid the first man deference and took the girl out, speaking calmly and quietly to her. Again the odd spike of emotion at seeing her so upset struck him. He didn't understand it. He wanted to eat her as much as to see her smile. For that matter, he'd be happy to eat the two men as well.

The hunger continued unabated. He learned that he got better stuff than rope, when he spent several chimes chewing on it. By the time he started to question why he was chewing on rope, he noticed that a quarter of the coil was gone and he felt sick. He was exhausted. But he was still hungry.

He was finally starting to remember things besides hunger. He was incredibly thirsty as well. Clyde seemed okay with giving him water. 'Clyde?...why is he here? Why does it seem important to remember his name?' Events began to come back to him. The Vilemoss, the Summoning, the harvesting, the processing, his incredible idiocy. Vera, Burke...eating rope and dirt, licking the iron bars.

He was to pay for this mistake with perhaps the most painful thing he'd ever been compelled to do in his life. He realized he was on his knees with sickness and weakness. He slowly stood, his knees trembling with shock at how he'd regressed over the last...how long had it been? He looked at Clyde and swallowed hard and took a deep breath, to help cope with the humiliation of what he was about to do.

"Thank you...Mr. Sullins...I...can only hope my behavior was...informative. I am greatly in your debt. How long was I...not myself? How is Vera? And Burke? I think you'd best leave me here...for observation...for awhile yet."

[Clyde Sullins]

As Clyde watched, Nolan's obsession with food and eating seemed to increase. So far as Clyde could tell, besides the initial apparent pain, this was the only effect of the poison. Of course, perhaps that was simply all it did when in a fully processed form as it was now. Clyde could only wonder what it might do in its more impure form. Perhaps he would have to find that out next time, as surely Nolan had some process for finding out such a thing. Waves of hunger washed over Clyde, emitted off of Nolan, a feeling so strong Clyde almost wondered if he'd be able to sense such a feeling even without use of Auristics. Clyde simply watched as the poisoner literally licked up every morsel of food from the floor, every bit of edible thing he could find in the cell. "Mister Sullis. Please...more food." Clyde did not feed him, mainly since he did not know what reaction might occur, but also since it was not his residence and he did not know where any food might be kept. It was clear though from observing Nolan at this time, that under the effects of this poison, he would do about anything for food, whether by means violent or subordinate. Another possible use for the poison then? He certainly hadn't been so obsequious before, and had often enough been rude. Clyde could only logically reason then that it was caused by the poison, or a change in his mindset brought about by its effects. He was forced into action though when a small girl entered, clearly quite upset to find Nolan in such a state, locked up as he was, calling for her "uncle Nolan." Clyde was forced to keep her away, and hold her back, as he attempted to explain. “He is in there because he asked to be, because he needs to be. You know the poison we were preparing? He accidentally dosed himself with it. And so for his own protection, and ours, he asked to be locked up until the effects wore off. Go for now, I will watch over him. Do not fret, all things pass in time, even poisons.” Clyde attempted a smile at the girl, to try to calm her and put her at ease. He was not sure how well it worked to calm her, if at all, but eventually she did stop calling for Nolan, and left Clyde to his observations. "Gods, I'm starving, Sullis! FEED ME!..PLEASE!" After this additional outburst another man came in, and removed the young girl. Later once he had calmed down a bit, Clyde had carefully given Nolan some water, as he asked for it in a clearly calmer state of mind, unlike when he asked for food. After a time Nolan finally spoke again, in a much cleared fashion, unlike the confused and angry fashion of earlier. "Thank you...Mr. Sullins...I...can only hope my behavior was...informative. I am greatly in your debt. How long was I...not myself? How is Vera? And Burke? I think you'd best leave me here...for observation...for awhile yet." “Informative, yes, you could say that. Though as is often the case, information learned tends to lead to new questions, often more than are answered. I do wonder though if this is the effect of fully prepared Vilemoss, what might the more unrefined type do? I'd advise against testing that on yourself though... As for the effect... I'd say bells, at least, I can't say for sure how long exactly. Perhaps your man would know better, or be better at keeping time.” “As for the girl she is a bit shaken up, but will be fine. Your mine is likewise fine.” Clyde nodded at his suggestion, of leaving Nolan locked up for awhile yet. “Yes, that is probably a good idea. Best if you keep isolated for a time still. I'm sure your man can keep care of you till you are recovered, and will know when to release you. I suppose that is it for this meeting, I don't think anything else productive could really be done. I suppose if there is nothing else, I will part.” There work done, and if nothing else was needed of him, Clyde would head out on his way. Still though, he had learned quite a bit, and learned quite a bit about poisons, Nolan, and the particular poison of prepared vilemoss. And who knew when such things would be of use...

[Alea Davenport]

Thread Award! Clyde Sullins: Skills: Socialization +1 Investigation +1 Interrogation +3 Intimidation +1 Leadership +1 Rhetoric +1 Philosophy +2 Auristics +3 Summoning +1 Lores: Distinguishing Emotions in a Person’s Aura Auristics: Seeing Actions Before They Happen Inoadar’s Aliases Layout of the New Ino Vations Poison Sources: Plants and Spiders How to Build Up Immunity to Poisons How to Open the Secret Door In New Ino Vations Burke: Inoadar’s Shopkeeper Vera: Inoadar’s Apprentice Vilemoss Requires High Humidity to Survive Effects of Vilemoss Poisoning Extras: Ledger: -3gm for Ravosala fare plus tip Notes: This is something I’ve noticed in your writing for a while that really bothers me: there is absolutely NO need to copy/paste the dialogue of the previous person into your post. The previous post is right there. The most you need, if you want to reference the dialogue in order to respond, is maybe one line, to reference which bit of dialogue you’re responding to. There should be absolutely no reason to copy-paste three paragraphs of dialogue in a row. Inoadar: If you return to mizahar, you may resubmit this for grading to receive your grade, (after updating your ledger of course). If you have any questions about the grade, please feel free to PM me and we can discuss it.