Location [Location] Black Tar's Alchemical Services

[Gillar]

In one of the darker corners of the Plaza of Dark Delights lies a small, dull-gray colored building with ever-closed shutters and a light gray door with what looks like thick black tar splashed across it. Though it looks closed, it isn't though it is meant to look that way to keep the less-than-serious would-be patrons away. This place is known by those in the Dark Delight as Black Tar's Alchemical Services or just, Black Tar. One need simply open the door and step inside to be greeted by a pungent mix of countless odors. It is always dimly lit with a few globes of dimly flickering, greenish light. The globes do not appear to have flames in them and its rumored they are magical. There are a number of glass cases lining the walls of this relatively small shop. A beaded curtain hangs over the entrance to a back room shrouded in darkness. Upon entering, visitors are greeted from the shadows of that back room by a harsh, whispered male voice, "Looking for something are you? Please look but be careful with the touch. Everything is labeled. If you wish to buy, do so and place the coins in the bronze dish to your side. Be careful of opening the cases and handling the contents. There are worse things than death in this world." Nothing can be seen in the darkness behind the curtain and any who decide to investigate will find that behind the curtain is nothing but a wall yet stepping back and looking again reveals the same darkened room. Rumors are that someone actually tried to steal from Black Tar before. Their body was found floating in a canal; its face twisted in a visage of unimaginable pain that could not be changed even in death. Enlightened and Magic Related Items For Sale: See Price List for Definitions Book, Average (Topics include an overviews of different magical disciplines, alchemy, herbalism and poisons. - 50 gm Candle - 1 cm Candle (Smoking) - 5 sm Darkfire Orb - 50 gm Glitter - 25 gm Ink - 1 oz. vial (black and colored) - 8/16 gm Inscribing Paint - 3 gm Paper (sheet) - 4 sp Parchment (sheet) - 2 sp Robe (alchemist) - 10 gm Scrollcase (leather) - 1 gm Staff (light) - 25 gm Tindertwig - 1 gm Poisons for Sale: Bloodroot (4-dose tiny vial) - 50 gm Blue Whinnis (4-dose tiny vial) - 175 gm Brawnpincer (4-dose tiny vial) - 125 gm Close Call (4-dose tiny jar) - 75 gm Coroal-Blade (4-dose tiny vial) - 300 gm Dark Reaver (4-dose tiny bag) - 200 gm Ivak's Rage (1-dose tiny bag) - 1,200 gm Greenblood oil (4-dose tiny vial) - 25 gm Lazy Gel (4-dose tiny jar) - 10 gm Phantom's Shell (4-dose tiny bag) - 25 gm

[Kerowyn Nailo]

Timestamp 3rd day of Fall, 509 AV

It was just after dusk when Kerowyn made his way through the dark alleys of the Plaza of Dark Delights. He was making his way to a shop that most of the general populace would never even know existed. His destination this night was Black Tar, a place where the criminally minded would go to purchase dangerous substances and unsavory favors. The alleys had been kind to him this night: he didn't have to prove his mettle against some would-be mugger or murderer tonight. How fortuitous. He could only hope that this luck would last through his prospective business deal.

Upon entering the shop, he was greeted as any other customer, though he hoped to become much more; "Looking for something are you? Please look but be careful with the touch. Everything is labeled. If you wish to buy, do so and place the coins in the bronze dish to your side. Be careful of opening the cases and handling the contents. There are worse things than death in this world."

Kerowyn smiled, knowingly "You need not warn me, sir, I play with substances such as these for fun. No, I come seeking something more than items, I seek employment." Sensing his would-be employer's skepticism, he continued with his credentials. "'What can I do?' You might ask... Well, there is much I can do for you. My main profession is as what I like to call an 'Unsanctioned Executioner', though the more blunt may call me an assassin. I also have a little experience in creating poisons, which I know you to sell. So, might you have a position for one such as myself?"

[Gillar]

There was silence for a moment from behind the curtain after Kerowyn spoke. When the silence was broken, it was done so by the harsh whisper from the curtain saying, "You are a killer for hire; not a rare thing in this part of town. Come closer and tell me exactly why you think that I may have need of a killer? It is not everyday someone comes into my home and offers such services." Nobody living in or around the Dark Delight had any idea who it was that owned the little shop known as the Black Tar. Interactions with the person inside were always done with customers never seeing the face of the one behind the curtain. Many had tried to discover the man's identify but any who moved the beaded-curtain found only a blank wall. How the man attained materials for his products or even how one would get them to him is unknown as nobody but customers have ever been seen entering or leaving the shop. If in fact the man was even a man was also something of a mystery. While his voice sounded like a male, it was whispered and harsh and some thought that it may even be female. The voice said again; not waiting for Kerowyn to respond, "Come, come, my patience is not something that lasts very long.

[Kerowyn Nailo]

OOCOops. I meant to post this in a different place, but let's just roll with it haha.

Kerowyn pondered the question for a moment. Perhaps he had originally came off wrong. He quickly tried to clarify himself. "It is not so much my profession of killing that I had wished to play up. That aspect would be more of an extra benefit to hiring me on other terms. I hoped that you would take me on as an apprentice to poison making."

Waiting just a few seconds, he realized he should buff up his case a little more, "And while I may not know much about you, I know that you work with many unsavory people. Having a little extra protection might give you the edge over a powerful, angered customer. Not that I'm saying you can't handle it yourself..."

[Gillar]

The voice behind the curtain spoke once more following Kerowyn's attempt to clarify his intentions. "While have little need for protection, it has been decades since I have worked with anyone close enough to consider them an apprentice." There was a moment of silence broken by a slight rustling from the beaded curtain. A hand reached between the beaded strands. It was wrapped in white silk bandages that extended up the length of an arm that disappeared behind the voluminous sleeve of a black silk robe. It motioned for Kerowyn to come very close. "You may be brave or insane, either is of some interest. I will grant you the pleasure of my direct presence if you are stout enough to step through the curtain." As the hand broke the stillness of the beads, so did a raspy breathing punctuated by soft, choking coughs.

[Scezha]

It's only been a day or so since Scezha first walks into this city, and now he already remembers every dark alley and canals that are not very familiar with the common people. Just once, this morning, he asks his oarman to stir away from his usual path, just to see a little bit more of the city. The oarman doesn't refuse at all, and that's when Scezha spot a peculiar looking shop at the middle of two tall buildings.

The shop was rather small, and as such might be overlooked by people who are more interested on the building besides it. But Scezha knew better than those kind of people. From the size of the door and shop, it was clear that this shop tries deliberately to hide itself. And a splotch of black tar at the door, and a few dusts collecting at the crack of the bricks seem to suggest that this place has been long since opearional. And nothing was to be found inside. Those kind of signs only adds fuel to Scezha's curiosity, and he promised himself he would try to enter the shop before the day ends.

And here he is. Standing in front of the splotched door that seem to emanates a strange and dark aura from the shop. What's inside could be dangerous or marvelous, and Scezha decides it was worth the risk of entering into an unknown territory. He grabs the handle of the door and, surprisingly, he realizes the door was not locked. Holding his breath, Scezha pushes the door and walk inside.

The first that hit him, is the smell of rotten leaves and roots. Accompanied by a faint glow from a ball of light in a lantern that hungs from the ceiling. As Scezha closed the door slowly and walk deeper into the store, a revelation hit him. This place reeks of something so magical. Something like herbalism and alchemy mixed together in the same pot. Boiled by fire from reimancy. This place must be a magic shop.

"Looking for something are you? Please look but be careful with the touch. Everything is labeled. If you wish to buy, do so and place the coins in the bronze dish to your side. Be careful of opening the cases and handling the contents. There are worse things than death in this world."

Somehow, somewhere, there comes a loud male voice. Commanding him as if he's watching Scezha from somewhere nearby. Yet doesn't reveal anything of himself. It's not a ghost, that Scezha knows for sure. The owner of this place must be a mage of some sort, but still a living man.

"You don't need to warn me." Scezha shouts back. "I've seen the dead, and worse, with my own eyes." He walks slowly to one of the tables on his right. "So, I can just pick anything I want and pay on that dish? You're such a kind shopkeeper."

No answers, but Scezha expect none. He pick his own choice of candle, parchment, and a scrollcase from the table around him. "Too bad you don't have a quill." Scezha whispers. Again, without any answer from the voice. Satisfied by his choice of stuffs, Scezha approaches the counter.

"Here you go. Three ordinary candles, three sheets of parchment, and a scroll case. I believe it's a gold six silvers and three coppers." Scezha drops the sufficient amounts of mizas onto the plate, making a clattering noise all over the shop.

"You have a pretty nice shop. I might stop by again in the future." And, without waiting for an answer, Scezha walks out of the shop.

[Voreasos Alisier]

80th Winter 510 AV

It took him awhile but at last he found a shop that could have been of use. It took paying a few city folk and even then watching the outside for a few Bells as people came and went due to the outside of the shop looked closed but once Vore knew that it was just a front he went in himself.

If it was one thing he knew that would have been poison not only was his race skilled at the art of them but he also took it as a job when he was younger. Vore stood roughly 5’10 which was tall for a human but normal his own race. His blue spider like veins stood out the most along his pale white skin. His amethyst eyes also stood out past his outfit which was made out of a light bone armour. White warping laid under that and over the amour was a thick winter cloak that he kept warped around his body. His hands stayed near his body, the claws along his finger were kept in a fist to himself.

“Hello...I am looking for a job. I heard you might be able to help in that field. I may know a few things of poisons and could help out if you were in some type of need.”

His voice was soft as he spoke but it held a softer kindness to it on some level as he looked towards the shop owner. His race was known for many things but kindness was not one of them in normal day to day life.

[Seth]

At first, there was absolute silence. It would look as if he wasn't going to get a response, but within a few moments, a soft voice would lazily respond. "Looking for something are you? Please look but be careful with the touch. Everything is labeled. If you wish to buy, do so and place the coins in the bronze dish to your side. Be careful of opening the cases-" The voice paused suddenly, and a short silence followed. Then it spoke once again, it's voice a little more alert this time around. "...A job? In here? What kind of promise do I have that you won't accidently bump into a shelf filled with potions, and bath yourself in one of my liquid toxins? If people keep finding bodies in here, eventually, they are just going to tear the place down..." Keep finding bodies? "...But, you are... A Symenestra. Interesting. I wonder how long you will last here. You do know you go for a good bit of coin on the slave market, right?" There was another pause, and then a long sigh. After a bit, the voice would echo out again, from behind that curtain in the back. "Symenestra's are supposed to know their poisons... and I suppose that is why you thought I would hire you. Well, you are wrong. You could be a stupid Symenestra." There was another pause, which seemed to be the habit of the Voice. He often thought about what he was going to say. "...I will give you something of a job though. Since I am but a voice, I cannot sweep. Would you like to sweep, and keep things tidy? You will not touch anything, except with a broom and a washcloth. If you drop something, I drop another one on you. After I have observed you for awhile, we will see about advancing you. Perhaps you can make me a few poisons, just to attempt to prove your worth. How does that sound?"

[Irriari]

4th of Summer, 511 AV
Irriari wandered into the shop hesitantly. She was unsure that it was open, due to the unwelcoming facade it presented to all who happened to walk by. Something about the shop seemed to call to her, though if asked she knew that she would not be able to articulate the feeling into words. Maybe it was simply the darkness of the outside that reminded her of the colony she had left behind. Few humans lingered around the door, which she noted appreciatively before stepping inside.

Once inside, Irriari was quickly convinced that this shop was one that catered to her interests, and she hoped that she could find poisons among the collection of vials, beakers and jars inside the glass cases. The dimly lit room was a relief to her eyes that had been assaulted by the late afternoon sun. She had started glancing over the cabinets when a voice came from the back of the room, that succinctly informed her of the protocols and procedures of the shop. Irriari walked closer to the cabinet that held jars and vials which she had hoped to be poison. Upon closer inspection, Irriari swore. While the substances were poisons, her inability to read left her with no idea as to what they were. Even worse, the only book she had that would help her understand poisons with names written in Common had been left at her colony, and deemed too fragile for the trip. She could read numbers however, and understood that 'gm' meant gold miza. While it seemed silly, her slave, Sevrai had insisted the she learn how to read numbers and count coins before she left. Being swindled out of her coin was not an option, the girl had insisted, so she had learned. Some of the totals for a single jar were more expensive then her current coin multiplied by two or three times.

She pointed at the thick red substance that was contained by a jar, and labeled 50 gm, then she pointed at the yellow concoction that sat in a nearby jar, labeled 75gm.

“What are those?”

She realized that she had hardly introduced herself, so before the phantom voice answered Irriari quickly moved her poisoncrafting kit to the floor and opened it. She pulled out her favorite plant, from her homeland, the Hasale'ith'savanht. She loved the effect of the mint green plant in various poisons that she had brewed with the fungi of the den.

“I am an aspiring poisoner. I come from the Sea of Grass, so I do not know what any of these are, or their effects. I wish to purchase some poison while I am in Ravok, however.”

She held up the plant and continued speaking while she admired the well preserved leaves and stem

“This is my prized plant for poisoningcrafting, from my region. Have you ever seen it before? Is it a reagent in any of your poisons?”

She hoped that she was not too forward, or that the mysterious shop keeper thought she was an over eager, under educated fool. The shop felt right, and it was a relief to be in a place not filled to the brim with humans that also had the added benefit of stocking poisons.

Note :

The plant Irr referenced can be found here.

[Raenfae]

45th of Spring, 512 A.V. Raenfae stepped off of the ravosalas, not saying anything to the pilot who sat at the back of the simple water vessel. He knew the pilot would wait for him as he had paid the 4 gold mizas for a round-trip. His boots echoed hollowly on the dockside as he walked with a steady, unhurried purpose towards a specific door, one his mother had told him about and taken him to before, Black Tar. It was an alchemical shop of a darker nature, one that also sold poisons and other items an alchemist, or poison crafter, might need. Pushing the door open enough to enter, Raenfae looked around as his eyes adjusted to the dim light cast by the globes, though there is no warmth from them as there is no flame inside them. They were always something that intrigued him as a child, and even now they kept his curiosity for a few seconds longer than they did most others. His eyes glanced over the glass cases, looking with passive interest at the robes, candles and other such items, while finding a deeper interest in the vials and powder and pastes, recognizing a couple lower level poisons. So entranced was he in studying the various concoctions, that the voice speaking from behind the beaded curtain startled him, causing his head to look up quickly. "Looking for something are you? Please look but be careful with the touch. Everything is labeled. If you wish to buy, do so and place the coins in the bronze dish to your side. Be careful of opening the cases and handling the contents. There are worse things than death in this world." The words were familiar to him, reminding him of his childhood in a fond way, a twisted way sure, but still fond none-the-less. Stepping forward to the middle of the building, away from the door but not a disrespectfully close distance to the beaded curtain, Raenfae spoke. "I am not immediately seeking anything to buy. If you remember me, I came here often with my mother as a child while I grew into a man, and have been away far to long from this place. I come now as I have gone on my own path, and I seek employment here. I want more than a job, I wish to learn and become a master in poisons. I have ever loved the craft of making poisons, of hunting and studying and finding and creating...as well as enjoying the application of a successful creation.