Closed Unexpected Business (Valerius, Inodar)

[Inoadar]

It seemed that both he and Amolina were somewhat on the spot, Inoadar realized. He needed an answer about the various aspects of her personality and capabilities that Amolina displayed, but she clearly wished to maintain her image of mystery. It was not so much that he did, or did not, want to suggest that she was not a competent associate. It was more that if he made her out to be lacking in some way, then he would make HIMSELF look a fool as well. She had clearly come to Valerius possessing the upper hand over "Nolan". So if she was a flighty fool, then he was even worse.

He directed his answer to Valerius, while keeping his eyes on Amolina, a slight nod accompanying his words. "Just the two sides; the seemingly vulnerable and distracted side, to promote disregard and underestimation, and the calculating and competent side, to exploit it. I was quite impressed, actually." Best to elevate her standing, the better to support his own.

Now he faced the man, letting a look of understanding cross his face. "I see. I had wondered which definition of the word "Sanitation" we were dealing with. I, for one, do not believe that the coddling of the weak accomplishes anything but the diluting of a society with those that must then be forever "carried" by those whose talents would be best employed in other areas. I will not drag things out with philosophical comparisons of the doctrines of our Lord Rhysol and those of his ally, Vayt, other than to say that they both seek to reward the strong with rightful rule.

"I adhere to Rhysol's approach, as best as I can, but I employ Vayt's method. I was given to understand that this was His will. As for a Nuit brain, I was interrupted in my work and was not able to confirm my supposition that this fluid in the basis of an antidote to a powerful poison called "Dark Reaving". But what I DID find is that, upon habitation by a Nuit, those parts of the brain unused by him, the more peripheral lobes and outer coils, are "sealed off" for lack of a better term by a fluid I've never encountered before.

"I have examined most parts of the body while dissecting and analyzing the impacts of various classes of toxins, including the brain, and had never before seen the discharge I observed in a brain from a body newly abandoned by a Nuit on whose behalf I had taken a contract to procure a new body." Inoadar did not bother clarifying that such a contract must have involved murder. Leaving it only hinted at was preferable, as was the display of reticent restraint.

He went on. "It appears the Nuit-affected brain generates this fluid as some sort of inhibitor to those areas dealing with now-inert functions. This is possibly to allow greater focus of the ichor on the core of the brain. But once the entity departs the body, this fluid is no longer pressurized away from the core, and seeps back in, eventually equalizing in consistency throughout. Thus, a body once inhabited and abandoned, can not be re-inhabited, as the entire brain is now inundated with this fluid."

"As I said, I was unable to complete the final test due to an untimely interruption." He tried to make his next hint as subtle as possible. "If I could obtain a new, freshly abandoned Nuit brain, I could take this research to its...beneficial conclusion. I am also currently hoping to find some quality of creature ability, besides the Kelvic's shape shifting ability, to test a second application of one of the components of Wildleash poison. I could embark on a discussion of those suppositions if you wish, but they are far more theoretical at this stage."

[Valerius Nitrozian]

Unfortunately Valerius didn’t care about the sweet tone in which Amolina suddenly spoke. As she rose to her feet and shook her skirt, claiming to be worried about dust, he replied, „I don’t see any dust. I remember that you weren’t worried about dust when we were in the Kelvic Research Institution together. But as you wish, you may keep your mysteries to yourself, and I will keep my own mysteries a while longer as well.“ People were like flowers? He arched an eyebrow and looked at Amolina questioningly as he heard that. Did she really mean that nonsense, was she trying to practice her acting skills on them or did she want to distract them from something? Either way, Valerius didn’t wish to be compared to a flower with a multitude of shimmering and fascinating petals, thank you very much. As Nolan claimed to have been impressed by Amolina, Valerius abruptly looked at the actress again. „Calculating and competent, Miss Moletta? It seems as if you are good. I may have underestimated you.“ That all changed when he saw how Amolina reacted to Nolan’s talk about Nuit brains. Valerius looked indifferent, no, that was not entirely true. While Amolina shuddered, the Nitrozian leaned a little closer to the poisoner. He was at least mildly interested – and he could not keep from making a comment about Amolina’s behaviour. „I hope that you are not squeamish, Miss Moletta. I personally don’t see anything wrong with experimenting with things that are already dead and useless to their previous owner.“ The fate of other people was of no concern to the Nitrozian – as long as they were not people he cared about. Miss Moletta, as much as she frustrated him sometimes, was about to become part of that small group of people, but that wasn’t of any importance right now. He only found it strange that she had suggested that they use human test subjects but apparently had a problem with Nuit brains. He turned back to Nolan. „We seem to agree on this matter, Mister Parnell. I don’t believe that coddling the weak accomplishes anything either. They are a burden. Caring too much about them makes our society as a whole weak, weak enough for our enemies to take advantage of us.“ „As for your research on Nuit brains, is there any way you can repeat your research? If you are lacking the necessary resources, I can help you. I would be most interest in hearing more about Dark Reaving and Wildleash and their effects. I have worked with poisons in the past, but my work was rather insignificant compared to yours, I’m afraid.“ He shrugged his shoulders. „As for creatures with certain abilities, as I’ve said, I’m working at the Kelvic Research Institution. If you ever need Kelvic, it will be easy to arrange something, but if you need creatures with different abilities … my family also deal in slaves. You only need to tell me what kind of creatures you are looking for, and I can watch the slave market and alert you when a certain slave is being sold.“ Of course he was not making the offer because he was such a nice man and wanted to help a fellow scientist, but because he had need of Mister Parnell’s skills. He hoped that the man understood that.

[Amolina]

Now when Parnell told them more details it dawned on Amolina that it was maybe THAT antidote he was speaking about. She couldn't be sure. Parnell had not said it. But it seemed to be the one he had promised her in return for Clyde Sullins hair. A concoction made of “fluid” and ichor extracted from a brain of a decaying corpse that had been abandoned by a nuit Parnell had “helped with a replacement body”?! The moment she heard this, Amolina started to hesitate about the antidote. Relly...was there anything that could make her “test” that kind of brew? Parnell seemed to be totally…insane. It went without saying that morbid materials like that couldn’t be used as ingredients in something that was meant to cure somebody, didn't it ? Perhaps it was a good thing the crafting had been interrupted if this madness was what it had been about ? “No Mr Nitrozian, I’m not squeamish, of course not. I’m not squeamish.” After this attempt to repair her image after having shuddered at the wrong point, she stayed silent and just observed them. And for a moment it was like she was looking into the room from outside. The room’s expensive but tasteful furniture and decorations that spoke about power, tradition and old money. The two men, engaged in discussion. Red hair, dark hair - both well brushed and neat. Dark suits, white shirts - different qualities, but essentially businesslike. A display of knowledge and skills that could be available - a display of resources that could be available. Be of use to me and I’ll be of use to you. Values and opinions, compared and shared. Matching. And in front of the fireplace, a woman, in a violet dress, her face like a pleasant painting of a slightly smiling mask. Watching. Valerius had told her he hoped she wasn’t squeamish and she had said no because she didn’t want to encourage any more embarrassing public discussions… So, was she squeamish? What was it to be squeamish, she wondered angrily. Was it so very squeamish to not want to wallow in repulsive rotten remnants of a body that not even a nuit had found acceptable? If she happened to not like disgusting things, did that mean she was squeamish? The seemingly vulnerable and distracted side that promotes contempt and underestimation. And the calculating and competent side to exploit it. Just so impressive. The poisoner’s short answer had been a double-edged masterpiece. He was flattering her, in front of Valerius, a subtle way of flattering Valerius - and flattering Parnell himself. At same time…he might actually be saying something not so flattering at all. It seemed to be all about being impressive...Parnell was showing off an undreamed-of expertise, in Amolina's opinion. Valerius was throwing in position, wealth and influence. They spoke about how the world belonged to the ones that were strong, and it was apparent that they both considered themselves strong…no despisable, squeamish weaklings there. It was perhaps considered squeamish and weak to not be attracted to nuit brains and their fluids? She found it disgusting but as it could be seen as weak, she wasn’t going to say it. But she couldn’t bring herself to join the conversation about acquiring more nuit brains either. Annoyed with herself because she didn’t have neither knowledge nor resources to add, she returned to sit in the chair again. Silence seemed to be her best bet.

[Inoadar]

'Aaah, just what I wanted to hear,' Inoadar crowed to himself. But he needed to be sure of a couple of details. "That would be very generous of you, sir. Am I understanding correctly that you can ensure a newly abandoned body? The one that I worked with was only two days...uh...gone, and it was already greatly diluted in potency. If you know of a Nuit today that can be...persuaded...to no longer animate his present body by tonight, well...actually, I would only need its head...But yes, I could not only repeat my research, I could do it right in front of you, so you could observe each step."

He addressed the next point, "As for unique creature abilities, I don't mean things like retractable claws or the ability to spit venom through its fangs. I mean truly mystical traits unique to one animal, or even monster. Things like invisibility or teleportation. But I suppose each species of Kelvic would manifest certain traits..." He didn't know how easily he could explain the concept he had in mind, but Valerius had just said he'd worked with poisons.

"These are follow-ups to the trait-triggering effect of Wildleash poison. The catalyst found in the lower joint platform of a certain fungus is able to break down the structural restraints of cellular components, making it vulnerable to the "introduction" of cells carrying the desired traits. As yet, all that it has been used to accomplish is a poison...well, a "serum" really, almost a vaccination."

He regrouped his thoughts. "Where was I? Oh yes, this "Wildleash poison" causes an uncontrolled triggering of the Kelvics animal-morphing ability. They switch back and forth for several chimes before falling unconscious and losing their aggression. I honestly do not know what causes the two secondary effects, but given that the other component is Kelvic blood, I think that the cells are stripped of the protection and cohesion of the component membranes, and it makes them vulnerable to the influence of their own inherent morph capability, contained in the make-up of their blood. Normally they have control, but this breakdown of cellular component structure makes them vulnerable."

The ramifications of what he was theorizing started him pacing. "So what I was thinking was, what if we could use the cohesion-stripping property of this fungal enzyme and then introduce blood from OTHER creatures, ones with OTHER abilities beyond mere animal form morphing. There could be great benefits to realize, great prestige to win." he didn't add any comment about the 'great money to amass.' That went without saying.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

„I’m glad, Miss Moletta“, Valerius remarked as Amolina insisted that she was not squeamish. „For a moment I was worried about you.“ He waited for her to say something, to make some kind of halfway intelligent suggestion like she had done when they had inspected the laboratory, but she remained quiet and just stared at Mister Parnell and him. Valerius looked directly into her eyes for a moment, and then simply he turned away. If she didn’t want to contribute to the discussion about poisons and Nuit brains, then so be it. „I am confident that I can procure a body that has recently been abandoned by a Nuit“, Valerius informed Inoadar. „As you have probably noticed, Mister Parnell, I’m very well connected. I would be interested in watching, but unfortunately it will take me longer than a day to get in contact with a Nuit and persuade him or her to change bodies. I’m sure you understand.“ With that he turned to the next matter that Inoadar had mentioned. „Are there creatures that can turn invisible or teleport themselves? If such mythical creatures really do exist, I will see if I can procure one for you.“ Valerius didn’t know what cells were and what kind of components they had. He know that certain poisons had certain effects, and as far as he was concerned that was all that mattered. Besides, he didn’t want to admit his lack of knowledge by asking Inoadar what cells were like. „My aunt has been researching the Kelvic’s ability to change forms for a while now“, he informed him. „She has tried to trigger it with various things. She might have done some research with Wildleash poison as well. You might have heard of her. Amanda Nitrozian is the head researcher at the Kelvic Research Institution.“ He was about to ask Inoadar if he had ever considered working at the Kelvic Research Institution, but of course that wasn’t possible, not for him. He was a poisoner. Aunt Amanda and he worked with poisons as well, but they did it in a purely scientific setting, approved by the authorities. „As I said, Mister Parnell, I will keep my eyes and ears open as far as creatures with other abilities are concerned. Prestige is of great importance to me.“

[Amolina]

All of a sudden Valerius had gazed directly into her eyes, searchingly, like he was trying to discern something there, like there was something he tried to find there - or find out. And then he had turned away abruptly. Amolina was wondering what this meant, but she could hardly ask without seeming weird, so she just kept up the obliging expression on her face. Impersonation had proven to be more useful than she had known. She nearly felt like she was somebody else. It was much easier to stay unaffected by things when you were somebody else. It was just like not being at home when unwanted guests knocked on the door. The Ebonstryfe for instance. She could impersonate the fortune teller if the Ebonstryfe tried to investigate her and her actions. She could make them believe she was somebody else…somebody named Amelia Cross. A hypothetical use of the impersonation, but nevertheless an interesting example, she thought to herself. Enzymes. Cellular structures. Membranes. Abstract and mindboggling words for a less than novice at chemistry like Amolina. She memorized a few of the words he was using. It didn’t hurt to learn some of that jargon, she thought. You never know when some jargon can come in handy…she was after all expected to play the role as nurse and it could be good to have a few good words at ready. She had no idea what Parnell was speaking about. But right now he was very impressive indeed. Never before had she seen him be like this. The whole man seemed to shine and glow with inspiration for the things he was speaking about. But somehow this brilliance seemed to make made her feel sad, oddly sad, very sad. She didn’t know why. There was no reason. Perhaps it was just because she didn’t know anything at all about the things he spoke of and it made her feel like a treasure of previously unknown wonders was being revealed right in front of her - but she was blind. She knew it was there and she could perceive it, but to her it was like a song in a foreign language, only sounds that she could hear, while the meaning of the words remained unknown and unfathomable. Smiling incessantly without really smiling, Amolina suppressed the unexplained sad feeling. What was she thinking - she couldn’t start to be irrationally emotional in the middle of a business meeting. Her associates were interested in the topic of used nuit brains and their fluids, and she ought to blend in and express a liking for it too, or else they could start to think…things. She was obviously worthless just like Valerius had implied, she had no resourses to promise, no knowledge to bring, but she would outline a few vague thoughts that the discussion had triggered, and use her performer skills to act like she was feeling self-assured. Just like in an average audition … “I find the brains very interesting of course” she said.“I’m really looking forward to see you make use of them. And I’m sure there’s things to gain from being able to make kelvics switch back and forth until they pass out, though I don’t know enough about it to understand what the benefit of that would be." Here she paused just for a fraction of a chime, a brief silence, not long enough for them to have time to say anything before she continued to speak. "But I must admit that I’m fascinated with what you said about drugs that can make people invisible, or send them to other places. If it would be possible to become invisible, possible to move to other places just by taking a drug, this would bring immense power to the ones that would be able to do it." She also had a conclusion to add: " To me this seems to be of much greater value and potential. This, and also things that could enhance the normal properties of the average human, transform the weak ones, make them stronger..." At this point she decided that enough was enough, and ended her little interruption with a polite apology. " But you must excuse me, it wasn’t my intention to interrupt you. Please continue.”

[Inoadar]

Inoadar did not notice whether Amolina's interest was feigned on sincere. He only wanted to be sure that he did not appear to make promises he could not support. "We are a long way from actually having such drugs. I am only speaking of vague possibilities. And even those only become feasible once a source of an actual manifested ability that can be found. Then, it will certainly take much research to determine if it is any particular part of the body that enables any special abilities. I suspect that since the entire Kelvic body is equally involved in the change, this is the reason that the blood can be from any part of the body and still contain the morphing factor."

"Then there is the additional obstacle that, as yet, even the Wildleash poison only affects Kelvics, the same race that already HAS the ability. It only causes them to lose control of it, and then fall into a passive state. I am not trying to dissuade anyone from this pursuit, but I just want to make clear that this is hardly even theoretical at this point."

He turned to look at Amolina, "Admittedly, the ability to force a Kelvic's change of forms does not seem to carry any real benefit to those of us still unable to do so. But it shows a doorway, an opening in the natural order that CAN be manipulated! Maybe this is only a simple thing, but it's a start! It shows that through science, the miraculous IS within our reach! Far away as yet, but no longer the stuff only of dreams. So few can truly master magic, or trust it enough to try. If we can bring such powers within the reach of people, what price would they pay? And what power would it bring to US to be the only source of it?" He did not comment on her reference to using such science to make the weak stronger. He had no intention of seeing it used this way.

Now a grin stretched his features, "But as for the Nuit brains, I can attest first hand that they secrete this odd fluid upon departure of the Nuit, and that it fits with the theory I have regarding the inhibition of Nuit RE-possession due to its presence. You may certainly have a front row seat for my dissections. I have only to reconstruct the process I was in the middle of when I was interrupted." He did not mention who it was that had interrupted him. It would serve nothing to give Valerius any further cause to foster doubts about Amolina. Nor would it be to his own advantage to mention a feud with an upcoming Ebonstryfe mage, regardless of the fact that it had been smoothed out, or the rumors that the mage in question had now been assigned out of town.

He turned back to Valerius, "It only matters how much time passes AFTER the Nuit leaves the body and how soon it is available to me. And, in truth, I only need the head. So we should be sure of the convenience of the subject's schedule, as well as his cooperation." He gave the man a pointed look. "Or at least, the means to bring back the UN-cooperative head." He took a deep breath, hinting that his next subject was somewhat touchy. "Now, my equipment IS what is called a "Portable" kit, but I would hope that I don't have to transport this gear back and forth from workshop to workshop. As well, there are far more comprehensive kits available. They would certainly be preferable..." He let the suggestion, that someone was hopefully going to be providing the gear to outfit the facility, hang unspoken.

[Valerius Nitrozian]

As Amolina insisted that she found Nuit brains very interesting, Valerius looked at her doubtfully. The way in which she had made that statement hadn’t been entirely right. Did she really find Nuit brains interesting? Or did she only pretend to be interested in them so that Mister Parnall and he didn’t start to think … things? „I can already think of a few things that making Kelvic switch back and forth could be used for“, he claimed. It was obvious that Amolina had never done more than help him feed Kelvic. She had never participated in Doctor Alzelin’s and his aunt’s research or she wouldn’t be talking like that. She also seemed to believe that they would be able to come up with a drug that ‚enhanced‘ humans within the blink of an eye. He could have told her the same as Mister Parnell. It would take a while to come up with such a drug. By Rhysol, he only hoped that she would play her role as nurse well! „I already told you that I would use my connections to try and find a creature that you can use“, he informed Inoadar. „But for now I find the theory interesting enough. Every kind of great invention started with a theory somebody had, didn’t it?“ He wasn’t particulary interested in making the weak stronger either. He liked the way things were now. The mention of money though made his eyes light up. „People would pay a fortune. We could become richer than all of the great families of Ravok combined.“ As Inoadar offered him a front row seat for his dissections, the Nitrozian inclined his head. He appreciated the offer. „I can provide some of the tools you need for the laboratory, Mister Parnell, do not worry. Tell me though, what kind of tools do you need?“

[Amolina]

Armies of reactions, thoughts, feelings and ideas crossed Amolina’s mind while she smiled obligingly and stared blankly at the two men. Her thoughts were ranging from a new interesting suspicion that Parnell was a son of a kelvic, to tons of worries and questions around the brain dissection plans he was speaking about and what they would entail, to the inspiring possibility of hiring Clyde Sullins or some other skilled mage to do with magic what Parnell wasn’t capable of doing with his poison science. She also thought of all and everything in between, and a bit more, and a few other scopes into the bargain. One day she might tell them a few things, but not now. ”Oh. I see…” she said lamely when Parnell told her the sadly underdeveloped state of his art. For a moment, just for a moment, he had seemed to gleam like a jewel, but this sudden mystic gleam had gone away as quickly as it had appeared. The man had now lost the temporary immense worth and fascinating allure he had held in her vision and was back to just being the usual Nolan Parnell, the morbid poison maker from The Docks. As Amolina heard Valerius Nitrozian say that he was sure people would pay a fortune to be made to be like kelvics she could nearly not believe her ears…she glanced at him, wondering exactly how far he was willing to go in order to agree with and please Nolan Parnell. It seemed to be...very far indeed. People paying a fortune for a drug that made them shift like kelvics…fat chance! But as her two business associates seemed to agree so much with each other she didn’t say it and she didn’t ask them the interesting question: would they like to take the kelvic drug themselves, and become like kelvics and in that case, which animal did they imagine they would turn into. She HAD already thought it that night in the boathouse when she had a closer look at Parnell and now she thought it again. Attack Dog. Some kind of bad canine…possibly a wolf kelvic even. In her pretty vivid performer imagination she could see him shift and start to snarl. In trouble it would go furious, pick a fight and try to eat your brain. Valerius Nitrozian…could only turn into something fashionable and beautiful…and actually…there was definitely only one option. He would turn into a fine, elegant black stallion with a red sheen in it’s soft black mane, a quite powerful animal in its way, definitely better at whinnying than at fighting, but if cornered it might put up an impressive show and try to knock people out with it’s elegant hooves, but in a stylish way. Now…it was actually impossible to not wonder and be curious…there was the curiousity factor, she had to admit that. Perhaps the kelvic drug would sell because people were curious to see what they would become? Some people with low self-insight would be in for unexpected surprises there ! If Amolina tried that kelvic drug…she would turn into… it was definitely harder to guess at oneself, but she wanted to be something extremely powerful, dangerous, huge and scary. She wouldn’t need to fight because nobody would dare to mess with her. She was so full of thoughts that she could impossibly express them all. So she did not. She was after all impersonating a very well behaved person and this was a business meeting. She didn’t want to delay the discussion with side tracks, no matter how interesting to her. Also, it felt like her thoughts were getting a bit unfocused and she would soon become dizzy. It would be best to leave before Valerius noticed any weakness he wouldn’t like. She didn’t want to be fired.

[Inoadar]

Inoadar felt triumphant. He had gauged this young son of Nitrozian correctly. Loyal to his family where it served him to shelter in its power and stability. Yet, at the mention of unprecedented wealth, his family became the three of them, and the combined families of Ravok, including his own, were relegated to secondary importance. With this backing he might actually accomplish the work to bring his theories to reality.

He had readily agreed that even the meager progress he had made would be of great use to the Kelvic Research Institute. It had saved his life back at his shop, or at least saved him from a savage maiming. He'd taken a job from The Spot, that had been a set-up to make him take the fall for a breakout at the KRI. He'd foiled the plot with the judicious application of emotional torment and gotten the names and schedules of everyone involved.

Shortly thereafter, he'd been attacked by a panther Kelvic in his shop. It was only through good fortune (or perhaps Rhysol's grace), that he'd been working ON Wildleash poison at the time. Being a fungal based variety, it was one of the many poisins he'd focused on during his fungal course at the Institute of Higher Learning. As a result, he'd had the fungal paste ready when the creature jumped him. In the melee, the beaker had been broken and the Kelvic had cut itself on the glass, getting a trace of paste in the cut where it mixed with its blood.

The reaction had been less than the literature had promised, but Inoadar had deduced a number of imperfect stages he'd completed, rendering the paste of inferior potency. And now, with his Kelvic slave/assistant, Ariella, there to be a source of blood, and the bugs worked out of the paste, his work was now advancing into alternate theoretical applications, and this was the perfect environment to develop them.

When Valerius asked him abut what equipment he needed, his answer began with the full elaborate poison crafting lab. While it primarily featured the same gear he had in his portable kit. It was far superior in quality, the fittings tighter, the seals more durable, yet also more flexible, the gearing on the centrifuge more efficient, the valves capable of finer increments, the sliding grommets allowing the pressure chamber to achieve transferable airtight seals.

But with some of the experimental processes he intended to try, there were implements found in the Philterer's Lab that would be useful as well. Crucibles and alembics, Kilns and coils, condensers and cupels, he did not know what all he would need, but he composed a comprehensive list of everything he thought he could possibly need.

He gave the list to Valerius, "Offhand, I can not think of what else I would need as far as equipment goes. Inspiration is the real key."