"Hmm, let me see that bottle," the sergeant asks.
Jagr offers up the bottle. "I have seen this back in my homeland. The main ingredient is a type of benign flower petal that produces a sweet taste when cooked. The rest of the ingredients are mainly intense herbs, as well as raw coconut. The dangerous ingredient is some kind of root that is toxic to eat -- nearly instant death. The name escapes me. When cooked, crushed, and filtered through liquid, it is less toxic but still dangerous. It is quite strong, so when mixed with alcohol, it has quite the punch. The flower petal is added to hide the root's acidic smell. The drink itself is often used as a test for young warriors or given to an enemy in attempt to kill them on the sly. It is not unexpected that some could drink it with only intoxication while another who drank more might become ill as Durst did. He did drink more than the others I believe. Still I would be in your debt for you inquiry into the matter. Durst has been a good host and I would not see him ill treated." His voice is rich and thickly accented of some distant exotic land. His grasp of the language is adequate, but clearly he is not a native speaker.
The watch sergeant listens to Jagr's words carefully. "That information will help Lady Mar greatly. It was good that you were here. I may have more questions for you later. If you feel the need to travel on, speak to Camson first, so he can send you my way before you leave the city. Enjoy you stay in Bard's Gate."
"Well Cal, should we go with the man then?"
"Dongar of Ffelsal, It is a pleasure and an honor to meet you and to be of assistance to your friend. I would say and chat longer, but the constables here require my presence for a statement."
Then to every one that would be interested, he waves goodbye and insure he will return soon.
Longmantle waits for Vak'tiel to finish off his whiskey and then leads Cal, Shrough, and the tiefling along the edge of the Grand Plaza until they come to a fine two-story shop. The sign reads Mar's Magical Poultices in the darkened window. The shop is obviously closed for the night but candle light flickers through a shuttered window. The sun has set completely and a chill fills the night air.
Sergeant Longmantle bangs a mailed fist on the shops door and then steps back to look up at the window. He waits two minutes before banging on the door again and calling up to the window, "Mar! It's Thudun!"
"Not now," Cal and the others hear through the shutters. "I'm... busy."
"Is Helman up there again?" Longmantle sighs. "What am I saying, of course he is."
"That's none of your business," the feminine voice mocks.
"Mar, this is an official request, by my beard! Durst drank some weird liquor that poisoned him! Now get your skinny butt down here!"
Cal and Shrough note several
low elven swearwords before the shutters open. Light spills out on to the street. An aged yet attractive half-elven woman steps into the window and glares down at the sergeant. The woman is dressed in nearly nothing and is covered in intricate tattoos. "You better be on the level or I'm going to hurt you!"
"Mar!" the sergeant looks up and down the square before waving at her to back inside "Put something on, by the stones of my kin!"
"I've seen your stones, and you've seen much more than this," Mar laughs. Several onlookers note her in the window. She gets several hoots and cat-calls. She blows several of them kisses and then follows it up with an obscene gesture.
"Mar! This is not the Canal District!" Longmantle bellows. "I will have you arrested!"
"You're such a prude," Mar sighs. She closes the shutters. Several minutes later she is opening the door of the shop. She is bundled in a robe and a shawl. Helman stands behind her buckling his belt. As he leaves, Mar bends down and gives him a kiss, "Later, sweetie."
Longmantle's face is as red as Vak'tiel's skin.
Helman sees Cal and the others and looks like he's going to say a friendly hello. Then he looks at Longmantle's face and scurries out of the shop and back across the plaza to his bar.
"Hells to that little Lothario," the sergeant says through gritted teeth.
"Stop being a jealous old goat," Mar flicks his white beard before motioning for them all to step inside.