A Spiked Drink

[jackslate45]

Saranna: You don't believe there are any traps.

Relic: You find that some of the bottles have little red X's on them. Linguistic check to determine more. As for IDing the potion, Spellcraft/Perception

 

[jbear]

Relic, too deaf to have heard the halflings hushed coment tries to puzzle out the small red x's he has seen on some of the lables and their content. As he does so he mutters to the air, "Has anyone found that meticulously kept ledger that Rukelp is rumoured to have kept?"

Though Relic quickly ascertains a fairly clear idea of what the bottles contain he constantly rubs his eyes as he peers at the tiny marks.

Cursing at last he waves his bony finger at the lable, tapping at the mark his eyes refuse to focus on.

"The Wind blows grit into my dim eyes. Can any of you make out this red mark properly?"

 

[InVinoVeritas]

"What you just drank was perfume. It's popular among the women of Venza, for its scent. The women try to mask and change their odor with it. As for these in the central repository, I believe these are the poisoned potions."

He turns to Relic and the crate. "Hmm, let me take a look here. What would these marks represent, I wonder?"

With some excitement, he adds, "Oh, and let me know when you get that door open, Saranna, I'd be most curious!"

 

[jbear]

"Door? What door?"

 

[jackslate45]

[sblock=Holphin] The writing on the labels is fairly new, made in the last day. The X was to signify that the bottle was poisoned in some way. Upon examination, you have a strong feeling Lt. Rondo actually marked this bottle.[/sblock]

[sblock=Relic] The bottle you are holding is marked Healing Potion, and it indeed registers a faint glow of Conjuration. However, you also can tell that this potion has another spell inside, one from the school of Necromancy. Focusing more, you realize that the potion has been spiked with a most horrible spell: Contagion![/sblock]

[sblock=Saranna] Go ahead and give me Disable Device to try and pry open this door. There are no traps found.[/sblock]

Outside, the two White Cloaks are conversing among themselves. While you cannot fully understand what they are saying, it seems Urdrak is not thrilled that the group was let inside.

 

[Songdragon]

She motions to her companions where the possible door is on the wall... before setting to her attempt at trying to find what will open it. The halfling curses quietly several times as she makes little headway... "Maybe that did it?" she asks herself.

((Disable Device 1d20+11=14 Not sure how that will affect it... attempts again... egads, the diebot hates me... 1d20+11=13... if Saranna did not totally fubar the door... 1d20+11=31 Feast or famine here tonight. ))

 

[jackslate45]

After several tense minutes, Saranna fingers seem to have found the latch, and is able to pop open the mysterious looking door. With some creaking noise, it swings to the left, revealing an opening about 5' tall. Inside could only be called Rulkelp's office. A library might be a better phrase.

The room was about 60 feet deep, with all the walls covered in shelving units. On each of these shelves, packed so tightly next to each other, are hundreds of books. Various titles, some faded by the years, show a mix of sales records, guides on various plants, along with new and old alchemical techniques. A alchemy table has various alchemical equipment on it, numerous open books related to potion making, and scribbled notes of various importance, such as "Measure Twice Brew Once," "DONT THROW RAW INGREDIENTS INTO A FIRE," but perhapes the most important note says "The Client Comes First" A chair that is missing an occupant stands not far from the table, longing for someone to sit in it.

 

[InVinoVeritas]

Holphin gestures, "That door."

He also holds up the bottle to Relic. "Here, take a look and compare this X to the writ. Does it look like Lt. Rondo's writing to you? These markings are very recent, as well. I believe he has already identified the poison bottles."

Listening to the voices outside, Holphin checks his timepiece quickly, and adds, "Will we need some extra persuasion in the main room, just in case someone else wishes to approach?" He pulls out a piece of chalk. "I know someone who would make a most competent guard and dissuader."

 

[jbear]

Relic's eyes grow wide with surprise as he realises what the bottle he is showing to Holphin contains.

"It's not poison ... it's far more insidious and evil what this bottle contains! It is a healing potion tainted with a deadly and powerful necromantic spell Contagion which causes the most horrid, ghastly and deadly of diseases known to man. I very much doubt Rukelp has the skill or power to cast such a spell. It is far beyond my own skill... So there is definitely someone else involved. A powerful caster with knowledge of the dark arts."

Relic nods concerned at Holphin's comment about the marks.

"Of course, of course. The lieutenant's mark. Let's check and see if it is indeed his hand."


Taking the writ he compares the strokes of the small X with Lt Rondo's handwriting to confirm they are indeed one and the same.

"Let's see how thorough he has been"

Relic casts Detect Magic on the rest of the stock and examines the potions one by one to see if the marks all coincide with the tainted stock and if in fact they are all tainted by the same spell. He smiles and gives a thumbs up of approval when Saranna manages to open the hidden door.

With a creak he gets to his feet and totters over to look inside Rukelp's office with his companions. He picks up the note that reads "The client comes first" and comments:

"Not the kind of thing a man who wants to sicken his clients to death would write ..."

Tossing it to one side Relic begins to sort through the contents upon the table in search of some kind of ledger where Rukelp might keep notes on his most recent sales, or a list of clients.

He sits down in the empty chair ...

OOC: Wince ... Why for some reason do I have a feeling that it's not a normal chair? And that all of a sudden Relic is going to be strangled by it? hehehe ... talk about paranoia!

 

[Songdragon]

While Relic starts through the books Sarana will look over that writing on the bottles... ((Linguistics 1d20+6=23 ))

She the starts about Rukelp's little office... "I wonder if he has anything more hiding in here." ((Perception 1d20+9=15))