Jorel Spire - Poison Lore Training (Private)

[Glanos]

Timestamp: Brightening 18, Cryxatum; Era II of the Celestine Mandate

The tall spire of Jorel cast a foreboding shadow on the entrance where Glanos stood. Because of the martial philosophy of the Orcs, lore wasn't as prized in the city-fortress as much as physical prowess. However, the ancient shamans and religious leaders knew the value of such power and lore, and thus enshrined information within their spires. Jorel, the highest tower in the city-fortress, was one such tower that would be able to teach Glanos the things he sought.

Glanos entered through the mouth of the cave, passing Fos Raug clan guardsmen, each of which gave a distrusting look to the Orc passing through their chambers. Directly ahead was a large stone altar, blood-stained and worn from use. Many Shon Zi stood by, waiting for worshippers and answering questions.

"I'm looking fer someone to teach me da lore of poison. Do ye know who it is dat teaches such things?" Glanos asked respectively to one of the religious leaders. With a nod, a dark-robed Shon Zi motioned Glanos to follow him. They climbed up one of the crude, rock-constructed stairs leading up through various caverns of the spire. The Shon Zi took Glanos through the levels until they reached a small opening, obviously a room used by one of the religious leaders.

"Here." The dark-robed leader stated. Without another word, he turned and walked back down to stairs to the altar. With slight hesitation, Glanos entered the room, his nostrils becoming attuned to the smoky mist from the incense burners. Another dark-robed member of the Shon Zi sat at the far end of the room, his back facing Glanos. As Glanos approached, a cold voice greeted him. "My name is Maggong. Sit." Glanos obeyed and sat on one of the stone edifices. "I will teach ju what ju want to learn, but ju must learn to obey and fear me." He stated as coldly as his greeting.

"Now what lore do ju want?" He asked. "Poison." Glanos stated affirmatively. "Ah, good. Such a deadly art, it is." Maggong stated, standing to his feet. "My favorite, too." Maggong approached a small chest with various bottles and glasses. He also took out a small scroll and set them on the table.

"Come and read." Maggong ordered.

[Glanos]

Glanos sat at the old wooden table. It's boards creaked as the large Orc sat upon it. Maggong placed a large scroll on the table, it's paper yellowed and tattered from use. The writing was indistinguishably common, evidence that this scroll had been written by manlings and captured by Orcish forces.

Glanos peered at the scroll and read the first four paragraphs.

Types of Poisons

Ingestive poisons: Ingestive poisons are those that use the blood stream to carry them to their destination in the body. Thus, any poison that is to be eaten (or ingested) is classified as such. What is not realized though is that the same poison might the able to be absorbed into the blood stream on different outer surfaces other than the intestinal wall. The lips or inside of the eyelids are only two examples where ingestive poisons might also have a chance of being absorbed. The rate at which these poisons react is slow compared to other types as it takes a considerable amount of time for the chemical substance to make its way through the multiple cell membranes towards its final goal. These are the poisons that food tasters are trained to notice.

Insinuative poisons: Insinuative (or integrative) poisons are those that are combined with other objects to enhance their effectiveness in penetrating the victims defenses. Normally this is done with a weapon of sorts. Some Contact and Ingestive poisons fit this list as well, but are disqualified as their mechanisms once inside the body deviate from the standard proceedings. The life expectancy of these poisons depend highly on the skill of the creator and what conditions the poison is put under after it has been exposed to the environment. The type possesses great danger for the benefactor as well as the recipient. Only the slightest scratch can send either of them into a painridden death, as has happened all to many times.

Contact poisons: Contact poisons are absorbed through the skin. These do not necessarily have to be absorbed by the touch of fingers--anyone who is capable of getting in close proximity of their victim to touch exposed skin is usually successful with this poison.

Inhalant poisons: Many of these poisons are in actual fact side branches of Ingestive poisons. The determining factor being their incapability to pass a great amount of membranes to enter the blood stream. The alveolar walls are used for this purpose instead. Being much thinner than the ones in the intestine, they are capable of transporting substances across the membranes easier. Then there are poisons that affect the lungs, mouth, throat or nasal cavity immediately. Thus a poison in the gaseous phase would be preferred. Caution has to be observed, as these poisons will affect anybody in range.

"Done." Glanos commented after reading the page. "Ju are nowhere near done." Maggong said. The dark-robed Orc sat at the opposite end of the table. "Da ingestive poisons are some of da more commonly used. Dey are excellent in use when combined wit' da enemies food. Insinuative poisons are used more wit' weapons of some sort. Imagine da death rate of dose pierced by blade wit' poison instead of dose jus' pierced wit' da blade. Horde General's have used dese tactics fer years. Da contact and inhalant poisons are least common, and we will talk about dose later."

Maggong arose from his seat and walked to the end of the room where some large chests sat. One of the chests had vats of poisons with them, and Glanos could only assume that Maggong was going to give him firsthand experience with such poisons.

[Glanos]

Maggong took a few vats and vials from the chest and set them on the creaky table before Glanos. He took a small vial from the group and took the cork off. He wafted the vial around him until an obvious odor could be detected.

"Do ju know what this is?" Maggong asked questioningly. "Ugh..no.. but it's bitter." He replied. Maggong smiled with a wry grin. "It's cyanide. Der are greater poisons out der, fer sure, but dis one has never failed me yet. Tell me, Glanos, what type of poison is dis?"

Glanos referred back to the sheet. "Dis seems like da contact one." Maggong shook his head. "No. Dis is all four. Ju must learn all da poisons and how dey operate. Only den can ju exploit dem fully. Cyanide, fer instance, can be applied in da food.. or wafted as gas.. slipped on da edge of a weapon.. or just be contacted. It's deadly form can be used in many instances. Ju must learn to exploit dese poisons."

Maggong took another vial from the group. It was a white powder and seemed to be without much form. "Dis Glanos is arsenic. It 'as no distinguishing smell or taste. What use might dis be of?" Maggong asked. "Seems like no smell or taste might be a good ingestive poison." Glanos replied.

"Correct. Not the only use, but certainly the best." Maggong said. "Der are over seventy known poisons in dis world and ju must be familiar wit' every one of dem. I want ju to comb over dis chest of vials and inspect each one. Once ju have determined da characteristic dat defines dem, I will give ju da name of it."

[Glanos]

Glanos began picking up vials and vats from the chest. They came in many different shapes and sizes, though he noticed that the more rare and expensive the poison, the smaller the vial usually was. Many were powdery subtances, others were clear liquids. Then there were the coloful liquids, as well as some harder, crumbling solid types.

In most cases, Glanos would smell the poison first to detect a scent. Whether one was detected or not, he would then taste a small portion of it in order to detect a specific taste. After describing the main characteristics of said poison, such as it's color and form, he would then draw out the special characteristics of its taste or smell. Once he was correct, Maggong would award him the name of the poison and tell him to strictly not forget it.

"Ju learn well, Glanos. But ju still don't know much. Dese are my collections of da poisons; however, I don't 'ave all. But I 'ave recorded all known poisons. Go take da large book on dat shelf and bring it 'ere. We will go over some major ones."

Glanos obeyed, stood up, and went to where the book was. It was situated on a three-level bookshelf with a collection of other books, namely, those that were forbidden by the Empire, such as Necromancy. Cobwebs and dust cluttered the shelf, but Glanos grabbed the book anyways and dusted it off. It was simply named, "Poisons".

He brought it back to Maggong and resumed his place at the table.

[Glanos]

"Ah, dis is it." He said, referring to the poison book

Maggong opened the pages and began scanning the surfaces. It too was written in the human common language, and yet, it was of the darker sort, allowing the assumption that someone of a darker nature had written it.

Assassin's Venom:
Activation time: Depends
Resulting effect: Depends
Type of poison: Insinuative
Person to talk to: Zoologist
Dose : Vial---75 Crowns
Appearance: This is a ‘quick fix’ mixture. Usually in liquid form, it can be anything from a hallucinogenic to a killer. This poison can be made extremely quickly by the zoologist, immediately after the order the zoologist mixes an amount of low cost, animal venoms together. The product is an ‘on the minute’ made poison.
Effect: The variety of effects the poison can have is great. It all depends on what was in the mixture at the start. From headaches to muscle spasms, even death can be induced by a lucky mixture. Its unreliability makes up for its low cost though. Making it one of the most sought after poison in Aelyria.

Assassin’s Toxin:
Activation time: Depends
Resulting effect: Depends
Type of poison: Contact
Person to talk to: Alchemist
Dose : Vial---100 Crowns
Appearance: This is a ‘quick fix’ mixture. Usually in liquid form, it can be anything from a hallucinogenic to a killer. This poison can be made extremely quickly by the alchemist, immediately after the order the alchemist mixes an amount of low cost, harmful chemicals together. The product is an ‘on the minute’ made poison.
Effect: The variety of effects the poison can have is great. It all depends on what was in the mixture at the start. From headaches to muscle spasms, even death can be induced by a lucky mixture. Its unreliability makes up for its low cost though. Making it one of the most sought after poison in Aelyria

Assassin’s Concoction:
Activation time: Depends
Resulting effect: Depends
Type of poison: Ingestive
Person to talk to: Herbalist
Dose : Vial---50 Crowns
Appearance: This is a ‘quick fix’ brew. Usually in liquid form, it can be anything from a hallucinogenic to a killer. This poison can be made extremely quickly by the herbalist, immediately after the order the herbalist mixes an amount of low cost, poisonous plants together. The product is an ‘on the minute’ made poison.
Effect: The variety of effects the poison can have is great. It all depends on what was in the brew at the start. From headaches to muscle spasms, even death can be induced by a lucky mixture. Its unreliability makes up for its low cost though. Making it one of the most sought after poison in Aelyria.

"Dese are the most common types of poisons. Assasins especially learn these ones." Maggong commented. Glanos glanced over them, noting specifically their reaction times and finding it fascinating.