After her failed attempt to capture a suspect in the city Death of Innocence, Khari returned to her home in the Clerk's Ward. Nyrralah's dinner table was covered in an array of instruments used in herbalism as Khari began her study on the highly addictive drug Liquid Pain.
Regardless of her findings, Khari would don her equipment once more and make her way into the Hive, looking for any leads that might take her to the Night Hag that was said to have been selling the named drug to the locals.
Stopping The Addiction
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*Selebius
- Posts: 1073
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Khari will find that a Herbalist's equipment will not be of much help in analyzing then emotio-magical drug like Liquid Pain.
However her research reveals that it is indeed nothing but suffering given form, distilled from a victim during torture ot other painful experiences. It is extremely addictive and highly sought after by Hedonists and Enchanters- especually those who look for ways to empower their items or spells with evil.
Heading out into the Hive Khari will notice the subtle signs of beggining addiction in several Hivers- some perhaps not even aware of what is happening yet.
Talking to the locals reveals some leads and rumours:
- "The Hag? Heard she's hiding in an old Anarchists Safehouse in Dispater's Lane. Yes, in the Lower Ward."
- "She's dead. She crossed the wrong people who sent in that Dwarf Enforcer to first deliver her to the hardheads to ruin her business and reputation and then kill her and the Hardheads, too. No witnesses, you know."
- "Not sure if it is important but I heard some friends of her do something in the food or water!"
- "She was of the Razor Wined Crosstrade Syndicate. Razor Wined. Not Razor Wine. Got that, cutter? Anyway- she started her own business, dealing in drugs and pain. Might found some new friends, too."
- "Ask around at Ragpicker's Square. She has been seen there a few times."
However her research reveals that it is indeed nothing but suffering given form, distilled from a victim during torture ot other painful experiences. It is extremely addictive and highly sought after by Hedonists and Enchanters- especually those who look for ways to empower their items or spells with evil.
Heading out into the Hive Khari will notice the subtle signs of beggining addiction in several Hivers- some perhaps not even aware of what is happening yet.
Talking to the locals reveals some leads and rumours:
- "The Hag? Heard she's hiding in an old Anarchists Safehouse in Dispater's Lane. Yes, in the Lower Ward."
- "She's dead. She crossed the wrong people who sent in that Dwarf Enforcer to first deliver her to the hardheads to ruin her business and reputation and then kill her and the Hardheads, too. No witnesses, you know."
- "Not sure if it is important but I heard some friends of her do something in the food or water!"
- "She was of the Razor Wined Crosstrade Syndicate. Razor Wined. Not Razor Wine. Got that, cutter? Anyway- she started her own business, dealing in drugs and pain. Might found some new friends, too."
- "Ask around at Ragpicker's Square. She has been seen there a few times."
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*DarkArc
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Khari would offer beggars showing signs of addiction some food in the form of berries she had saturated with a sweet-tasting poultice meant to numb the symptom of Liquid Pain's withdrawal. It was by no means a solution to the addiction, but Khari hoped the poultice's anesthetic properties would lessen their torment.
When she heard two rumors that shared similar information, she would question her sources further. "Who are these new friends and what is the hag doing to the local food and water?" she asked. The ranger had believed the Night Hag was a simple drug dealer, but she didn't want to remove the possibility that there was something more going on.
When she heard two rumors that shared similar information, she would question her sources further. "Who are these new friends and what is the hag doing to the local food and water?" she asked. The ranger had believed the Night Hag was a simple drug dealer, but she didn't want to remove the possibility that there was something more going on.
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*Selebius
- Posts: 1073
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
"New friends? She deals with the temple I say. Those abyssal creeps. Probably sells them flesh or drugs for their rituals."
The tiefling woman seems uncomfortable, saying no more about this.
"The Hag? She did nothing herself. Sat in her lab, distilled and sold to her friends that walk the Hive, getting the stuff to her costumers.
She uses some local thugs for this. Lowlifes hired in the Hive and some Gatetowns. Some of those were seen scuttling around the bakery in Three Thumbs Road and that new kitchen in the Ragpicker's square.
Also my cousin, who is a water merchant told me he caught one of them trying to pour something into the water jars he sells."
The man talking to her shares what he knows happily, enjoying sharing this gossip.
The berries she offers to the addicted help lessening the pain of withdrawal but sadly do not stop the other effects- the people still getting thinner and weaker as their bodies waste away.
((again edited for smartphone stupidity))
The tiefling woman seems uncomfortable, saying no more about this.
"The Hag? She did nothing herself. Sat in her lab, distilled and sold to her friends that walk the Hive, getting the stuff to her costumers.
She uses some local thugs for this. Lowlifes hired in the Hive and some Gatetowns. Some of those were seen scuttling around the bakery in Three Thumbs Road and that new kitchen in the Ragpicker's square.
Also my cousin, who is a water merchant told me he caught one of them trying to pour something into the water jars he sells."
The man talking to her shares what he knows happily, enjoying sharing this gossip.
The berries she offers to the addicted help lessening the pain of withdrawal but sadly do not stop the other effects- the people still getting thinner and weaker as their bodies waste away.
((again edited for smartphone stupidity))
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*DarkArc
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
This is horrible, Khari thought as she realized what the drug was doing to the addicts. She thanked the tiefling and gossiper for the information.
Ragpicker's Square. The young ranger had heard about that place numerous times. First rumors, then reports on the SIGIS about undead kidnapping travelers, and now a connection between the square, the hag, and the food and water being sold there. The square sounded like a distribution center.
Khari went to the square disguised as a beggar and waded through the crowds, making her way to the kitchen to get in line and acquire some of the food. If she was able to get a sample of the soup the kitchen was selling, she would then proceed to the Three Thumbs Road Bakery and purchase a loaf of bread.
Ragpicker's Square. The young ranger had heard about that place numerous times. First rumors, then reports on the SIGIS about undead kidnapping travelers, and now a connection between the square, the hag, and the food and water being sold there. The square sounded like a distribution center.
Khari went to the square disguised as a beggar and waded through the crowds, making her way to the kitchen to get in line and acquire some of the food. If she was able to get a sample of the soup the kitchen was selling, she would then proceed to the Three Thumbs Road Bakery and purchase a loaf of bread.
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*Selebius
- Posts: 1073
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Noone really gives her much attention- people there value their own privacy and most know that it is unhealthy to be too curious.
While waiting in line the elf smells the stew that is served in simple wooden bowls. A wooden spoon is added, some guards (well, payed thugs) taking care that the meal is eaten at one of the four tables and noone is lingering too long.
People talk about the recent increase of addicts, of relatives and friends turning into emaciated shadows of their former selves before vanishing or- more disturbingly- turning up as undead?
The line moves slowly and after almost an hour of waiting it is almost Khari's turn. Then she notices something odd. On one of the nearby tables a tattooed tief pours something into the soup of two patrons while passing past their tables, hiding some vial in the wide sleeves of his robes- a chemical, somehow familiar scent filling the air.
He vanishes in the crowd while Khari gets her soup and a quarter loak of bread and is led to a free place on one of the tables.
((lets do this first and move to the three thumbs road later))
While waiting in line the elf smells the stew that is served in simple wooden bowls. A wooden spoon is added, some guards (well, payed thugs) taking care that the meal is eaten at one of the four tables and noone is lingering too long.
People talk about the recent increase of addicts, of relatives and friends turning into emaciated shadows of their former selves before vanishing or- more disturbingly- turning up as undead?
The line moves slowly and after almost an hour of waiting it is almost Khari's turn. Then she notices something odd. On one of the nearby tables a tattooed tief pours something into the soup of two patrons while passing past their tables, hiding some vial in the wide sleeves of his robes- a chemical, somehow familiar scent filling the air.
He vanishes in the crowd while Khari gets her soup and a quarter loak of bread and is led to a free place on one of the tables.
((lets do this first and move to the three thumbs road later))
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*DarkArc
- Posts: 254
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
Khari moved to sit at one of the tables after she acquired her food. The young ranger kept an eye out for the thug poisoning the meals of other patrons . If there was anyone at the table, she would ask them about the addicts turning into undead.
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*Selebius
- Posts: 1073
- Joined: Thu Jan 01, 1970 12:00 am
There is the thug again- doing the same thing only two tables from her. He is nimble and quick, knowing well how to distract his victims.
Chatting to the other patrons reveals that most know not much, mostly hearsay and rumours. One of them however tells her that his wife is now involved with something. She shows heavy signs of addiction as well as the wounds of heavy abuse. Never she answers his question about what is going on- several times she left him for the night, returning the next morning in good mood but with fresh wounds.
Recently however she is brooding.. and he found her studing glyphs, heard her whispering about death.
Another patron tries to get the soup and bread from Khari- offering her a few coppers in exchange for the meal.
Chatting to the other patrons reveals that most know not much, mostly hearsay and rumours. One of them however tells her that his wife is now involved with something. She shows heavy signs of addiction as well as the wounds of heavy abuse. Never she answers his question about what is going on- several times she left him for the night, returning the next morning in good mood but with fresh wounds.
Recently however she is brooding.. and he found her studing glyphs, heard her whispering about death.
Another patron tries to get the soup and bread from Khari- offering her a few coppers in exchange for the meal.