Wicked Poison: The Fate of Allesandra

[Exelous]

((The following is a collaboration between myself and PO Allesandra - posted here for player clarity of the situation. Characters visiting Allesandra in the hospital, guarded by Exelous, can assume that they are privy to this information. Any players involved can feel free to post here))


~ DAYS FOLLOWING ALLESANDRA TAKING LIZARD TRANSFORM POTION AND SWIMMING IN THE RUNEWICK WATERS:

The first couple of days, Allesandra seemed to be sluggishly recovering, complaining only of an uneasy stomach, severe headaches, chills and general weakness. Underneath the three layers of bedding, her writhing body seemed to be gradually getting more listless with each passing day. Her groans ebbing away into quiet infrequent whimpers. On the third day, her consciousness grew meager and in the rare moments that she was awake, she didn't seem to recognize Exelous, her eyes going right through him. Her body, throwing up anything and everything that enters it, was no longer capable of containing the antidote so generously given to her by Yridia. On the fifth day, in the middle of the night, whatever was left of her ailing body jolted and jerked uncontrollably, eyes rolling upwards to find the back of her skull and, without warning, she would fall completely unconscious. As Exelous felt her forehead, he found it to be scorching hot; otherwise, he sensed no movement whatsoever. Her breath was shallow, barely perceptible unless he got uncomfortably close to her nose. Ostensibly, the poison appeared to be spreading throughout her body.

Exelous stayed at Allesandra's bedside, day and night, save some moments of respite for a breath of fresh air. After some days of taking note of her deteriorating condition, the Cadomyrian knight soon rushed off and got the help of others, bringing back many bottles of antidote that was kindly brewed by a frantic Amelia.

~ CURRENT SITUATION:

Unfortunately, the new antidotes don't hold well in her uneasy stomach either. As soon as Exelous manages to get some down her throat, with a jolt of her entire torso, they are back up and out again. Starting with a mere 40 kg of skin and mostly muscle, Allesandra's body has turned into skin and bone. With sunken eyes, dried and cracked, almost bleeding lips, a pallid, sallow complexion, sickly prominence of her cheekbones, a virtually indiscernible pulse: she is almost unrecognizable if it weren't for the fiery red locks atop her head. Without some type of divine miracle, it seems unlikely that she will survive. It appears to be that the common antidote does not work for whatever ungodly poison exists in Runewick's waters. Witnessing the unfolding horror that has befallen Allesandra, Exelous has since taken to drinking himself until unconscious at nights with ale. Over the last few days, Galmair has been very aware of what has become of Allesandra. Worry spreading faster than the Runewick plague, among them. On the 17. Tanos, Exelous had left Allesandra unattended, with a heavy heart, to gather for the penance mass at the temple of Five. The efforts of himself and others were not to be in vain, though, as the poisoned clouds in Runewick seemed to have since disappeared in accordance with their actions. The water remains sullied. Though, as often does happen in these dire days, when one problem vanishes another rears its head: word reached high priestess of Ushara Yridia's ear, from a great mountain spirit, speaking of a structure that is to emerge from the waters near Yewdale. After some talks of evacuation, council leader Deanna sets out to gather supplies to build a dike, in order to prevent the worst of fallouts. Exelous, though, rushed back to Allesandra's bedside, preparing to move her to the safety of Galmair hospital.

[HolyKnight]

The parchments cycled through his fingers and hands all morning long, reading them over and over again in succession. Since taking them from Sir Exelous’ slumbering possession, Eli obsessed over all the written and unwritten details. For Allesandra's sake, nothing could be missed, not a single mistake or undue risk permissible. Her condition was severe, a poison unlike any other. Only by the gods grace and influence would she hold on long enough to find a cure. The faithful and her friends did all in their power, in the aftermath, but it was the why's that were haunting him.

As if there was some hidden message, Eli found himself reading the first bold line the most.

DAYS FOLLOWING ALLESANDRA TAKING LIZARD TRANSFORM POTION AND SWIMMING IN THE RUNEWICK WATERS

But the words were straightforward, horrific, heartbreaking. Taking that risk had been too great, unneeded. Eli wanted to hate someone, blame someone, but resolved himself to find a way forward. He knew Yridia, the Druid, had taken interest in Allesandra’s condition, her skill undeniable, but would her previous ritual leave her in a weakened state? There were too many questions and not enough answers. After casting a warding spell over his friend, to increase the concentration of mana in the area, Eli took to the streets, Allesandra’s decrepit condition was too much to bear. He couldn't think, he couldn't breathe right. No person should ever have to endure a fate so cruel.

Allesandra, chief among, had only ever been kind, curious, and heartfelt in Eli’s eyes. Somewhere near the gates of Galmai, Eli talked to Sammy with Fergro’s help. Bidukan was under strict orders not to let anyone treat Allesandra without Oxiana’s approval. Eli has no desire to do anything rash, he wanted sound theory and testing. Sammy had ideas and they were noted. Afterward, the mage would send correspondences to Amanda Brightrim and Deanna, to check how she was doing.

The world was literally tearing at the seams, no one was safe, chaos churned in every corner of Illarion. Something had to give, Eli needed Allesandra to be on the good side of fortune. By mid-morning, Eli was back af Allesandra’s side briefing Exelous on his deeds. The stalwart knight had a propensity to shoulder too much burden, but he was damn glad to have him near. Together they'd find and get answers.

[Kyre]

On the brief time the old man was in Runewick the witch saw the worry in Eli's face but didn't know why and there seemed no time to discuss it nor her secret, hidden concern. Looking back on the day it seemed obvious Drathe wasn't aware either but Kyre felt he would learn of it from others soon, perhaps she should try to catch him first? Not wishing to go into the town the poor girl was at, Kyre simply paced as her usual worried reaction yet sent a healing apple hoping the halfling would be able to offer it. Why would she even as a lizard swim in the poison waters? Was it possibly connected with what Kyre had to talk to her about?

Visiting Deanna in the hospital caught her asleep which worried Kyre also. Eli was right... the town is missing some and she hoped they returned because they were greatly needed! In the mean time hoping Eli and Caswir would step up to help Deanna as she healed. How could the town allow this Jefferson near enough to hurt her? He was definitely picking on the weak as Drathe and the old man acknowledged, something needed to be done, about the poison and about the evil man!

The witch looked at her new hand Caswir had made staring for the longest... yes it felt different, better in some respects but did she like Jefferson having her old one? What are his plans with it?
Hoping Allesandra and Deanna healed soon Kyre started to work on what she could possibly accomplish, experiments to help get rid of the poison.

[nathi]

After Sammy had told her about the tragedy of Allesandra, she went back to the hospital and lay down for a while. Deanna still felt weakened and preferred not to leave the city for the time being. However, she soon got up and walked to the shore of the estuary that led into the city. She looked over the many dead fish lying on the shore or floating in the water. It must have been clear to Allesandra that it is dangerous to go into the water ... but she did. It seemed illogical to her that Allesandra went into the water out of pure curiosity. She thought: "Perhaps her belief in the transformation potion was too naive? These potions do not produce the properties of the beings whose form you take after taking the potion. The young alchemists, with too little experience, dare to take dangerous potions at an early age, too proud to ask a teacher for advice". Logically, however, the explanation seemed to her that Allesandra wanted to impress someone with this act. But nevertheless, she need for help.

Deanna bent down on the shore and filled some pirols with the poisoned water, holding one of them against the bright daytime sky. She noticed a slight yellowish shimmer when the light was shining.
She took the samples and went to the laboratory. By means of the refraction of light through a gemstone, she noticed a saturated accumulation of fenolin in the water, indicating a poisoning effect. At the same time she noticed highly toxic doses of orcanol.
From her manual, she found that this dosage of Orcanol causes a very strong feeling of supersaturation, which makes it difficult or even impossible for the person taking it to eat. The danger of malnutrition is imminent!

She tried to raise or lower the concentration in water with some herbs. However, this always had an influence on unwanted side effects. How was it possible for nature to create such a one-sided concentration, which can only be achieved with the active ingredients of special herbs? But not in this extremely contrary concentration!((*))
After a lot of brooding, Deanna finally stood up and took a very old book from the shelf, which she had to dust off before opening it.
She slowly turned the pages and got stuck a little longer on some pages, quietly speaking words like "vein-syndrome" "god's flower" or "day devil". Finally she opened a page where she held her breath for a moment after a short glance. "sulfur weed!" It increases the Fenolin and decreace the Orcanol at the same time. She remembered this very rare herb which she only knew from Gobaith. It could be found, with a lot of luck, on meadows that were close to dumps of volcanic rock. Almost excited she compared the slightly yellowed notes with her table of active ingredients and the results of the water tests. She closed the book and, as if to confirm it, lightly banged her fist on it, which produced a small cloud of dust.

"We need the sulphur weed" she said loudly and stood up.

((* please do not consider the rare herbs, thats to easy))

[Yridia Anar]

She did read over and over the message from Amelia and the report from Sir Exelous.

The toxin was strong in the watersample Deanna gave her, she was no alchemist, but what she did see,
smell and analyze, it would kill Allesandra.
Why did Sammy say it would be safe, in Lizard form, to swim in this water...
She doubted even a Lizard would accomplish this without getting poisoned.
There was probably only one herb which could help - and maybe Ushara did grant her
another favor for a try to safe Allesandra's life ?
Allesandra did help serve her's - Yridia felt she was still in her debt.

To find this rare herb was another problem,though.
She only had seen it in Gobaith - never in Illarion and she - as a non fighter - couldn't just walk to any place for a search.

In the mid of this thoughts another falcon reached her with a message.
Inara did inform her that Deanna and Amelia are wounded - caused by a attack from Gray.
Amelia seemed to be safe, but Deanna ? What she read did alarm her.

Closing her eyes she did pray, praying to Ushara for strength-
Then she was on her way to Runewick ...

[Demelza]

~A few months before the incident.~

The situation in Runewick was all Allesandra could think about. Jefferson's words from the day she saw him kept ringing in her ears, again and again always accompanied by the cackle that never failed to send shivers down her spine.

"Convince your pathetic leaders to throw down their weapons and abort their pitiful fight against Letma...Failing to do so will result in the largest army you or any other of these mortals has ever seen...That is... Unless the plague grows thicker and destroys you first."

Unless the plague grows thicker and destroys you first..

With unfaltering determination, she would set to work on Eli's task for her. Having taken a sample of the blackened dirt near the fields, she would pour her heart into research; do everything in her power and her knowledge to help.

For weeks, she would not leave the alchemy room, not even to eat or get a moment of respite. Diet potions would be her only friends. Of course, these potions were never meant to be used as a long-term substitute for food but she was unaware of how much time had passed and her non-existent appetite did not help. Slowly but surely, the lack of sleep and proper nutrition were starting to get to her; she would find herself asleep mid-brewing and wake up without the slightest idea of how it happened.

Reaching for her diet potion for that day, she would find it empty. Something was very wrong. She hadn’t remembered drinking it; in fact, she was almost certain she hadn’t. When she felt the sudden chills across her body and queasiness in her stomach, she knew something was indeed wrong. And that would only be the first of many similar incidents..

~A few days before the incident.~~

Lethargy had taken over her body and senses. Everything felt dull, lifeless. Even walks around town would find her body and mind languid, the dead fish in the waters plain depressing. Had they still not found a way to get the algae inside? To her, it was simple. Sammy had stated it clearly. So why had nobody acted on it? The memory was still so vivid in her mind.

He had said that he couldn't find a lizard to plant the algae at the ocean grounds, that he would get S'rrt to plant them. That, of course, was not an option to be considered by the Countess, risking their general's life. Sammy assured her that if he does not drink it, he would be safe. It would only sting a bit, he had said, the trick would be to not swallow it. That was when Deanna spoke up, saying that she would do the task and Sammy warned her about getting any in her mouth.

She remembered Aly's words then, which had made her chuckle, as they always did.

"Sammy - did you consider that there are --- a LOT of dead fish? They didn't die of a broken heart.."

Sammy, again, assured her that it was only because the fish breathed in the water that that had been their fate.

However, it was Katharina's words that had brought the idea into existence.
"Drink a shapeshifter and do it yourself, if you are so sure that it's not dangerous."

Sammy agreed to this, saying he just needed the recipe, which sounded a little ridiculous to her. Was not Sammy a Grandmaster alchemist? Surely he would know the recipe to a shapeshifting potion.. would he not?

"I will get you a bottle." was Katharina's reply.

None of it happened. And Allesandra couldn’t help but wonder why. Why had no one done anything about the waters when Sammy had so clearly given them the solution?

[Yridia Anar]

Sammy thinks he can detox the poison with the algae broth.

As she heard this words out of Eli's mouth a deep anger did arise in her. A rare feeling for the always calm priestess.
So he is thinking to just cook up a water organism, a organism to filter water, will safe her life ?
Aye... to help absorb the poison in her system is my guess.
he has already done enough harm with his statements Eli -
I doubt not even a Lizard could withstand the poison in the water, he just makes a guess and throws it out, risking lifes
Well I thought could... it be "tested" ...
To calm herself she did fold her hands on the table.
where - on a nearly dead person Eli ? Ushara grant me patience...
Of course not her!
Eli did look shocked even at the notion.
I was think another organic life form but would that anger the gods?
it will not work on a human organism, nor another lifeform. If this algae could do it, we Druids had found it out centuries ago
It may clear and filter water, cause thats the element of a algae

Yridia did tell him from the herb she knew from Gobaith, Sulfur Weed, but also that it was very, very rare and she never had seen it on a place in Illarion.
However Allesandra needed time, she decided to giver her just that ... life ... precious time. So the rare herb could be found and prepare the proper antidote,
to heal´her fully.

Arriving the hospital Eli did nearly collapse, crying, supporting himself barely at the wall.
And yes, it was shocking to see Allesandra, the cheerful and always joyful woman, was in a dire state - at the brink of death.

She did start the procedure immediate as Aswe came in, after a few words and seeing how deadly serious it was, Aswe joined into the chant.

Menno o nin na hon - May the blessing that was given to me
i eliad annen annin - be sent from me to her
hon leitho o ngurth - thats my gift

The elven medico and Yridia did repeat the chant three times, the air around Allesandra did glow with warm, silken air.

At the end Yridia's forehead, her whole body was covered in sweat, she couldn't stand anymore, did sink on the stool at Allesandra's bed.

did it.. did ... it work Aswe ? she did ask with a low, exhausted voice

Aswe did take a few deep breaths of her own, however her hair continued to glow slightly. She looked over the woman on the bed.

Deeper breaths. A warmer pallour. She has improved, though not recovered

Yridia nods very slow, breathing heavily
there is a plant Aswe... I did see it on Gobaith once... but never here. You need to confirm it with a Alchemist, like Deanna...
Sulfur Weed

Yridia closed her eyes, not able to speak anymore, then she tripped into darkness - the exhaustion took its toll.
The last thought was a prayer
Thank you Ushara, watch over her... she needs it desperatly ..

[S'rrt]

"Why?"

The single-worded question was what had dominated the lizard's mind for a while now. "Why, why, why?" The terror behind his expressionless eyes had robbed him of the ability to elaborate his thoughts, much less allow it to take place out loud to anyone. It was as if the knowledge of Allesandra's condition had made him hold his breath without end, without relief. The dread was so severe that he could not cope seeing her withered body for longer periods of time, as the rush of feelings of injustice and even anger drove him to exit the room, only to hide his face in his palms, claws digging deeply and painfully amid into the scales on his head.

He looked for an opportunity to do something, anything, and it had finally surfaced. The learned in Runewick spoke of a herb called sulfur weed, that he had last seen on Gobaith during his alchemist days, that could provide the needed antidote. While it was likely that such a herb couldn't be found on these lands, Deanna's research of the type of area it could grow in offered a glimmer of hope. "Grasslands enriched by volcanic flows", was the way that Eli summarized Deanna's description to S'rrt. After studying a map of the three realms the lizard determined that he'd scout out the most promising location in Cadomyr that matches the description: the coastline between Harrowed Mount and Snakehead Bay.

With the word 'why' still echoing inside his head, and his breath still held, he impatiently set out to that location with feelings of guilt and responsibility. Another question began taking over in his mind...

"Why wasn't it me instead?"