Solo What Even Is This?

[Shamus]

Winter 53, 514 AV Shamus was currently manning the counter, hand on his chin and elbow on the surface of the long table where purchases were made, looking bored. It was a slow day, few coming into the store and all buying something that was already prepared, giving Shamus no chance to slip into the lab. A ghostly tendril of the lavender scented smoke curled down from above towards Shamus. It stalled in front of his eyes, exchanging a stare with the golden eyed man before Shamus gave it a little blow, knocking it away from his face as it cascaded toward the ground. The stuff always seemed to hate him, coming only so close before suddenly recoiling from his body. He continued to watch the smoke as it fell down ever so slowly from the hanging brazier above, watching the ghostly figures that sometimes could be made out in it. They took away the loneliness since the other apprentice had recently been fired, giving him company in the shop. He stood up straight as a man dressed in black baggy clothes walked into the shop, a hood pulled just over his eyes. His voice was ragged and dusty sounding, as if he had not spoken to anyone that day. It came out in a deep whisper, getting Shamus' attention, "I need to talk to Tian." Shamus shrugged, taking it as an excuse to move about the organized chaos of the shop and into the lab, where he knew Tian was taking inventory. "Some guy claims he needs to see you, sounds rather serious." Tian nodded, standing up from her crouched position where she surveyed the beakers and alembics that lay in the particular crate. She motioned for him to stay put in the lab, to which he nodded, taking a seat on a nearby crate. It was always best to listen to Tian. Doing otherwise resulted in a removal from the job. Shamus traced over the crescent moon on his wrist as he listened to Tian and the unknown man quietly grumble back and forth in hushed voices. He heard Tian say to come back tomorrow for the product and then the sound of steps leaving the shop, followed by the close of the door. He stood, looking down the hall as Tian turned the lock on the door. Something was happening, that much was clear. It was bells before closing time. Her face was distraught, as if she was unsure of what to do. Then she nodded, clenching her fists and walking towards the lab, where Shamus was stationed silently. "Come Shamus, we have work to do," she said in a low voice as she closed the windows, leaving only the roof vent open.

[Shamus]

Shamus followed Tian into the storage room, which was full of all sorts of things a philterer could make use of. There were crates upon crates, plants hanging from the ceiling to dry, and labeled drawers all around the room. Tian moved swiftly to the back of the room, where several crates were piled on top of eachother. In the short time Shamus had worked here he had never found it necessary to touch any of them. She beckoned him over to the large pile, "move these crates away from the wall." When Shamus asked why he received nothing but a stare. It was unlike Tian to keep him in the dark like this, she usually explained everything she did thoroughly, usually doing so with so much thoroughness that Shamus knew the ins and out of things like 'the proper smile to put on when a pretty woman walks in if you want her to buy something expensive'. It concerned him that she refused to explain it, and he began pondering wether he should pull the information from her with his unordinary means of doing so. Not wanting to exploit his hypnotism unless completely necessary, Shamus began pushing the crates aside, one by one. The stack was slowly moved, with Tian monitoring his progress until the whole wall of crates were moved far enough to expose a small cavern that had been chiseled into the wall. It was just big enough to hold the locked coffer that was inside. Tian took out a set of keys and walked toward the container, unlocking it and pulling the lid open. Shamus looked curiously over her shoulder, noticing the small bottles inside. Why would she hide these from me? He wondered anxiously. The secret that was being held from him was too much. Shamus needed answers. He closed his eyes as Tian jostled around in the small box, picking up a small assortment of bottles. The golden eyed man breathed in and out slowly, focusing as he brought his inner Djed from his core to just behind his eyes. The energy begged to be released and as he heard Tian stand and turn, he allowed it to. His eyes met hers and he stared into them as his essence was directed into her head, evicting a single thought in her mind, "tell him". Judging by the look on her face the thought had gone through, now he had to ask. "Who was that man?" He watched her face contort slightly as she pondered what to say, before opening her mouth. "That was a very old customer that I thought had been caught and imprisoned, but it seems they never found him. He is offering a very high price for a particular philter, and business is business." She spoke hurriedly, throwing the words out of her mouth as if she had been waiting to tell him anyway. Shamus nodded, taking the two bottles she had picked up when she held them out to him. She walked over to one of the crates he had moved and opened it, taking out a large bottle from inside, full of murky liquid that he knew she used to start the brazier fires each day. Burning oil, designed to burn easily and for long periods of time.

[Shamus]

They cleared the lab table of half finished projects and ingredients, setting down the bottles carefully. Considering Tian had hid the vials from him Shamus assumed they held something very valuable or very dangerous. Tian grabbed a pair of fire gloves from the corner and handed them to Shamus, which he immediately put on. "Alright Shamus. Grab one of the larger clear glass phials and bring it over," she instructed him, standing a ways back nervously as she watched him do so. "Now, grab one of the small equipment cleaning brushes, the one with soft bristles, and the large tin bowl by the faucet." By now Shamus was curious as to why she wasn't the one to make this philter, if it would fetch such a high price. But he obeyed the instructions, bringing the gear back to the table and setting them down. "Pour enough of the liquid called fireproof oil to coat the bottom of the bowl, but no more. Then dip the brush in and begin to spread it all around the inside of the phial." He opened the bottle, recoiling slightly at the disgusting smell that made its way into his nose. Wanting to close it again he poured with a purpose, then capped the bottle and set it far away from him. He began to put the bristles into the liquid and swab the inside of the phial. Shamus picked up the bowl and put it over the phials opening, tilting it and letting a few drops fall in. He set down the bowl and put his finger over the opening of the beaker, suddenly shaking it vigorously to spread the liquid about evenly across the surface. When he felt it was covered he stopped and turned to Tian. "Now what?" He asked. "See the jar labeled flare paste? Scoop out a few large spoonfuls and put them in the bowl." Shamus did as she said, wondering why he had never heard of any of these materials. "Now pour in enough burning oil to cover the flare paste." He tilted the bottle of liquid over the bowl, pouring bit by bit. "Alright, now very carefully mix the ingredients until you cant feel the chunks of paste any more." He nodded his head up and down once before stirring the substances in a circular motion, feeling the paste dissolve into the burning oil. "With all of the flammable ingredients, why add in the fireproof oil?" Shamus wondered aloud, surprised when Tian answered him. "It only affects the mixture for a day after being poured from its bottle. You will see why it was necessary soon." He replied with a shrug, trusting her. "Now, grab the distilling tube that fits into the cork hole and bring it here." He did so, handing it to Tian, who walked closer to the table and put one side into the mixture he had made, putting the other into her mouth. The liquid began to rise into the long coiled tube as she used it like a straw. When the last of the liquid was out of the bowl she quickly took it out of her mouth and pressed her thumb over the top, keeping the liquid from falling out. "Now, Shamus. This next part is absolutely vital, and if it is messed up you could be seriously injured. You must do exactly as I say, is that clear?" He nodded a quick yes. "Alright. Grab the drilled cork that fits this vial and the sealing wax. Bring it here quick." He did so, scuffling around the lab to grab the assorted materials and bringing them back to the table. "This is where we must act quickly and perfectly, no mistakes. Pick up the vial labeled Ivak's Fire and a iron funnel, place the funnel into the mouth of the phial and tilt the Ivak's Fire until it is all where at the top but do not uncork it." He did so carefully, hovering the upside down bottle of ivak's fire over the funnel. "Now, on the count of three uncork it, let the fire flow into the vial and take out the funnel. Then immediately put the cork on it and move, so I can put our mixture inside. When all the liquid has flowed into the vial immediately cover the hole with sealing wax. The fire will extinguish inside. Ready?" Shamus took a deep breath, preparing to let the fire into the funnel, "one... two... three!"

[Shamus]

He could feel the heat as soon as he uncorked the bottle. Had he not been wearing the fire gloves and philtering gear his arms and hands would have been severely burned. Luckily the fiery material flowed across the lubricated funnel quickly, allowing Shamus to take it out and put the cork on, although he was wondering if it would burst into flame. Tian put the bottom hole of the long tube through the corks hole, taking her finger off the top and letting the black contents flow into the beaker. Luckily they stayed neutral and did not ignite due to the flameproof oil they had mixed with the substance. Immediately when Tian took the tube out Shamus covered the hole with sealing wax, and like she had predicted the contents extinguished with the lack of oxygen. Both began to laugh, they had accomplished the task with no injuries sustained. It was the state of disbelief that brought a strange feeling, one of pride and accomplishment, even though they were the sole witnesses of the ordeal. Shamus picked up the large vial carefully, with the added contents it was near full. He slowly swirled the bottle, watching the contents move in a small whirlpool. "What even is this?" He asked Tian, who took the bottle from him and covered the cork with another few layers of sealing wax. She refused to look at him in the eyes as she explained sullenly, "it is a weapon. When thrown it will ignite into super hot fire. It is hot enough to melt glass. Even if we wanted to unmake it we couldn't. When it smashes or is opened the contents will immediately ignite." She sighed, "and I am selling it to the worst person possible." He nodded, remembering the man who had come to see her earlier. This was her decision to make. He had simply made the philter. With that thought he walked out of the building and headed to the apartments. Due to the emptiness of the streets it was clear they were in a rest time, and Shamus could feel the need for sleep catching up to him.

[Brandon Blackwing]

SHAMUS

XP Award:

• Observation +2
• Socialization +1
• Hypnotism +1
• Interrogation +1
• Philtering +2

Lore:

• Tian’s secret stash of philtering ingredients
• The safety measures necessary making flammable philters
• How to make a flammable philter

Notes:
Interesting… I am looking forward to see more of this mysterious criminal. Great thread, albeit a little on the short side. However, it was entertaining nonetheless

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credit goes to Adelaide Sitai