A Thimbleful of Time
The Thirty Second of Elnu-hamba [Elnu Descendent] Year 1348 A. L. (After Landfall)
The morning light passes thought curtains and eyelids alike, like spears driven into your skull and your mouth tastes like something had crawled into it and died.
Old enough to know better, not yet old enough to do better, your father would have called it, likely failing to hold back a laugh. Alas cures for a night of hard drinking are not to be found among Zaia's many potions and tinctures. "The only thing I have found to work after a fashion is more of what got you into that state to begin with and it is my judgement that this is less a cure and more stretching out the poisoning longer by turning the wheel around..."
"Poison?" you scoff. "Have you taken after the Saracens then, Master Zaia?" Not that you are not tempted yourself presently, but that can be left unsaid.
"I am merely stating facts as I have found them," the doctor shrugs. "Spirits of wine act as a poison, a large enough dose can kill a man sure as if you had seasoned his roast with nightshade." After a small pause he admits. "It takes a good bit more spirits than nightshade and I would imagine far more wine of beer."
You should probably be more disturbed to have the first person you meet this morning be a fellow talking about poisons, but you had always assumed a good doctor would know how to poison you, after al in most matters it is easier to break something than mend it, and more to the point your trust Zaia. "Bah you may as well say all the things which are sweet in life are poison."
"That might be closer to the mark than you think Sir knight. I met a chaplain of the Hospitaliers once who was convinced that the dose made the poison, that enough of anything will kill you, for after all what is evil if not that which is good taken to excess?"
Perhaps it is just the headache and the fact that your temples keep pulsing like drums in your ears but that makes an odd amount of sense. Still... "How much of that... nightshade would be safe for a man to eat?"
"I would say there has not been wrought a thimble fine enough for the task," he replies.
***
A thimble fine enough or a spoon long enough, you wonder as you watch Ogun as he weights the small sacs of black ash in his hand, all that is left of Tam's killer and his fellow. Unlike Inge he seems to think it is worth something and he is in no hurry to drop it into the sea. He listens to your tale silently for the most part, only asking one or two questions about the dress and manner of the southerners as well as about the place where you had been ambushed by the soul thieves.
When you recount how two of them had been slain and the third fled h sighs he sighs. "Too much to hope the whole bright would be burned at once... Do you know how those you fought came to be among the company of spirits?" Before you can reply the wizard catches himself. "Then again perhaps you do not wish to know, many in your position would wish to have nothing more to do with the affairs of fey or Stone Keepers, yet you have done well, achieved far more than I would have had any right to expect when I send you to merely look upon the stones and return with news of what the disturbance might be. For certain that has earned a reward over and above the healing I have provided. Gold and silver I can provide, bound in locks and heavy in hand..."
Prestige and wealth, you translate mentally from what you have seen at court. Given Antonio's new found generosity towards you you do not urgently need the latter, but the former...
Do you want to stay here, to make some place for yourself at the court of the young king besides as a curiosity of the day?
"Or I might provide potions and philters for battles to come," Ohun continues. "Not merely healing, but blessings of strength and charm, with and wisdom and much more, but if you are inclined to take the latter than perhaps you might wish to listen to more of an old man's pondering..."
"Yes?" It costs little to listen, but you would not be so quick to jump at his word next time.
"You have shown yourself skilled in dealing with Those whom many warriors strong and bold would hesitate to cross, not without loss, but a victory is a victory. I could use a company of such skills against perils from beyond the Pale, not merely spirits, but those among men who bargain with things of ill will or walk paths of madness. Sky-wrought blades you already have."
"As it please thee I would not say yea or nay in haste to such an offer," you reply. After a moment's hesitation, unable to think of any subtle way to ask you add: "How much gold would you be willing to offer for the labors I and my companions have done?"
"True, true I said I would not distract you and now look where we are..."
And if that is an accident you will eat your helm, padding and all, you think as he turns to the details of his offer
What do you take as your reward for dealing with the disturbance at the stones?
[] Wealth (1500 gp)
[] Prestige (Have your deeds praised to the young king as well as a braid ring from Ohun worth 200 gp)
[] Philters and potions (Any number of potions of level 1 and 2 from the druid spell list worth no more than 1000 gp total)
-[] Write in plan (lvl 0 potions 25 gp; lvl 1:50 gp; lvl 2: 300 Gp; Druid Spell List)
OOC: More rules on the making of potions can be found here for people who are not familiar with the system. 
