Mayhem, continued

[clarentine]

Tonight, I'm poisoning someone. It won't be fatal this time, though the victim is not a happy camper. As I don't know for certain what's being used, I foresee more macabre research ahead.

Suggestions? It's (currently) being dispensed out of a pepper mill. The year is 1722 or thereabouts, and we're in Havana.

*********

Research this week has included information on the weight of big bells. Anyone who wants to buy a good used church bell, do I have just the website for you: http://www.brosamersbells.com/church.html.

Also researched: tobacco farmer revolts in Cuba - did you know that Canary Islanders were recruited for emigration to Cuba as the Spaniards were settling the island? - and the names of Cuban governors/captains general. I was unable to find any data on the cause of death for one particular governor, so I am making it up out of whole cloth.

Comments

[ter369.livejournal.com]

Suggestions? It's (currently) being dispensed out of a pepper mill. The year is 1722 or thereabouts, and we're in Havana.

Do you want the victim to pass out, vomit, convulse, or respond in some specific way that drives the next action?

[jonquil.livejournal.com]

Arsenic is a classic for a reason. It gives you gastroenteritis (you vomit and have diarrhea), but people did that all the time anyway. It is very hard in the pre-chemical-analysis era to tell somebody who's been poisoned with arsenic from somebody who just died of food poisoning.

[clarentine]

Good question. He's clearly uncomfortable over the noon meal, sweating, but not obviously in a lot of pain. This is not the first time he's been poisoned in this fashion--the poisoner has been setting up a history of stomach ailments--but it was a serious attempt. I would like the attempt to end in a visible inability to function so that the meeting he's attending will have to be stopped. I don't want obvious signs of poisoning--no frothing at the mouth or convulsions. It's got to look natural.

[clarentine]

Yeah, arsenic is high on my list. Time for some research...after I finish getting words for the day. I was away all day at a design symposium, and now my brain is filled with creative data of another realm entirely. *g*

Thanks!

[ter369.livejournal.com]

Am checking poison resources. These are adjunct to my alchemy research. Back atcha.

[ter369.livejournal.com]

Arsenic would work in the manner of dispensing you describe. ::looks for additional options::

[clarentine]

Bless you! Options are always a good thing; they make me think about Why and Why Not.

[ter369.livejournal.com]

Just so you know, I am still poking around in my alchemical research materials, because there could always be a mo' bettah poison option.

[clarentine]

Thanks! I really appreciate it.