Russel's attention was drawn by the mention of the word poison. While not wishing to interfere with the questioning, he did reflect on the possibility that he might have heard of what should have been a notable poison even if only in historical use.

13:25, Today: Russel Albion rolled 3 using 2d6 with rolls of 1,2.  Spout Lore of Titan poison.

"Duf created the poison... but he couldn't stop himself from creating a cure as well. He left a warning, that should the giants find the Panacea, they could restore their lost might and knowledge, and seek to conquer the world once more." The noble explains, a look of almost madness in his eyes. "Such threat cannot be allowed to go on! The Panacea must be found, and destroyed!"

The paladin glanced up from his work.  "You mentioned a prophesy?"

If the wisest of the dwarves had decided to create a cure, it seemed odd that it was suddenly necessary to destroy it thousands of years later...

To Spriggy, Russel quietly asked, almost unnoticed by the others, "The Oculary is supposed to detect magic right? Poisons and even potions are not magical so, how was that supposed to work?"

Spriggy was also curious about the prophecy, so he remained quiet while Gorrid's question was answered. Spriggy had a guess as to part of the answer to Russel's question, but remained quiet about that for now too. At the very least, Spriggy assumed magic would be involved with the poison to keep it from spoiling or to keep it hidden over the last thousand years.

"Yes, that the giants would find the Panacea and use it!" The noble says to Gorrid.

He frowns at Russel's question. "What do you mean? The Oculary was made to detect the Panacea!"

Charlotte shakes her head. "No, the plate was pretty clear that it's made to detect mana, magical energy. It didn't say anything about a a Panacea."

"But... it can't be! You're lying! You fools are trying to keep the location of the Panacea to yourselves!" Tiariai shouts, trying to jump to his feet despite his bonds.

"If this is a threat to our whole world, why is this a mission you've taken upon yourself?  Surely the dwarves would be the ones with the strongest interest in protecting this panacea?  Why you?"

Buck nods, affirming Gorrid's wise inquiry. He's keen to know the answer and stops fidgeting with his cloak, again making eye contact with the paranoid noble.

"And what good would it do to tell you the location of the Panacea anyway? You know, assuming we were lying to you about it. You are about to spend time serving a sentence for your crime of abducting Charlotte. Best you give us all the information you can and let us handle it from here."

"NO! Fools like you wouldn't know how to handle such responsibility!" He howls, still struggling with his bonds. He keeps ranting in a barely coherent manner, making it clear that he only considers someone of noble birth able to take on such important, world shaking task. And with the way he's ranting and raving... he's doing a great job of proving himself wrong.

"It's been a thousand years.  What sign makes you think the giants are suddenly going to discover the Panacea now?  And if you found it, how were you planning to destroy it?"

Gorrid's question on earns more shouting, as your not-noble-looking prisoner keeps uselessly struggling against his bonds.

Charlotte shakes her head when looking at him. "I don't think he had a plan... I mean, the way he just grabbed me when I mentioned the Oculary, it's not something a person would do if they stopped and thought things out. He's just... too obsessed with this Panacea to think things through rationally."

"Is it worth going back to his estate to see if we can find some information there, or would that risk his employees and family trying to gain his release?  (If he often behaves like this, they might well prefer he didn't come back...)"

If "he's pretty much a raving lunatic" then, he is wasting our time and energy.
Is there a way we can have someone else take him Home?

BTW - I'm assuming we had the servants as well as those guards who'd surrendered or merely been rendered unconscious help with lugging back the bodies of those who'd died.  We'd want to ensure they could be returned to their families, or if that's not practical, at least give them a proper burial.

"Perhaps a few of us should go on ahead and investigate his home. Without Lord Tiariai present. At least one or two of us should probably stay with our captive here as well. He seems determined to wiggle away, and I would not be surprised if he eventually succeeded, if left unguarded."

"Until our dear lady makes it safely home, I have no need for rest or sustenance.  I can keep him and the remaining guards under my watchful eye.  Perhaps after he rests a bit he'll have calmed down to the point where he can be convinced to provide a letter of authorization.  If not, then sweet-talking and alternative modes of entry will have to make due..."

With that, the knight put away his sharpening stone and took out an oiled rag and focused on polishing the blade.

"I may be able to get in and maybe take another if needed," responded Russel.
"Do we have any solid ideas of what we would be looking for?"

"Whatever this prophesy is and any other information that might indicate whether there's any reality underlying this man's ravings...  I presume whatever materials he has that relate to the topic will be easily accessible and well-worn."

"He has a vault with some of his old dwarven texts," Charlotte explains. "But there really wasn't anything truly exceptional there. This plate is probably the rarest document he found, and even that he seemed to completely misunderstand what it meant. We'd probably have a better chance to find more accurate information in a good library."

"In that case, I suggest we save ourselves the unnecessary risk and head back to the guild hall instead." It sounded like breaking into the vault would prove fruitless, and was itself illegal anyway. It wouldn't do them any favors to turn in a criminal they had performed crimes against themselves. It would probably only give him leverage for a lighter sentence.

"Do the Phoenix Blades have, or have access to an extensive library?" Buck asks, sending an unintentional reminder of how recently he has joined the outfit. He is much more in favor of this latest plan of action and it is apparent in his hopeful tone.

"I'm happy to see our lady home as soon as possible.  I think it's best if we buried the guards we confronted before we continue our travels.  This is nearer their home and they won't fare well on the journey back to town."  He waited to see if there were any objections, then set to work digging and assembled a small cairn above the mass grave before pausing to pray.

Russel gave Sir Gorrid a hand with carrying and burying the bodies.

"We do, like any good guilds." Charlotte says. "It's not as good as the one at the magical academy, but Mortimer gathered plenty of documents from as far as the Kingdom of Deepearth."

With the victims of Tiariai's eagerness buried, you return to the capital. Your prisoners are turned over to the authorities, with a long description of what happened. Then, you return to the Pheonix's Nest, for some well deserved rest.

OOC: Mark yourself 3 xp each for completing the adventure!