"We already have samples, right, Weaver?" Ooboron offers.

"Oh? You do? Where are they?" the professor asks, her interest piqued.

Weaver is about to spill everything, but something about the timing of the professor's arrival is bothering her.

(Weaver gives Professor Tchoscky a quick and subtle appraisal, trying to figure out if her motives are genuine - Insight check: 14 )

"Um, actually I do have several samples. I've been experimenting with them to determine their properties, and apart from an unfortunate accidental fire that was in no way my fault, I haven't learned much about the stuff other than it is flammable if spilled onto a lit bunsen burner."

Weaver can't quite tell what the ladies motives are, but her concern for the safety of students, showcased when she gave the potion to Theo, seems genuine, at least to Weaver's eyes.

"Well, that isn't much to go on, but I'm sure we can find something. Did you find anything else?" the professor inquires, her face curious as you can practically see the gears turning in her brain.

"Well, we have figured out that it's some sort of blood magic at work here, but beyond that, we don't know who's behind it or what they're trying to do."  Weaver shrugs, looking a little less glowy than usual.

Ooboron moves a little closer to the professor and says, "Some of the teachers and that cook seem to know something, but are covering it up."

"Blood magic? Why would?...oh!" realization dawns on the professor's face "I think I know what we need to do. But first, we need to help professor Valentin. If you could deliver those samples to his office over on the Witherbloom Campus, that would be great!"

((Sorry for disappearing for a while!))

"Oh no, I hope that whoever is behind the blood magic and these attacks on campus isn't a Witherbloom student or professor," Elsenia worries, biting at a nail. "That would be just awful. But we can take these samples to the professor. I know my way around the Witherbloom campus really well."

"That's great! You all should go there now, the sooner we get those samples to Professor Valentin the better!"

"That sounds like a great idea best friends, lets go!"

You all head out for the Witherbloom Campus, walking along in the bright sunlight of the late morning. Birds chirp in the trees, and the scent of flowers blooming fills your noses, as two witherbloom students are laying on a grassy field on a date, making flowers grow for their amusement. Overall, the day is nice and calm, the chaos of this morning forgotten in the peace of this tranquil moment as you make your way across the central campus. 

Eventually, you reach the edges of Witherbloom campus, and make your way towards the central edifice of the college, Widdershins Hall, a bog mansion carved out of a massive tree in the center of the campus. The mossy trees, and dirt paths lined by puddles of mud and small streams give the place an earthy feel, as the croaking of frogs and the sound of cicadas reaches your ears. After entering the hall, you find your way to the faculty offices.

Before you is an oaken door, with the plaque: "Professor Valentin, Dean of Decay"

What do you do?

Weaver is unsettled by the decay. It's beautiful, in a way, but the polar opposite of her home, where everything has an abundance of life and color and glitter. She fumbles a bit with straps and fidgets with her satchel, checking and re-checking that her samples of the goo are secure. She would prefer to hang back and not start the conversation, if it's all the same to the gang. 

Theo knocks on the door.

"Hello?!"

Nervously, the party approaches the door. After standing around in a few moments of awkward silence, Theo musters his courage and steps up to knock at the door.

Before he can knock, the door suddenly swings open, and a vaguely familiar figure stares down at the Harengon. Pale skin, pointed ears, jet black hair and the robes of a Wither-Bloom professor.

Professor Valentin, who you know realize you met the day of the frog incident. He looks at you reproachfully, baring his long fangs "Why are you here?" he asks tersely.

Ooboron was already feeling scared as they walked onto the Witherbloom campus. Unconsciously, he reduced his stature by hunching his shoulders and flattening his ears against the sides of his head. When the office door opens, and the professor questions their presence, the loxodon squeaks and covers his head with his hands.

"Professor Tochsk-ty said we should investigate a wierd substance here. She said since you were so very knowledgable you would be the expert to consult."

Theo gestures to Weaver, "Give him the thing, it's our only one, but we need professionals for this."

Weaver produces the latest vial of goo she recovered. "Here you go - we've figured out it's the byproduct of blood magic, but we need more help, Professor." 

The Professor's eye's widen as Theo speaks. When he finishes, Valentin looks shocked, then hisses at you "What are you doing? Talking about this in broad daylight. Come inside." he ushers you in, closing the door and bolting it behind him.

He walks to his desk and sits at it, staring at you with intense eyes. "Blood magic you say? Interesting. Well, I will need time to analyze this. Go report back to Professor Tochsk-ty, and tell her I received it."

Slowly, he reaches out his hand towards the vial which Weaver holds, his clawed fingers curling as he holds his hand out, ready to take the vial.

(Now Weaver's alarm whistles are really going off - she already didn't like the professor much before, but now she's thoroughly creeped out. Is he hiding something?) 

Insight check: 16 

(Nope! Weaver trusts him completely) 

"Here you go, Professor!" she says with a happy smile, as she hands over the recently collected sample.