Okay, so there's this powerful underworld figure, call him Wilthe,
who's known for pulling somewhat shady deals(relative to what his
peers are used to, which is saying a lot) , but being good enough to
avoid getting nailed for it.  Until recently, when a rival crimeboss
decided it was time to teach this boy a lesson, and to increase his
own holdings at the same time, by knocking him off.

So the rival crimeboss gets together with a trusted but impatient and
extremely greedy "lieutenant" and convinces said lieutenant, call him 
Andril, to betray his boss in exchange for a higher position in the
new order.  Andril slips a highly venemous concoction into his boss's
evening ale, which Wilthe drinks, which should have been the end of it.  

Unfortunately for Andril, a sorceror whom Wilthe often used for tricky
ventures had dropped by to discuss a major job that was being
considered, and happened to have enough curative magic available to
ward off the poison.  Now Wilthe is trying to track down the
person/people responsible.

Perhaps fortunately for Andril, though, the healing salve this
sorceror used wasn't designed as an antidote to poisons, and so wasn't
able to neutralize the poison completely, only to slow its effects.
So Wilthe is slowly dying, and needs to find an antidote soon.

The nearby sorceror, call him Humphrey, seeing an opportunity to make a
profit, claims to know a potent spell to eradicate all sorts of
toxins, but that in order to get the ingredients for such a spell he
needs {EXORBIDANT AMOUNT OF CASH}.  Wilthe agrees to this, although he
doesn't have the money available, by offering to pay half in advance,
half afterwards.  The sorceror, planning to take the cash and leave,
agrees.

Wilthe, realizing that Humphrey may well not have the best of
intentions, sets wheels in motion to put a contract out on the
sorceror should he fail to cure the poison.  Furthermore, he put the
word out on the street to let him know if Humphrey tries to take it on
the lam.  Now Humphrey's in trouble, since he doesn't actually know of
such a cure.  But suddenly, he remembers--the court wizard of the
Monarchy of Tesla is coming into Thriff for the Guild meeting!  And he
remembers, years ago, that same court wizard mentioning an item he had
discovered that neutralized toxins--this was perfect!

Of course, Humphrey and the court wizard haven't been on great terms
since he caught Humphrey sleeping with his wife and chased him out of
Tesla, so he can't just ask for this item.  So, he started sifting
through the back-room gossip on the wizard's apprentice, a horny young
man named Willy{*read "nymphomaniac"}.  It seems that not only has
Willy managed to impregnate half the eligable young women in Tesla, he
is also carrying on an affair with the court wizard's wife.  This is
ripe for blackmail opportunities, and who better to steal the wizard's
item?  Of course, first Humphrey needs to find proof to convince the
wizard...