Zahabe's Document

[You glance over countless pages of erased writing, chaotic sketches, and incomprehensible calculations]

Finally, I've found the perfect formula! This way, the damage done to the ebony ore will be subtle enough to pass basic inspection, yet severe enough to cause a clear quality loss once it's processed.

Grind dwarven scrap metal into fine dust. For twenty crates of ebony, you'll need roughly one medium-sized piece.

Mix the scrap metal dust with void salts, then apply weak shock magic to it. Repeat the process until the mixture emits a faint bluish glow.

Next, apply strong fire magic and wait for it to cool. The result is a nearly invisible dust that will turn high-quality ebony ore into a brittle mess the moment it's refined. Use only a pinch if you want the ore to remain workable, though the end product will still be subpar.

I don't know WHY it works, but it works!

[The following pages contain extremely detailed instructions for dockworkers: how to handle the dust, how to carry it unnoticed, and how to dispose of any traces.]