Alban follows the conversation with interest and nods towards Hexia.  "Thank you for the bag of holding, Hexia.  I will put it to good use and also have 5 vials of elemental plane water from the fountain for sale if possible."

"Certainly, though I did just buy quite a bit of it. The good thing about this water is that it can be used for more than one thing." She smiles at Alban. "Though, after this transaction I may need to stop buying them for a while seeing as how I have ended up with so many. I am definitely most appreciative to those of you who have brought me my materials. Thank you." Hexia pulled out a sizeable pouch of gold and placed it on the counter before Alban.

Taking the pouch of coins from Hexia in surprise Alban says, "This is very generous of you, Hexia.  I was not expecting so much. You mentioned other uses for the water.  Would you mind sharing that secret with me? It might be something I can use in my craft to help the others at Erret's settlement." He puts the pouch away near his belt under his cloak.

His thoughts begin to wander to the last time he and his friends were here.  He asks the lady in front of him, "If you don't mind my asking, but have you made any more progress gleaning information from that dwarven fountain manual I brought to you the last time I was here in your shop.  I would be interested in making a version of the minor teleportation ring for the elemental plane of air instead of water."

"The water is useful in the creation of all kinds of potions, but especially the more powerful ones." Hexia says. "I'm sorry, I've not had much time to look at the manual, I've been focused on the lesser-been-there crystals.



OOC: Each vial of water from the elemental plane counts as 125gp of ingredients for making potions, not including specific ingredients.
This message was last updated by the player at 03:26, Sun 16 Jan 2022.

Alban takes a long look into the vials of water as if to unlock its secrets through his will alone.  He replies to Hexia, "Fascinating... Do you have more information concerning for these more advanced potion making techniques? I am always looking for ways to improve my skills and knowledge for the betterment of the community."

Alban steps through the portal and arrives in Hexia’s village.  He makes his way to her shop and enters through the doorway.  “Hexia!” Alban calls out to her.  “Are you here?!? We have an urgent matter I had hoped you would help us with.”

At first Hexia was no where to be seen, but after Alban shouted Hexia stood up with a start heaving a silver jug onto her counter. "Ah Alban, what's this about an urgent matter?"

Helping steady the woman behind the counter as best he can Alban continues, “We are in need assistance getting to the enemy outpost where our allies and companions are fighting as quickly as possible.  Erret Smith believed that you could teleport our group half way to cut down the travel time.  Will you help us?”

Hexia smiled at Alban for the help then spoke, "Of course. You'll have to wait until tomorrow for the crystal to recharge, but that will still cut off a good bit of time of the travel. You have plenty of potions to take with you too I'm sure. Say, do you think you could take some healing potions to the troops for me? I might even be able to pay you in advance with something useful for the journey. Is there anything that your group could use maybe a stronger weapon for one of you."

Hearing the news from Hexia Alban gestures towards the human woman in the group.  “I know that Avreene is interested in acquiring a spear of warning to help her work. I can take some of your potions with us if you like.”  Glancing around the shelves and counter Alban considers a moment and turns back towards the group.  “Looks like we will have to sleep here in the village tonight and and head out in the morning. If you need to gather any provisions now is the time.”
This message was last edited by the player at 23:47, Tue 31 May 2022.

Victorious from his raid and flush with coin, Verbannt returned to the shop of Hexia the Witch.

"Matriarch Hexia."

He growled as he entered, closing his eyes and nodding his head deeply in deference to her if she appeared.

The small Rock Gnome in the wheelchair also entered Hexia's store*.
She had with her a saddle that she had crafted with her own hands, which seemed suitable for a moderate/'medium' sized creature.
Approaching the counter, she spoke within whomever attended her:  "Please, I have been led to beleive that, provided with a saddle, you could enchant it in a manner that would benefit both the rider and the mount**?
Would that be possible, please?"


* whether along with Verbannt, or not
** referring to 'Saddle of the Cavalier listed in Hexia's

Azu sauntered into the shop and placed a large bag of gold on the table. "I would like that wonder wind fan and those eye things that let me see in the dark."

She has either 525 or 725 in the bag depending on if the group sold that special been there stone.

Verbannt looked to the two newcomers, who had come in making demands without even announcing themselves. His brow furrowed, and he started to say something, then thought better of it.

"I am Verbannt."

He said to them at last, still unsure of himself. He had seen many strange things since coming here, but this painted one and the wheeled deep gnome were strange to him. He thought he might have seen the former at the battle, but the latter had the appearance of a Matriarch to her. He would show deference, either way.
This message was last edited by the player at 19:10, Sat 11 June 2022.

Either before or after she was served, Donella turned to look up (and up and up and up) at the mountain of muscle.
"Good morning, Verbannt.   I am Lady Donella Turen, of the Shineface tribe ... it's far north of here, and I accept that you may not have heard of us.
I witnessed the  ... carnage ... you perpetrated at the Burning Stag.   It was ... impressive".

If she looked closely, she would see that the studded leather he wore was of particularly fine quality, tinged with arcane essence, and dyed in the same colors the Hobgoblins they had just slain wore. Perhaps a trophy claimed from the field of battle, though she had not recalled seeing anything of the sort in the spoils. An earlier raid then, perhaps.

"Lady Donella Turen, of the Shineface Tribe."

Verbannt said slowly, repeating the words and being careful to get them right. He did not struggle with the common tongue spoken here, but he was careful to get the name. A memory struck him, rushing through the door with blood in his mouth, and seeing the woman in the middle of the fray in her chair. She had summoned flame, had she not?

"That was bloody work, and hopefully the last of such we will ever have to do. The Red Foot are many, but with such a raid it is my hope we can unify the rest of the Southern Tribes against them. Are you a Matriach of your people? I am still unfamiliar with the Clan names of many of the people here."

As a tinkerer, artificer and leatherworker, Donella would absolutely notice the workmanship in Verbannt's armour ... and appreciate its worth.

"My people come from the mountains, far to the north* of here.
And while I am of noble birth, I would not call myself a Matriarch as such.
I am of privilege, however, to be able to take time from my duties and station, to walk among the world and learn of its nature.  There are many of my people who are not so lucky.

Do you ... hail from these lands?   Is this where your own heritage lies?"


                       *  I haven't actually defined Donella's background yet beyond that simply statement

At some point, Santio also visits the store.

After looking around, and consulting the staff, he asks to purchase:
This message was last edited by the player at 11:02, Sun 12 June 2022.

"Ah."

He heaved a small sigh, though on his massive bulk it was hardly small. That explained why he had not heard of her. His expression darkened slightly when she mentioned heritage, though he sought to mask it.

"I came from the South."

He said, nodding, but saying nothing of his heritage.

"But I am Verbannt..."

The way he said it, made it sound like a title rather than a name.

"I have no heritage."

There was definitely more to it than that.

"If you are respected within your Clan, why are you so far away?"

He asked, his gravelly voice somehow tender with the question.

---

"Ah, Santio."

He rumbled, when his raid companion appeared.

"Your fighting style, it is like nothing I have seen."

Odd enough, for a Bugbear who wore the skin of a Direwolf into battle.

"Where did you learn such a thing?"

Santio bowed respectful to his large companion.  Verbannt really did make Santio feel like a 'little man'.
Today, he wore a blade that Verbannt hadn't seen before:  it was pretty, and made to a rather different design to the 'sharpened pig iron' long swords (as Santio viewed them).  This blade was long and sleek, slightly curved and sharpened only on one edge.

"Verbannt, my friend", Santio replied, softly.   Santio was not a man of great personal presence, instead tending to blend into the social and environmental background naturally.
"I spent many years studying with my master.  We were  ... isolated.  So I grew learning his style of, well, everything.  Fighting among them.
I was forbidden to leave his service, you see.  Even though I dreamed of leaving to seeing the world.  He always said that I would do so 'over his dead body'.  So, one morning when he never woke ... I did", he said with a shrug.

Then, his face softened a little, "That must have brought you pain, having to attack and kill those folk, the other day?"

Verbannt did not shrug, but neither did the words hit him like a blow.

"Hobgoblins are a proud and warlike people. Already the people of this settlement have been more open to the path of peace with the Goblin tribes than I had thought they might. The Red Foot. They are no looking for peace, our choices there are few. When I encountered their scout by myself all those moons ago, I sought to walk such a path. I did not succeed then, and the blood of his heart touched the snow. Such is the way of things."

He sighed.

"We will need to unify the other tribes, for they will not take the destruction of the Burning Stagg as a warning that things have changed. They will think the old order is in place, the old ways. They will see to see that it is so."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:45, Mon 13 June 2022.

The piles of coins he had been given for the work done had left Nutcracker with a bit of an issue. He had never had that much before, but also didn't want to keep a lot of it because he had seen what greed did to others. That Hexia lady had a lot of magical things for sale that were useful - and expensive.

Upon entering the shop, though, Nuts was surprised to see so many in there. There was the big one who could turn into a wolf and protected him after the second blow, the one who didn't wear armor, and the one who walked with wheels. So many to get to know, but for now that was set aside.

Checking through his library of phrases for the best ones to use as he didn't seem to recall anything specific enough for this situation. "Those fine boots ...a package ...your bag has a ...bottomless ...hole." The whole thing was a mashup of what could have been a highway brigand, a deliveryman, someone's kindly grandmother, and a drunken sailor. To help out, he did point to the listed items, but having odd speech did wonders for drawing and holding attention.

OOC: Seeking to buy the Elven Cloak/Boots bundle and a Bag of Holding.

Some time after the burning stag assault, the man makes his way to the shop he has head so many others speak. He enters but stops quickly, looking around slowly, awe clearly visible on his face. There are so many things to look at, so much magic in the air.

He recovers himself and begins to look around a bit before finally approaching the proprietor. "Greetings. I have heard much of your shop and would like to purchase a couple of things if I may. I believe they are called a bag of holding and goggles of night." He pronounces the words carefully, as if repeating them from what someone else has said. "Oh. And a Ruby of the Warmage, please."
This message was last edited by the player at 18:46, Mon 13 June 2022.

Carmen arrives to do some shopping. She keeps herself to herself, mainly. By the time she has left, she looks like she's quite happy indeed.

One of each bag of tricks, just confirming IC.

"Because it is ..." Donella considered, then smiled, "a unique opportunity and a privilege to learn about the world outside my home.   The opportunity to see life from another perspective, and learn about both the people we share this land with, and about myself", she replied to the big man.

Then, she fell silent, and contently listened to the other conversations that he, and others, were having.