Alchemy, and Building Supplies

I let a week pass before I made any other moves. I wanted the heat to die down on that robbery, and didn’t want to just wander into town with a chest of stolen gold right after it happened. Instead I made a list of all the alchemical ingredients I’d buy, as well as materials to build myself an actual home of some kind. While I waited four new goblins joined my party thanks to Elzibeth, and I was back up to 12.

When in all my wisdom I decided to return to town, I made sure to only take what I needed. Didn’t want to attract more attention than was necessary.

“There ya go Herald. Lumber, nails, tools, a cart, and a fresh horse!” Charles the old man who ran the general store slapped the cart loaded with with building materials. “Anything else I can do for ya?”

I smiled at him and admired all the goods. “You’ve already taken all my money, isn’t that enough?”

He chuckled and grabbed his round belly as he did. “I thought I heard a little more jingle in that pouch of yours. Can’t have that now can we?”

I laughed back. Gods it felt good to talk to a human again. The only contact I’ve had for almost two months were goblins! “I’m afraid I’m keeping that for the alchemist shop.”

“You a potion brewer?” Charles asked, with a friendly sort of curiosity.

“Trying to be.”

“Well that’s a hard trade for sure. But Phillastries will do ya right. She’s a whip that one.”

“I like whips.” I grinned. “Well thanks for all your help, I wish you good tidings.”

He stopped me before I could pull the horse away. “Now hold on there.” I felt my defenses rise. Crossroads had screwed me over too many times already. “You can’t just leave this cart parked on the road while you’re in her shop. Let me park it in my shed while you’re shopping that way it will be safe. Then…” He shrugged. “When you get back you can come over for a meal and spend the night.”

“Spend the night?” I was more than confused. What could that mean? Was he a vampire?

“Well it’s almost sundown, probably will be by the time you’re done shopping.” He smacked the cart. “You obviously don’t have a roof over your head. I’d feel awfully shameful if I let you go out like this.”

“Wow.” I was honestly surprised by his generosity. “H-how much would that?”

“Nothing.”

Aww. I felt my cold bitter heart beat. “That is so kind of you, I don’t know how I could say no.” I held my hand out. “I accept.” He shook it, and took the horse’s reigns for me.

“I’ll hide all this out back. You go ahead and get what you need. Tell Philatries I said hi.”

“Will do.” I watch the old man maneuver the cart around to the back of his shop. “Thanks again!” I called. He just raised his hand in recognition, and went on with his work.

What a guy.

I headed a few blocks over to the alchemist shop. You can find them in any town just by the smell. It’s sharp and sweet, the stronger the burning sensation in your lungs the closer you are. It was set down in on one of the richer streets, filled with other niche shops like an enchanter, and a fortune teller. The place was obviously doing well for itself.

When I entered a bell signaled my arrival, and a young lady with black hair waved at me from behind a counter. She was wearing elaborate blue robes, that seemed to have formulas of some description printed across it. “Welcome!”

The inside of the building was dark hardwood floors. The shop was an open floor design. All the walls were covered in shelves that had baskets lining them, each filled with a different alchemical ingredient which was labeled by a card attached to the basket.

I was in heaven, or as close to heaven as a demon worshipper was ever going to get. These guys had everything. Eye of newt, minotaur horn, delphine root, spark powder, crushed ice essence, and many many more. I found myself wishing I’d brought the whole chest of gold. I wanted it all.

Thusly I wandered around the place like a kid in a candy store. I grabbed my basket and filled it with all the basic ingredients I would need to make my potions in the future. I could always come back for the rare stuff when I needed it. It was absurd how so many of the fun things I wanted to do had to be delayed for later. This was not the Bellowyn way.

“Got everything you needed?” The woman at the counter asked as I set my basket down.

“And more, this place is great.” I smiled at her. “Are you the master alchemist?”

She snorts and shakes her head. “Oh no, I’m just the clerk. The boss is always up stairs working on her ‘projects’.” Well that changed my approach. If she was only a servant in the house of the alchemist, that meant she was someone I could work on. I took a better look at teh

lady. Black hair, blue eyes, a beauty mark above her lip. Big forehead too, the way she styled her hair to the sides just made it look massive, yikes. Her robes made it hard to check in on the bazongas, so that was going to have a mystery box. All in all 8/10. I’ll take her.

As she speaks some sort of alchemical monkey jumps out from under the counter, and starts sorting through all the items in my basket. “So the store is your domain?”

“Pretty much.” She smiles, and lets the monkey do it’s thing. “I don’t know what any of this junk does though, I just organize it.”

I nod. “She doesn’t teach you?”

“No, she’s not the type to take on apprentices.” This was too easy. Nevermind. I’ll take easy after everything that happened.

“Would you like to learn?”

She looks at me cautiously. “Well sure, but…”

“Then I’ll teach you.” I smile with all the charm I have in my body. “I’m going to be sticking around Crossroads for a while, so I’d love a project like this.”

She squints at me. She’s a city girl, and thus a little less likely to fall for stuff like that than her cow tipping cousins. “I don’t know.”

“Hey I don’t want you to misunderstand me.” I place my hand on my chest. I tried to look **** and sincere. “I one hundred percent am saying all of this because I want to sleep with you.”

She laughs, the tension in the room suddenly draining. “Oh, like it wasn’t already obvious.”

I laugh back. “Here I thought I was being smooth.” We both take a break from our laughter. “If you don’t want to become an alchemist that’s fine, but how about coming to dinner with me tonight? The general store owner invited me over for dinner.”

“Charles?” She asks with a smile. “Yeah, he’s real friendly like that. Real bold of you to invite a guest though.”

“No way I’m going someplace in this city alone. I’ve already been taken advantage of here, and it’s not happening again.”

“Charles won’t hurt you.” She waves me off like I’m pathetic.

“Not with you around.” I tilt my head. “What do you say? I’ll be a perfect gentleman.”

The monkey suddenly chirps at me, and holds out its hand. “39 Gold coins, eep!”

I sigh and empty out the last of my purse into his hand. “That’s me done.” I wave my deflated purse around like a flag.

She smiles again. “Okay fine, I’ll go to dinner with you, but only because Charles is there… and if things go well I’ll let you teach me alchemy.” Daliah McTavish +3 (-53 Corruption)

Pursuit of Power out from under your master? Naughty naughty Daliah.