Completed The Price of Wooing

[Vanari]

Fall, Day 81, 513 AV Something had set fire to Vanari's metaphorical bum. She didn't know what it was, but one moment she was thinking of the kiss she had drunkenly shared with Ria, and the next she found herself wandering The Bazaar near the Southern Trading Post, looking desperately for something the hardy illusionist would enjoy. What kinds of things did Ria like? What would she find tasteful? What did she even do in her spare time? The Vantha rubbed her chin furiously, her mind churning to produce some answers. Unfortunately, despite having known her acrobatic companion for at least two or three fortnights by now, Vanari knew little to nothing about Ria's personal life. It didn't help that the illusionist was as close-booked as they come--never mind the fact that she worked during all of daylight and had few bells to spare for idle banter. She had chosen to The Bazaar in hopes of finding something special, something unique. Something Ria could neither easily find nor obtain herself. Being mostly unemployed, Vanari had undertaken the mind-numbingly unstimulating ferry trip across the lake in her spare time, though this time she brought along with her a small carving to complete. It was to be the back up plan, in case this little endeavor of hers fell flat on its face. Aboard the lazy ferry, she had all the solitude and time to focus on her craft. The Vantha lovingly carved out the little eyes of her fox figurine, trying her best to make them look as daring and mischievous as Ria's own. Once she had finished with the eyes, she moved on to etch out the fine line of its muzzle, then began painstakingly marking tiny hairs of fur along its jaw and paws. She hoped she could perhaps procure some orange paint and render the fox to look even more realistic and pleasing. Ria was dark of hair, she knew, but for some inexplicable reason Vanari felt orange went rather well with the acrobat's fiery spirit. A hawker nearby flashed a fistful of gleaming, slimy fish in her face, forcing her to snap back out of her reverie. Yes, she was at a total loss. Standing around, however, was doing no good. Especially since it gave various peddlers and merchants the perfect opportunity to harass her with their wares, all of which she was forced to politely reject. Vanari heaved a great sigh as the midday sun beat down on her head, draining her energy with alarming speed. She was about to admit defeat and return to her room to brainstorm some more--in the form of a well-deserved nap--when a heavenly scent suddenly reached her unsuspecting nose.

[Vanari]

Gods, how long had it been since she'd smelled perfume? Like a child lost under a clever piper's spell, she wandered on over the a stall laden with wondrously scented goods. There were tinkling, colored vials of various floral and herbal scents, salts for bathing, and lovely looking soap creations of milky smooth textures. Unable to curb her inner femininity, Vanari oggled the both visually and olfactorily pleasing wares. The seller in charge of the stall--a charming yet decidedly clever looking woman in her mid thirties--watched the Vantha with amusement. "See anything you like, dear? A pretty girl like you could use a sweet extra something for that special man of yours. He's a fine catch, I assume?" Vanari colored visibly, her eyes shifting to an intense shade of violet. She tried to respond, but only dust seemed to come out of her curiously parched throat. "Ohh, I see. A lady, is it then? No worries, I have just the thing for you." Oh gods, it was going to be something incredibly expensive. She knew it. Every time she'd heard that phrase, the vendor in question would pull out some ridiculous thing they'd been hiding "just for the occasion." Granted, she'd never quite fallen for it after the first time someone had cleverly emptied her pockets, but the instinctive reaction to run the petch out of there still managed to kick in. Before she could protest, the woman pulled something out from under the table cloth. Vanari blinked in confusion. It was not a vial of perfume or painstakingly molded piece of soap, but a... ...piece of paper? "For you, my dear, I can sell you something truly special. A recipe handed down to me from generations of ambitious and passionate women. Now, look at me when I say this." Like a mouse caught beneath an eagle's talons, the Vantha obeyed, her violet gaze snapping to meet that of the woman's. Her expression had dead serious written all over it, and Vanari gulped. "This is not a love potion. Got that?" Vanari nodded rapidly. "This is much, much stronger than that silly, hogwash lake water all those low-life, second rate mages try to sell. This, my dear, was made by honest and capable womenfolk who actually knew what they were doing. But I'm warning you, this isn't to be trifled with. Be careful what you wish for." The vagrant looked at her, baffled. "Then why in Morwen--" "Hush," the woman cooed, smiling disarmingly. "Because I trust you. You've got that look about you. 5 gold mizas, and it's yours. If it doesn't work, you can find me right here, same time same place, and I will return your precious coin. What do you say?" Vanari eyed the vendor dubiously, but something in the offer intrigued her. 5 gold mizas were nothing to her--it was the prospect of making something truly one of a kind for Ria that caught her imagination the most. If it failed, no harm done, she would just find something else. But if it worked... "Wait, what does it even do?" The woman winked. "You'll see. Nothing dangerous, I promise." Ah, why the petch not. Vanari handed over the coins, received the little piece of brown paper with carefully written instructions, and gave her dubious thanks before leaving to hunt down the ingredients. Trickster guide me, she silently prayed. She knew she was likely no where near impressing the god or goddess yet, but felt it wouldn't hurt to give a token of her faith whenever she could. After all, she was undertaking a seriously questionable yet undeniably entertaining adventure--perhaps he or she would find some merit, or at the very least amusement, in that. Vanari pursed her lips, squinting at the first ingredient on the list: something strange and complicated looking. She sighed. This was going to be a long, interesting day.

[Vanari]

Alright, skip the first one. What's next on the list? Vanari scanned the little piece of brown paper, bringing it closer to her face to make sure she was reading everything right. For the most part, the ingredients seemed pretty mundane--a pinch of rose hips, some sage, and cinnamon. After that, though the components got a bit...hard to pronounce. One in particular caught her interest. Aletrid--she had heard that being hawked at some point. She spun around, her eyes darting everywhere for the familiar blue and green of the hawker's clothes. Or had it been purple and blue? Petch, just when you need them, they can't be found... Vanari backtracked, trying her best to remember the various people and landmarks she had passed as she heard the herb being advertised in the crowded, bustling bazaar. It seemed rather futile at first, until two mules clomped out of her way to reveal a jovial looking fellow wearing purple and green stripes, a tray of various herbs strapped to his shoulders as she beamed at everyone passing by. By some struck of luck, he turned at that very moment and caught her gaze. "You there, over here! What can I do you for? Interested in some herbs, miss? " The Vantha nodded quickly as she strode over. For the next few chimes, the two complete strangers bent their heads over the little piece of paper, trying to make sense of all the required ingredients and why they were technically required at all. "Well," the hawker postulated, stroking his well-kept goatee. He then rifled through his herbs and held up a handful of roots with serrated leaves sprouting all along its length and clusters of tiny, five-petaled gold flowers covering spikes that erupted from each of the leaves. "Aletrid is usually just kept in tangles to mask bad odors. If this is a gift for a lady friend of yours, then I suppose it would make sense to add it in the mix, given its pleasant aroma." Vanari nodded and reached inconspicuously for her mizas, which she had tucked in the pocket of her tunic before stepping out into the bazaar. Normally, she kept the bulk of her money in her right boot--and still did--but would take a small amount out for shopping trips. "Ah, one moment, miss. I think I might have something else you'd be interested." The Vantha was tempted to roll her eyes; these were the same words that had gotten her stuck with this petching piece of paper and wild goose chase in the first place. But the hawker insisted with a surprising amount of earnestness, so she acquiesced, motioning instead for him to continue. "I tend to have a knack for these things, my lady. I special sight, if you will. I get the distinct feeling you will be wanting to stay in your best shape for the coming days. And, I have just the thing for it!" He dug around his tray some more and pulled out an odd looking jar of seeds, then another of flowers, then a third of nothing but leaves. He also lifted a mass of crawling, messy roots than sprouted leaves and crimson flowers similar to those trapped inside the jars. "Look here, miss, and don't forget what it looks like. This here is Belltor in its fresh form--I just harvested some myself this mornin'. It's pretty common in most parts and easy to harvest. People like to use it in infusions to relieve head congestion and headaches, or make a hot poultice of it to prevent scars and help wounds close up faster." "Now," he grinned, knowing he had her hooked, "I'm telling you this because I'm a kind fellow--no, really, I am. I will sell what I can to you, but you've got a look about you that says you could use a little helping hand with this sort of stuff. And, you also look like you might not stay very long anyway, so you're no good to me as a future customer. Am I correct?" Vanari eyed him suspiciously, but nodded. What was with people today and predicting her whole life story? "Well then, you'd best hear what I have to say. Cause it could save you a ton of trouble as a traveler. Trust me."

[Vanari]

"Just spill it already," Vanari urged, her patience wearing thin but her genuine curiosity forced outright violence from infecting her tone and demeanor. The hawker only chuckled. "Alright, alright, no need to get testy with me. As I've said, Belltor is easy to harvest and the ways you can use it are plentiful and not remotely as troublesome as some other healing herbs. For one gold miza, I shall tell you how to handle this herb. What do you say?" She merely grunted and planted a coin in his hand. "Thank you kindly, miss. So, here's the not so big secret: Belltor should be harvested as a whole plant and dried hanging upside down in loose bunches. The roots should also be discarded after drying. Seeds and flowers should be stored in airtight containers separate from the leaves, as you can see I've done here." He jiggled the jars in his hands, then set them back down. "But, as useful as infusions and poultices are, there is the most popular form of this herb, which is that of a tincture." The hawker set aside everything he had displayed so far onto the ground. He then took a vial from his own pocket--it was wine colored, all opaque and berry red and rather dubious looking. "Belltor is most commonly preserved as a tincture that helps against colds and diseases," he explained pleasantly. "I'm sure during your many, many travels, even the smallest of colds could be a great inconvenience. Well, this here little tincture is the perfect solution--it's travel friendly, relatively inexpensive, and easy to make yourself if you can't find it being sold." Vanari considered this information carefully. As a Vantha who had lived most of her life in the freezing temperatures of Taldera, she was relatively untroubled with common colds and sickness. Her lot was a hardy one; otherwise, they would have never made it as long as they had in the unforgiving snowscape of Morwen's domain. But, this did not mean she was immune. There had been a few instances where she had fallen ill, and those were grueling, undesirable conditions to be repeated. "Alright then, I'll take one of those tinctures then. And I'm assuming if I give yet another generous donation of coin that you will impart upon me the knowledge of how to create such a tincture?" "Clever girl," the hawker smirked, then held out his hand. "Ah, ah, not so fast. I was generous the first time; I'm not so inclined the second. How much are you asking for everything altogether: the spices, Aletrid, and Belltor tincture, as well as the recipe?" The man squinted at her, as if appraising her question, checking it for any hidden barbs or traps. "Six gold mizas, take it or leave it."

[Vanari]

Vanari tsk'd, jerking her chin to one side in her displeasure. She didn't actually know what she was really doing, but she'd seen others use the gesture and typically walk away with good results. "Make it three and we'll call it a deal." The hawker threw up his hands as though shocked at her offer. "I have children to feed, I'll gave you know. Don't think that just because you glare at me with that pretty face of yours that I'll be swayed so easily against the well being of my flesh and blood. "Four gold, one silver, and two copper and I'll go no lower." Shyke, what a specific number. At his counteroffer, Vanari pursed her lips for a few ticks, then sighed and slapped the money in the man's hands as though he may was well have been robbing her blind. In truth, it wasn't a bad deal at all, and though she probably could have tried to push her luck and haggle some more, she really wasn't feeling up for sticking around much longer. She was anxious to get the rest of her supplies and be on her merry way to try and figure out how the petch to mix them all together. The man pocketed the money and began pouring an ounce each of the spices into paper packages, then deftly tie them up with string. He also threw in a vial of the Belltor tincture, and tucked a slip of paper in with the bundle as he handed everything to her. "It's a piece of cake, no worries," he winked. Vanari refrained from rolling her eyes, muttered her thanks, and made her way towards the outskirts of the bazaar. It was getting rather stifling despite the increasingly cooler weather as the season approached Winter. Once safely apart from the crowd and noise, she sat down on a nearby rock and breathed easier, wiping the sweat from her brow and pondering over what she ought to do over the last ingredients on her list. One of them was the wood of a Halbriar shrub, whatever that was. And the other was something called Kiv. Apparently, it was rare, a bit hard to find, and rather expensive, as notated on the paper. Great. More ways to empty her pockets of their coins. Not, the Vantha had to admit, that she overly cared for the size of her wealth. She had plenty to use anyway, and sooner or later they had to be spent, so why worry? At this, she find herself relaxing, easing her tense muscles and preoccupied mind as she sat cross legged on the slab of sun-warmed rock. Only two components left, and she was free to go back to her comfortable room to prod and poke at her findings as she puzzled through the mysterious instructions.

OOC :

-5 GM 1 SM 2 CM from ledger

[Vanari]

She sat, and she sat, and she sat. Syna continued to grow hotter in her ascent, and Vanari continued to grow more sleepy. It wasn't long before she found herself nodding off, catching her chin only barely in time as it slipped over and over from her moist palm. Smack, smack! The Vantha slapped her self on each cheek. She had to focus! This was no time to be loitering around, twiddling her thumbs, falling asleep out the middle of the petching city. Either she was going to make this gift the best thing that Ria ever received, or she was going to call it quits and take a long nap back in her room. The latter sounded more pathetic than she could bear, so Vanari stalwartly stuck with the former. She looked around for someone who might be able to help her; the hawker had told her all her knew, so it was time to seek answers from a more experienced source. "Idiot boy, what did I tell you about keeping the Kiv fresh?" an old woman hissed at a stricken looking, dark-haired boy of no more than ten or so years. "That's a fortnight's worth of dinner from you if you've somehow managed to botch this up!" The old hag went on muttering while the boy hung his head in shame and went to work, taking down bundles from their tiny caravan and setting up a table full of odd looking plants and wares. Vanari watched them with hungry eyes, having picked up the word "kiv" and now hellbent on prying it from the unpleasant woman's cold, greedy fingers. Her best chance would be to catch the boy alone--he seemed so pitiful she doubted he could muster up the courage to reject her. But then, she thought what his mistress might do should she found out about his blunder, and the Vantha waved the idea away with an irritated sigh. Besides, she still needed the other thing--Halbriar, that's what it was called--and it seemed more likely the old woman would know than her apprentice. Or slave. One could never really tell outside of Avanthal. It had been easy, dealing with the charming vendor with the perfumes, and the even more charming hawker with the herbs. One had sympathized with her cause, and the other had admitted to falling prey to a pretty face. Somehow, Vanari doubted the old hag would do either, and so mulled over the next best course of action. As she pondered away on her toasting rock, the boy picked up a rather heavy looking, wooden box with floral engravings. He struggled to carry it; it was clearly heavier than he was, but the poor thing still tried, wobbling under its weight. Vanari snapped out of her reverie of planning, leaping up from her rock and offering to help. She must have acted more abruptly than she realized, because the next thing she knew the boy was crying out in alarm and the box was falling, falling, falling... ...right onto a metal spike. The horse tethered to the spike reared its head in alarm, but the only thing both boy and Vantha noticed was the sickening sound of wood splitting. The little boy looked down at the box, gulped, and then slowly bent to set it aright on the dirt ground. Filled with dread and guilt, Vanari stepped closer to stand beside and join in him inspecting the damage. Together, they stared for a few ticks at the mostly intact surface, then Vanari sagged in relief at the same the boy started to silently weep.

[Vanari]

She did a double take at the boy, who was now openly sobbing in a horrific, it's-all-over sort of manner. Just as she was about to ask what could be so terrible about a tiny chip on one of the flowers decorating the box, a shrill, ear-piercing voice cut through the midday din. "I swear by Rhysol, boy, if you've damaged my precious herb box in someway I will flay you on this very spot. You hear me?" The boy only wept harder as the old hag came huffing and puffing up to them, shoving several indignant passerbys out of her way. She looked positively furious, and though Vanari could understand how a box so painstakingly carved was of obvious value, what she couldn't understand was why the boy had lost so much of his composure due to one, tiny nick. As the woman marched up, Vanari stood in between her and the young boy, holding her hands up as if she could somehow stop all momentum. "Madam, please, don't be angry with him. The box was too heavy and I distracted him, I can--" The hag pushed her aside like she was nothing more than a puff of nuisance. "Where is it? Show me!" The boy stepped aside, revealing a box that, in Vanari's opinion, looked more or less exactly the same as it had been not two chimes ago. Rushing over, the old woman stooped over it like it were her own child, tenderly running crooked, bony fingers over the carved surfaces, feeling for any abnormalities. Her hands froze--she had found it. "What is this? What have you done?! It's ruined, ruined! Stupid, stupid boy!" She would have gone on shrieking, making a gruesome spectacle of herself, had Vanari not stepped in once more and shook the woman by the shoulder. She had had enough of this old hag's melodramatic shyke. "Stop your wailing and listen to me. I am a carver by trade--I can fix your box easily in no time at all. And don't you dare blame the boy. If you had any care for him at all, you would have asked someone stronger to carry it from your caravan. I could have him taken away from you right this very instant if I wanted to. Do you understand me?" That last part was a flat out lie, but Vanari relied on both her anonymity and the city's dark reputation to work out the kinks for her. It wasn't as though she had much of a choice either. From the looks of it, it seemed threats of flaying were not idle ones, even for something as trivial as a petching nick. The old crone looked up at her with wide, rheumy eyes, her wrinkled expression torn between shock and anger. "W-what, you can't. I mean, he's mine!" The Vantha sighed. "Don't make me repeat myself. You'll regret it, I promise." She pretended to look out into the distance, as though making eye contact with a body guard or entourage of some kind. "Alright, alright! Whatever you say, just...don't hurt a poor, innocent old--" "Cut the shyke," Vanari spat. "I'll fix your precious box. For a small price, that is." The woman gulped, her eyes darting left and right. "What...price would that be, my lady?" The Vantha resisted rolling her eyes at the title. After all, she was trying to play the part, even if she didn't feel she was quite that convincing in her dusty garb and tousled hair. Whatever her doubts were, at least her intended victim of deceit was biting the bait. "You will sell me some of your Kiv. I need it as part of an extravagant gift. And, you will tell me all you know of the plant, as well as that of Halbriar and where I might obtain some for future use. Are we of accord?" Vanari did her best to loom over the old woman and look with as much disdain as she could muster down her nose. "Yes, yes, we are of accord. No problem at all, my lady. Please, come this way, if you will. Benji, fetch the chairs!" The boy did as he was told, evidently relieved he wasn't going to be flayed--at least, not under the watchful eye of his new savior. In a matter of ticks, he had two sturdy, wooden stools set behind the table of herbs. He went so far as to dust off Vanari's with his sleeve, which earned him both a warm smile and a single gold miza slipped into his hand when the old crone wasn't looking.

OOC :

-1 gm from ledger

[Vanari]

By the time the woman straightened herself with a grunt, a jar of amber pieces in her bone-sharp hands, there was not a trace of subterfuge to be seen amongst boy and Vantha. "Here it is, my lady, the Kiv that you asked for. My boy and I here took great care to harvest it on our travels, and the resin is as fresh as they come. For three gold mizas, it can be yours. My finest product yet!" Vanari sniffed, a look of disinterest written clear across her face. "I'll pay three gold, but for two ounces of of your Kiv. Take it or leave it. I doubt anyone else will be bothering to pay such an amount for something so rarely used." She wasn't entirely sure that much was needed, but she'd forgotten what the exact amount had been and dared not to look at her piece of paper now. It would risk making her look incompetent. Better safe than sorry, anyway; she could always find another use for it, she was sure. The woman barely managed to contain her contempt and indignation. "Three and a half for two ounces, and I'll go no lower. Shame on you for starving out an old woman like myself." Vanari pursed her lips in faux displeasure and grimaced, as though something unpleasant had just wafted beneath her nose. "Very well, then. You have a deal. But don't think I've overlooked the fact that you've neglected to mention the boy. I don't take kindly to mistreatment of children; count it as an oddity of the nobility, but it makes no difference to your fate. One word of complaint, and I'll have you pinned to your own caravan and dragged all the way to Nyka. Am I making myself clear?" The old crone's eyes bulged and her lips opened and closed like a fresh fish out of water, but she didn't dare object. She merely nodded her head once, then Vanari dropped three gold mizas and five silvers into the woman's wraith like hands. "Now, tell me all you know of Kiv and Halbriar." The woman pressed her lips into a thin line, as though itching to say something nasty in response, but decided against it in the end. "Kiv is a tricky little plant that is quite rare, as you must know. It grows in warm plains or deserts and can be harvested annually. It is a small, dark red shrub densely covered in waxy spade-shaped green leaves. I would show you an example, but it is so rare of a find for an aged woman like myself that I preserve it as soon as I find it." She hacked out a little cough, as though further proving her claims of feebleness, then continued. "Its leaves are dried out and mixed with the drying resin to create incense. But, if it is made into fresh resin, it can be used to make perfume, as I am guessing is part of your plan." Vanari neither acknowledged nor denied the validity of the assumption. "Go on." "That is all for Kiv, I'm afraid. Halbrair, on the other hand, is much more common, but even trickier to deal with. You can probably find some out in the woods past Lakeshore. I don't normally bother carrying it around with me; it's rather too much of a hassle. In any case, Halbriar is a growing tree than can reach thirty or so feet in height. It can also be trimmed to keep as brambles and hedgerows for you fancy folk up in the Noble District." She coughed again, then went on. " It is also filled with strong smelling five-petaled white flowers, which have red pollen at the center. Some say it can increase fertility, while others swear that when fresh pollen is sprinkled in the eyes, one’s vision is altered causing them to see others as having heightened attractiveness. I think it's all hogwash, but what does an old woman like me care for such nonsense? What I do know is that the wood is sometimes used in magecrafting items tied to fertility, attractiveness and lust. Now, that's a bit of useful income when I can manage to get some on my hands; mages always are willing to pay a hefty price for their precious magic." Vanari found her interested piqued at this last comment, but she kept her enthusiasm to herself. Best not let the old crone think she could weasel any more money out of her. "The trickiest part about Halbriar, however, is that although the tree is relatively common in temperate forests, collecting the pollen at the right time and in the right amounts requires a good amount of skill. So, lassie, you're probably better off talking to an herbalist inside the city for such things, or a mage, for that batter." The Vantha furrowed her brow. She knew no mages, and had not an ounce of experience when it came to harvesting pollen. What on Mizahar was she going to do? "There is," the old hag continued, "however, an alternative. Something similar I've heard that grows out there beyond Lakeshore. Whatever it is that you are concocting, I do believe Kiv would be potent enough on its own. The Halbriar is most likely just for added effect, which you can easily substitute with this convenient little plant." Vanari scowled. "Let me guess, you'll tell me. But only for a price."

[Vanari]

The old crone crackled. "Yes, indeed, my lady. You are as clever as you sound, then. And though it may surprise you, it is not your money that I'm after, but your skill." She motioned at the box before her feet, aiming her gap-toothed grin at it with intense fondness. "The person who began carving these designs, unfortunately, died before he could finish. A terrible sickness. Truly a tragedy. Anyways, it's been nagging at my poor old soul that the young man started his last work of art and never got to see it finished." The woman leaned closer, her vile teeth now more visible than ever, and it was all Vanari could do not to leap out of her chair and back several steps away. "I'll tell you how to obtain this alternative for Halbriar, in exchange for your services to complete the last rose on this panel." One shriveled, taloned finger tapped against the top most surface of the box--the same panel that had received the unfortunate chip. "What do you say, oh noble one?" Vanari wrinkled her nose in distaste, then shrugged noncommittally. "Fine, you have a deal. I'll start carving right now, while you tell me everything you know of this alternative source you speak of." To her surprise, there was a genuine spark of excitement in the old hag's eyes. Curious...perhaps she wasn't as bad as the Vantha had originally believed, if she could be so enthused about the value in seeing a fine work of art finally coming to completion. "Very well," the old woman cooed, oddly sedated. Vanari pulled the box closer to her, hefted it onto her lap, and whipped out her carving knife from her pack, diving right into the work in hopes that her legs would not lose all sensation before the deed could be completed. As she sat, hunched and focused over carving out the lines of the final rose and matching turn for turn what her predecessor had designed himself, the woman began explaining her mysterious alternative. "It has no name that I know of, but it grows in the woods beyond the lake, that much I am certain of. It is a type of vine, rather than a shrub, which is why it is both easier and heartier than its stubborn counterpart. It is dark in color, almost purple and bruised if you will, and grows buds of deep, crimson flowers. Very similar in shape to those of the Halbriar, but fortunately you won't need its pollen." As the crone spoke, Vanari listened attentively, having memorized the details of the other roses and decided more or less how to finalize this last panel. She had already fixed the tiny chip below--it was a simple matter of shaving some of the surrounding area away and added a single, extra petal. It gave the overall design an extra flare that the others lacked, setting it slightly apart. Benji stood by the Vanth as she worked, staring with rapt attention. Perhaps, if he showed true interest and potential, she could even consider taking him on as a student. It had been a long, long time since she'd even thought of such a thing. "Instead of pollen, you use the sap in its vines, which is a lot less of a hassle then figuring out when and how to best harvest a Halbriar. The sap is most plentiful at the junction between the vine and the buds, but it tends to ooze quite freely there, so you'd best be careful when handling it. To preserve it, just keep the sap in any sort of container you have on hand. I could sell one to you, my lady, if you..." The old crone gasped in surprise as Vanari blew away the chips and sawdust. It had been tricky but speedy work; it was mostly a matter of figuring out how to best compliment the final rose with the rest of the existing design. "Oh, my..." "Do you like it?" Vanari beamed, noticing the sudden transformation of the old woman's usually crass features. "It's wonderful!" Benji cried. "I think it looks much prettier, mistress." His mistress looked no less pleased, and her eyes even grew a bit misty. "Aye, I'll not be in disagreement there, lad." Sniffling, she dug around her pockets and presented to Vanari a simple little glass jar, complete with a corked stopper. "For your diligent work, lass. You earned it." Vanari beamed, took the jar gratefully, and stowed it with the rest of her new possessions. "Thank you kindly, Madam. It was my pleasure, to see such fine work come to completion." After that, customers began taking notice of the colorful table, and Vanari tactfully took her leave of the odd duo. She thanked the old crone again, then waved goodbye to Benji, hoping against hope she would able to see him again. Well then, time to get on that thrice-blasted ferry again.

[Abstract]

Grade Awarded!

Vanari

Skills

~ Carving - 2
~ Negotiation - 2
~ Persuasion - 1
~ Observation - 1
~ Herbalism - 1

Lores

~ How to Handle Beltor
~ Uses of Beltor
~ Appearance of Kiv
~ Uses of Kiv
~ Appearance of Halbriar
~ Uses of Halbriar
~ Appearance of Halbriar Alternitave

Other

- 14gm, 6sm, 2cm
+ 1 Philtering Recipe
+ Philtering Recipe Ingredients

Notes

That... was... hilarious XD Just... hilarious... I loved the characters posed, and all the debating and trading. It all started with a simple, 5gm recipe... then... XD

I just called the recipe you gave 'philtering recipe', since I didn't know the name... call it what you like. Same with the ingredients...

A note: there are no nobles in Ravok (I get that Vanari was trying to pretend to be one), though there is a Noble district... it's very confusing