Closed Herbs for Harlots (Zandelia)

[Japira]

Spring 36th, 514 Japira opened her orders book, and flipped a few pages in, finding the most recent order that needed filled. She placed her finger under the name, loving the feel of the dry paper. Braga's House of Happy Endings. Her notes indicated that they needed restocked on her Touch of Tavasi Balm. She had enough of the ingredients on hand to make it, but would be terribly low afterwards. So she decided she would increase her stock first, make the balm, then do her delivery. Her mental checklist quickly rattled off what she needed; Black Cohosh from the woods, follow the butterflies for Chasteberry, and red berries lead to Ginseng. She hid her coin purse in the bottom of her pack, tossed in three sacks, and three small lengths of rope cut from the coil in the corner of her apartment. She also tossed in some of her cutting and digging tools from her kit. Tossing her pack over her shoulder, she then grabbed her dagger, sticking it carefully into the waist of her trousers. Finally she wrapped her cloak about her, throwing the hood up to cover her. She looked out the broken windows that sat on either sides of her front door. Her eyes glanced up and down the alleyway, and she didn't see anyone right away. She slowly pulled the door open, trying to make as little noise as possible. Peering out, she looked up both directions of the alley. Satisfied, she stepped out, closing the door behind her. She made her way to her right, and began up the way. Each time she made her way to an intersection, she would peer down it. If she saw anyone, she would wait patiently until she felt she could pass unseen and unmolested. She never actually knew if she got by without anyone noticing, but she tried out of habit. She really didn't care for people much. They caused too many problems, wanted too many things from other people. She was fine on her own. The only people she spoke to were her customers, and that was only when absolutely necessary. Eventually she made her way out of the city, ever wary and watchful. She passed through the space between the edge of the city where plant life didn't grow due to people intervening, and the wilds immediately outside. There didn't appear to be any people out here, and she quickly made her way for the cover of the foliage. Now, she truly set to work. She began working her way through the plant life, looking for her usual suspects. And there was the first, a bright orange butterfly. She smiled, watching the little insect flutter from flower to flower. She continued to follow its path, staying far enough away to not scare it. It fluttered from the newly budding rose bushes, to the flowered blackberries, to the weed flowers that spawned like beggars. It was soon joined by another, and they appeared to be making their way in a northerly direction. They disappeared behind a bush, and Japira had to skirt a tree to locate them. And she found them, alighted upon a purple, flowered conical plant. She'd found the first of her plants, this one being Chasteberry. While it was still too early for the berries, which wouldn't arrive until late summer, the leaves held the same effect, just to a lesser degree. She found several of the plants in the partially shaded area, and pulled out her snips. She spent the next half bell harvest leaves, making sure to never take too many from any one plant, that way she could come back to this spot later for berries, and perhaps little plants of her own. She'd deposited the leaves into one of her sacks, and pulled out a small length of rope. She squeezed the neck of the sack, and wrapped the rope around the back of it, crossing them on the front side. With one hand holding the crossing, the other she pulled one end around the back, underneath the opposing end, then through the hole the circling had formed. She then pulled both ends, and the bag cinched shut, a simple sack knot doing the trick. She stored the bag in her pack, and moved on, either to find her ginseng or black cohosh. The two could both be found in similar areas, right at the fringe of the woods. She made her way to the wood-line, realizing the red berries of ginseng wouldn't be formed yet. The final two plants, however, were roots that she needed. She focused on the cohosh for now, it being a tall, thin, stalky plant. It would likely have buds on it at the top of its stalk, and was all green. Japira continued pushing through the brush, doing her best to not crush any plants unnecessarily. She finally found a plot that didn't have too many trees shading them, but just enough. There were many stalky plants in the area, and fortune had smiled upon her. There was not only cohosh, but ginseng as well. She fetched her her small spade, and began digging around the base of each plant. Slowly, carefully, she began cutting away smaller root clusters, again, leaving enough so the plant would continue to survive. When she had enough to satisfy her needs, she reburied the root systems, put her sacks and gear away, and made her way back to her apartment, maintaining her attempt at stealthiness as she had on her way out of the city. Safely inside, she pulled out her three sacks and set them on her table. She grabbed her sacks, and took them over to her storage shelves, and replaced the older supplies, carrying them back.She retrieved her kit and a pint of honey from their shelf, and also placed them on the table. Finally, she grabbed one of the many clay jars she had. She started by scooping some honey into the bottom of the jar. She then drew out several dried chasteberry leaves and dropped several into her mortar. She then spent the next several chimes grinding them to the finest dust she could manage, then pouring it into the jar with the honey. She grabbed some of both roots, and chopped them into small sections. She ground these into a sticky paste, scooping it into the jar as well. Pulling a stirring stick from her kit, she began the vigorous work of mixing her balm. It was arduous work, her arms tiring from the effort, until the honey went from gold to a murky dark brown. She pulled the stick out several times, to check the consistency, and happy with it, she capped off the jar. Slipping the jar into her pack, she once more snuck out of her home. Creeping along, peering around corners, she avoided as many people as possible as she made her way to the edge of town, until Braga's, one of the largest buildings around, came in sight. Her eyes passed annoyingly over the men and women that advertised their business. There were a few stragglers outside of it, but she simply pulled her hood tighter, kept her head low, and quickly made her way inside. The bouncers and guards within knew her as one of their suppliers, and told her to wait a few chimes, for Brega was with a customer. Shortly after, she exchanged the jar for some mizas, and left with a curt smile and a nod. Just how she liked it, short, simple, and very little talking. Exiting the brothel, she found herself alone in the street, considering what to do next. She could check in on a few of her other customers, or perhaps return home.

[Zandelia]

Zandelia sat at the table of her second home, or perhaps her first all things considered, and let her fingers trace the simple meal upon the thick bread trencher before her – all hard cheeses and salted meats. Food was scarce and precious in Sunberth and all things considered it was always fairly simple fare. In that regard it reminded her of Nyka, though Nyka held more of a spiritual character than a bloody one like Sunberth. She had lost count of the number of Bells she had found herself spending within the Trotter Trough since her arrival, she suspected that all totalled it would be days at the least. She frowned with thought as she sliced a square of tart cheddar and savoured it upon her tongue, chewing slowly as she looked upon the person sat before her. Jarral was his name and, so far at least, he had proven to be a useful ally.

Or tool at least. Admittedly he set me upon the path of Garret and thence to the Nuit’s death. Arguably also towards my father but I’ll not give him too much credit she told herself, remembering with satisfaction how the hunt had progressed, through shadow and night and yet still continued.

“A salve maker you say?” she asked once she had swallowed and washed down the last of her cheddar with some staled ale that did little to refresh the taste for the better.

“Aye Web, a real darling too they say. Pretty as sunshine and young as a kitten” Jarrel told her, gaze never failing to flicker to the food before her.

She picked up a large slice of salted pork and waved it up to her lips, stopping and then leaning her elbow upon the table and shifting her hand to the side as she watched him, his eyes following the motions. She was being slightly cruel but a beggar was not to be trusted implicitly and she knew what levers to use upon them – gold was pointless when starvation was immediate as a concern. She smiled and bit an end off of the pork and handed the other half to Jarral and tried not to let her eyebrows climb her forehead at the ensuingly graphic display.

“Very good Jarral, very good indeed. Now,” she asked as she licked her fingers delicately, “do you know her name?”

“No, can’t figure it but I d-“

“You do know what she looks like?” Zandelia finished the question for him.

“And that she leaves the city some days”

“You know when?”

“Nah”

“So what you are telling me is that you know something but not enough of something to be useful. Jarral, I thought we had an agreement? You bring me information on interesting and useful people, I give you what you want. Remember?”

“But! But…I did hear something about a delivery. Brothel maybe”

“Know which one?”

“Probably Brega’s. Most business ‘cos least clean”

“Good Jarral, wait here and eat what you like” she waved her hand to the assorted ends of foodstuffs and approached the bar – she needed verification.

“Merv, ever heard of some girl supplying the brothels with salves and assorted healing?”

“I reckon’. Needs ‘em quite often see. Why?”

“Just asking. Know what they look like?”

“There’s one I heard of,” Merv responded as he dug a finger in his ear, “some human mixed blood lass. Dark hair, skin. Short. Pretty”

“Good, thank you Merv. Need anything?”

“Business is fine but might need some hunting down of tabs done soon. I’ll call”

Zandelia nodded and returned to the table and Jarral, resting her head upon the tips of her fingers and considered whether to follow up the lead. A herbalist was a useful person to know for many reasons, not least as injury was common in the city. Mostly though she was leaning towards accepting due to the fact that it provided a link to the Brothels that showed her in a positive light. If she wished to gain contacts she knew it would help to be seen as friendly. Or at least as a non-threat.

“Jarral…describe her”

“Short, dark hair and tanned skin. Cross breed I think. Human and something. Wears loose clothes”

“Good, have a drink on me” she placed 2 gold miza upon the table top and made for the door and for Brega’s.

She had plenty of time and she saw nothing of such a girl along her path, nor upon her arrival. She nodded t the guard upon the door and slithered through the door, weaving around the flesh and the tacit nudity of the atmosphere until she found a seat in the corner – she waved away the harlots at first but instead allowed two to sit either side of her after a while. She didn’t purchase anything but they were always happy to take a break from their carnal arts and try to convince another to join the. She joined in the pleasantries and faded into the background as she kept her eye upon the door. After a dozen chimes or so her quarry entered. Or at least she looked the right way of the description. Dark hair, relatively short and as her face turned she caught a flash of dark eyes. The skin was definitely tanned at least and the clothing seemed a little ragged but billowed nicely. None else had matched the description so far so she wondered if she should push her luck.

No, you think she has entered. Watch. Observe and see if she has salves first she cautioned herself and was rewarded for the patience as the jar was handed over and the seemingly nervous woman quickly dashed for the exit.

Zandelia extricated herself with sorrow from the arms of the prostitutes but business was business and she slipped through the door, almost bumping into the lass as she exited. She paused and stepped forwards, gently bumping into her on purpose as an introduction.

“Oh, I am sorry lass. Didn’t mean to bump you there. You alright? Didn’t hurt you did I?” she stepped back with a little theatrical flourish and a circle of surprise to her lips.

“Please forgive me. Let me buy you a drink or something. Anything. Web” she held out her hand in greeting.

[Vanari]

Zandelia

Observation	+1 XP
Interrogation	+1 XP
Intelligence	+1 XP
Rhetoric	+1 XP

Lores :

• Jarral: A Useful Tool
• A Salver at Brega's: Short, Dark, Crossbreed
• Observation: Not Pushing One's Luck

Loot :

-2 GM

Notes :

Well written, as always

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