[Griffolk Ethyn the Dragon-Shaman, Corhim Sparkledingle the Gnome Wizard and Fangorino the Barbarian have arrived on Yag Island and soon became friends with my family and other friends that were there setting up defences by the Barrow. In addition, a being that looks and acts like Fenrir has arrived. In reality it is a simulacrum created by the Vicar of Ghaunadaur. Currently they are in Sasserine and Sparkledingle has time to kill. He has just been to the Witchwardens' Tower and carried out some 'testing' for a wizard called Irel Brokenleaf.]
DAY 585 (8th Marpenoth) (October)
It appeared that the task they had with the retreival of stolen goods from the Lotus Dragons was on hold for the time being. Rather than letting them drink the wine cellar dry, Liris the Factor found them a quest to do outside of town. Guard duty basically, and it sounded boring to Corhim so instead her went back into Sasserine and it was not long before he found his way to the magical shop known as Glittermane’s Vault.
I've met Glittermane, although not lately, and I remember he was a middle-aged Calishite fellow with frizzy grey hair and hazel eyes. He is still, I should imagine, a powerful wizard that does good business trading in magical items.
Corhim was in there anyway, looking whistfully at a Ring of Research that he could not afford. Glittermane came to talk to him, and they also looked at a Ring of Sustenance.
'Well,' said Glittermane. 'Since you are new in town you might be able to do me a favour. I do a good business in Healing Potions, but one of my rivals appears to be selling new ones for 100 gold cheaper than normal. If I were to give you 200 gold then, you could go and get one. I've heard though, she doesn't have them on display so you would have to sneak into the house at the back or trick your way back there.'
Corhim agreed.
'My rival's name is Orimander and can be found at Orimander’s Emporium of the Soul. It used to just do magic books, spells books, that sort of thing, but if she's branching out into potions then that could cause me serious problems. Good luck!'
Orimander's shop was not hard to find and Corhim saw that she was a gnome much like himself! He talked to her, but became somewhat tongue-tied and somehow persuaded himself to buy a book on Brewing Potions for 50 gold (from the 200 gold given to him by Glittermane!)
He told her about his cousin Felia and her magical shop and tried to turn the conversation towards Healing Potions. He was tongue-tied again and beat about the bush so much that Orimander couldn't really understand what he was talking about.
'We sell Cure Moderate Wounds Potions for 300, is that what you need?' she asked.
Corhim babbled:
'No, well, yes, I mean. My cousin can sell them for 200 you know! Don't you... I mean, if you think that... well, well. 300? I heard 200? No, I mean! My cousin, you know, the one with the shop well, she has a supplier... I mean, she could be your supplier, if you want them cheaper than that... I mean...'
Orimander appeared to be baffled, but she gave a friendly smile and nodded. 'Do you have a sample?'
Corhim was as bad at negotiating as he was at telling fibs. 'Well, you know, she is very well set up in her shop. I could get some samples and bring them back perhaps?'
'Sure!' said Orimander with a grin.
I appears to me that Corhim had forgotten that his mission was to buy a cheap potion of Cure Moderate Wounds - not to sell them!
'Yes of course!' waffled Corhim. 'My cousin, you know, Felia, she has heard of some cheap potions coming in, and she wants...'
His fibs just fell flat on their face as he tailed off, not knowing what to say. Orimander giggled. He could tell she wasn't buying it, but she may have been thinking that his silly stories were gnomish flirting rather than an attempt at retail espionage.
His face red with blushes, Corhim left the shop. He came back an hour later.
He then walked up to her and started another nonsensical story.
'What on earth are you on about?' she laughed.
'I've only got 200gp and I need a potion of Cure Moderate Wounds,' he answered glumly.
He handed back the Brewing book, 'I don't want this now.'
'Down on your luck eh?' she asked.
His dim knowledge of wizardly gnomish flirtation began to come to life. Perhaps he would have more luck down that path? He fluttered his eyelashes at her.
'Oh, you are awful!' she squeaked and gave him a shove. 'If I give you a Cure Moderate Wounds will you leave me alone?'
Corhim sighed internally. He knew he needed one of the special ones for Glittermane though, not a regular one given out of pity!
With nothing else that he could try (that he could think of anyway) he came clean and told her all about Glittermane's request.
'Oh well,' she said. 'It's like that is it?'
She went into the back room and then came out with a green potion.
'This is what he wants, so you'd better give it to him!'
Corhim wasn't sure, but he took the potion back to Glittermane’s Vault and handed it over. Glittermane wasn't sure either, so he gave it a sniff. He called over someone else who appeared to work there, a man called Jayme Peton, apparently a 'Potion Expert.'
He looked it over, tested a sample then said,
'Don't drink that, it'll make your eyes go wonky.'
Corhim sighed and left the Vault. He stood outside in the street gazing into the distance.
He did this for some time.
He walked back to Orimander's and as he entered the shop for the third time she asked;
'Did he drink it?'
Corhim knew she was flirting with him now. Pranks were the way that gnomes let other gnomes know that they are interested. He went to check out the Magic Ink, but he couldn't afford it.
'You really are down on your luck!' she giggled. 'How about I buy you lunch then? We can't have you going hungry!'
He nodded and followed her to her favourite eating place, like a grateful puppy.
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