A frown crossed Grimgar’s face as he thought. “Would ye be one of them?”
“Far as I know, I was the first. However, more will be coming very soon. I’m trying to gather many of those who will be here for the long term under my guild banner. I hope to show those who do the long-term thing that this world should be treated with the respect it is due. Those that fail will be booted from the guild.”
Grimgar sucked a breath in through his teeth softly, “Maybe tha’ would help. Many of ye kind be rude, abrupt and hurried. If this goes well, maybe they’ll take the time to act a bit more civil, eh?”
“There is always hope, Grimgar. You going to be at the inn tonight?”
“I was thinkin’ of stoppin’ by for a pint or two. Did ye need somethin’?”
“Not really, just feels off without Stacia by my side is all. Thinking a drink with you and Stewart would be pleasant. Anyway, I’m going to head out to find some lunch. See you later.”
“Aye, lad,” Grimgar said as Alburet left.
Alburet walked down the street to Tanned Hides, to find an apparently bored Almira behind the counter. “Slow day?” Alburet greeted the beautiful elf.
“It was fine earlier but it’s slowed down since. You back to sell more junk to me?”
“Of course,” Alburet laughed as he dropped the armor he’d looted on the counter.
Almira shook her head with a small smile, “Using me to dump your junk, are you?”
“It beats walking down to the other shop just to sell the chain pieces off. Besides, it gives me the chance to chat with a beautiful lady.”
“Now you’re trying to butter me up. How are you feeling about tomorrow?” Almira asked as she changed the subject while she added up what she owed him for the armor.
“Excited, nervous, worried and thrilled. I had given up on the idea of relationships for so long and now here I am about to marry the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met.”
Chuckling, Almira handed him the gold he was due for the armor, “Keep that excitement inside you. All relationships wane a touch, but if you can keep the spark alive it will always work out. I’ll be seeing you tomorrow for the big day.”
“Thanks, Almira,” Alburet said, putting the coin away without looking at it. “See you tomorrow. I will be at the inn later tonight having a drink if you want to stop by and have a round.”
“We shall see,” was her reply as Alburet said his goodbyes before walking out the door.
He strolled along the streets, watching the people all around him go about their lives until he came to the maid café. He decided to have lunch there, trying one of the rice omelets and some coffee. Two other players were in the café, fanboying over the Elf and Lunari maids. Shaking his head and chuckling quietly at the other players, he knew the café would soon be doing big business once those two told their friends about it.
He stopped just outside to check his map for an alchemist shop. He found one a few streets over and headed towards it. Once there, he looked up at the sign, showing some unknown herb and an empty vial.
An older, white haired elf greeted him, “Welcome to my shop, Herbal Remedies. I’m the owner, Arion Greenthumb. What are you looking for today?”
Giving the shopkeeper a nod, Alburet approached the counter. “I have a few herbs I picked up from the gnolls and was hoping to find out more about health and mana restoratives.”
“Probably spring vines. Let me see them and I will tell you about what you have,” the elder man replied. Alburet did as asked by Arion, who nodded as he examined the herbs. “Spring vines, very common loot from the gnolls. We use them in the lesser health and mana potions. I can give you a few gold for the lot, or we can fold that back into any purchase you make here.”
“I’m interested in picking up some health potions. The last one I had was a flat fifty health, which would be less than optimal at this level.”
Arion looked at Alburet strangely for a moment. “Health potions restore a portion of the drinker’s health to them. One tenth for the lesser potions, stepping up to a full half for the greater.”
“Huh. That is interesting. What is the cost of the lesser potions?” Alburet asked curiously.
“I ask for five gold each. Since you brought me spring vines which are needed to craft them, I can bring that down to four gold each.”
“What about each of the others ranging up to the greater?”
Arion chuckled, “Five, twenty-five, two hundred, one thousand and finally five thousand gold each. The cost reflects how hard it is to retrieve the items needed to make each level of potion as well as just how useful they are.”
Frowning, Alburet considered for a moment, “What’s to stop someone from just using five of the lesser ones in place of the greater one?”
Shaking his head, Arion filled Alburet in. “To use a potion in combat, one either needs to have the potion in hand, on a potion belt or bandolier. It takes much too long to dig a potion out of a bag or pouch. Here, let me show you.” Arion tossed him a belt with six slots, each with a vial in it. “Put that on then drink any of the vials.”
Puzzled, Alburet did as Arion requested, noting how fast his hand moved to down the potion. “That seemed faster than I normally move.”
“It is. One of those tweaks the gods have made to the world since its creation. Now, take one of the vials and place it in your bag, wait a few seconds, then get it out and drink it.”
Following the steps Arion outlined, Alburet attempted the second method. It took him close to thirty seconds to accomplish the same thing, while using the potion from the belt had taken maybe two seconds. “Okay, now that makes it imperative to get a belt like this.”
“Six slots are the best you will find. No one has succeeded in crafting anything better yet, though many have tried. Such is the way of the gods. Now you understand why the greater potions will always have a place with adventurers. May I have my belt back please?”
Alburet handed back the belt, “Thank you for showing me this, I hadn’t known.” He paused, considering the fact he had improvised belt slots in his tattered robe at the beginning of the game. That might explain why he hadn’t had any trouble with the first potion he’d used. “Who has the belts or bandoliers for purchase?”
“Any provision store will have them for sale. Now, about the potions you wanted to buy from me. What kind and how many?” Arion asked with a smile.
“Hmm. I think I’ll take twenty four of the lesser potions for health, please.” Alburet held out a hundred gold.
Arion laid out the small vials that were a light pink in color as he took the gold from Alburet. “A pleasure doing business with you, sir. Please stop by again for any of your alchemical needs.”
Alburet put his potions away before asking, “I wonder, would you be willing to offer a discount to a guild if they made you their exclusive alchemist?”
Arion laughed lightly, “I would consider such a thing, but the guild would have to be established as trustworthy. I did note your guild emblem, but I have never heard of you. If you do make a name for yourself, then feel free to stop by again and we can discuss your idea further.”
Lips quirked up in a smirk, Alburet nodded, “Be seeing you sooner than you think then, Arion. Have a good day.” He closed the shop door behind him on Arion’s puzzled expression before heading for Pablo’s Provisions to get a belt for his potions.
An hour later he was headed back towards the inn with a new belt, six potions slotted into it. He felt five gold for the belt was a bit much really, but it was needed equipment and at least it had good durability.
Finally back at the inn, Alburet saw it was mostly empty. Only three people sat at the bar and Stewart was at his usual seat in the far back corner of the room. Alburet greeted Alistern, who was behind the bar. “Hello, Alistern. Can I get a pitcher of whatever Stewart is drinking and another mug, please?” He laid a couple of silver on the bar.