Thread Closed
Old Gridania:
The clink of a coin, the glint of gil along with a bright smile, and a hasty goodbye, and Helena offered a small but bright wave to the customer as he parted, his purchase tucked under his arm in a small sackcloth. The wave faltered as a cough, short but sharp, wracked the Midlander’s frame. The forest did not agree with her from time to time. But with the end of the transaction bringing a slight lull in her business, she took the opportunity to place her hands on her counter stall, catch her breath, and survey the markets.
Business was booming, as much as it could be in a smaller exchange like the Stalls anyroad. It hadn’t been easy. Rebuilding the family after the Calamity, cycles of training with the Alchemist’s Guild or the appropriate credentials, applying for the mere chance of entry into the Shroud, and the constant need for gil to keep palms appropriately slipper had all been grueling, miserable tasks, and in some moons she had felt like giving it up. But here she was, a thriving independent in the midst of the Stalls, away from the cut-throat trades of Thanalan and enjoying a simpler way of life.
Even after all of that, however, she had struggled for moons. Gridanians were slow to trust those from outside the Shroud, and rightly so in her opinion. Helena knew too many honest Ul’dahns (in that they were honestly Ul’dahn) to think their suspicion was unwarranted. But sympathy alone would not put gil in her coinpurse, and she had been very close to closing up shop and handing in her license.
And then, half a moon ago, he had appeared, a broad grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye, and changed the course of her business. What had attracted him to her stall, Helena couldn’t say; perhaps it was that she did not look at him with disgust, as many of the other merchants seemed to do. The absence of such behavior, she knew, was another thing that made her stand out in contrast to the native Gridanians. But why should she care if her customer was a Duskwight, so long as his coin was good?
It turned out, however, that his interest had not been in buying, but in selling, and a very strange item it was indeed - a package of vials, all of a strange, dark-looking color. She remembered shaking one, and seeing it froth in the vial. It was nothing she could quite place.
“And you’re interested in selling this through a middle-man?†she had asked, placing the vial on the counter. “A bit strange. There is hardly a lack of street peddlers in the city.â€
“Indeed, madam, indeed!†He had clasped his hands together and pointed at her as if she had grasped the situation precisely. “While I am hardly at risk of violence if I walk these fair streets, I think you will find - ah, but you are a relative newcomer, are you not? Yes, I think you will find that my wares will be passed over not because of what they are, but because of what I am, you see.â€
“And you’d like a share, of course.†Helena had spoken without rancor. There was no other reason to discuss the matter, after all.
“A small one, to be certain! My needs are equally small, you know, my living conditions rather, ah, dubious by the nature of the city as well. It is no matter. I can come to collect on each sennight.â€
“Certainly, certainly. You see, the thing is, well, it could be a good deal, and we could come to terms, that’s clear as a lake.†She had splayed one hand. “But what does it actually do? I haven’t seen a potion like it.â€
“Nothing harmful, I assure you, madam! You may sample the components for yourself, and I trust you may analyze their contents as well. In general, however, you will find it to be an excellent panacea! Entirely revivifying.â€
“Revivifying.â€
“Indeed! Your viv will be entirely reified, such as it is!â€
She couldn’t help but laugh, though she hadn’t been quite sure why. “You’re not selling snake oil, are you?â€
Here the Duskwight’s face seemed to bristle. “Madam! I have divested myself of such inventory entirely. If you are uncertain as to the effects of the product, I would happily try it myself to assuage your fears.â€
If nothing else, it would have been worth a laugh. She offered him the vial. Swift as a shrew in heat, he’d snatched it out of her hand and consumed the contents, though not without a gagging noise in the back of his throat. That hadn’t bothered her. Medicine wasn’t exactly known for its taste.
But he hadn’t died immediately, or even had any ill-effects afterwards at all. She had thanked him and agreed to take the potions to at least see their effectiveness and analyze their contents. Nothing had been odd about them, but there was a certain ineffable something that did make them seem almost . . . lively.
Testing one was inevitable, and perhaps against her better judgment, but there did not seem to be anything she could see that produced ill-effects. And, indeed, his claims had been sound. She had felt briefly and momentarily alive, and for the rest of the day she had felt exceptionally healthy. Lacking in somnus or other such restricted concoctions, the effect had made her all the more eager to sell them on the strength of the product. To rejuvenate one’s health safely? That wasn’t quite the same as lead into gold and reviving the dead to ask impertinent questions about one’s own inability to achieve emotional closure, but it was very close.
So she had pitched, and the items had sold, and sold, and sold all the faster. When the Duskwight had arrived the next sennight to ask how his wares had fared, Helena had negotiated terms with him on the spot.
“But what do you call this, anyroad?†she had asked as she handed over the gil.
“What I call it?†The Duskwight had considered this at some length while weighing the full coinpurse in his hand. “It lacks a name as yet. But . . . mayhaps you’ve seen the ads around the cities.â€
Helena’s eyes widened, and she nodded. “Right! A test market, then. A new flavor! You’re doing me a bigger service than I’d thought.â€
“Yes!†He smiled at that. “A test market, absolutely. Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I shall return on the day, on the bell, if that is all fine for you.â€
And so he’d left, and since then business had been fruitful. Helena drifted off in her thoughts only to be interrupted by another customer. She smiled, knowing what he wanted, and reached out for another small, dark vial.
She stifled a cough. Those had been growing lately. The forest did not agree with her from time to time. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
The clink of a coin, the glint of gil along with a bright smile, and a hasty goodbye, and Helena offered a small but bright wave to the customer as he parted, his purchase tucked under his arm in a small sackcloth. The wave faltered as a cough, short but sharp, wracked the Midlander’s frame. The forest did not agree with her from time to time. But with the end of the transaction bringing a slight lull in her business, she took the opportunity to place her hands on her counter stall, catch her breath, and survey the markets.
Business was booming, as much as it could be in a smaller exchange like the Stalls anyroad. It hadn’t been easy. Rebuilding the family after the Calamity, cycles of training with the Alchemist’s Guild or the appropriate credentials, applying for the mere chance of entry into the Shroud, and the constant need for gil to keep palms appropriately slipper had all been grueling, miserable tasks, and in some moons she had felt like giving it up. But here she was, a thriving independent in the midst of the Stalls, away from the cut-throat trades of Thanalan and enjoying a simpler way of life.
Even after all of that, however, she had struggled for moons. Gridanians were slow to trust those from outside the Shroud, and rightly so in her opinion. Helena knew too many honest Ul’dahns (in that they were honestly Ul’dahn) to think their suspicion was unwarranted. But sympathy alone would not put gil in her coinpurse, and she had been very close to closing up shop and handing in her license.
And then, half a moon ago, he had appeared, a broad grin on his face and a twinkle in his eye, and changed the course of her business. What had attracted him to her stall, Helena couldn’t say; perhaps it was that she did not look at him with disgust, as many of the other merchants seemed to do. The absence of such behavior, she knew, was another thing that made her stand out in contrast to the native Gridanians. But why should she care if her customer was a Duskwight, so long as his coin was good?
It turned out, however, that his interest had not been in buying, but in selling, and a very strange item it was indeed - a package of vials, all of a strange, dark-looking color. She remembered shaking one, and seeing it froth in the vial. It was nothing she could quite place.
“And you’re interested in selling this through a middle-man?†she had asked, placing the vial on the counter. “A bit strange. There is hardly a lack of street peddlers in the city.â€
“Indeed, madam, indeed!†He had clasped his hands together and pointed at her as if she had grasped the situation precisely. “While I am hardly at risk of violence if I walk these fair streets, I think you will find - ah, but you are a relative newcomer, are you not? Yes, I think you will find that my wares will be passed over not because of what they are, but because of what I am, you see.â€
“And you’d like a share, of course.†Helena had spoken without rancor. There was no other reason to discuss the matter, after all.
“A small one, to be certain! My needs are equally small, you know, my living conditions rather, ah, dubious by the nature of the city as well. It is no matter. I can come to collect on each sennight.â€
“Certainly, certainly. You see, the thing is, well, it could be a good deal, and we could come to terms, that’s clear as a lake.†She had splayed one hand. “But what does it actually do? I haven’t seen a potion like it.â€
“Nothing harmful, I assure you, madam! You may sample the components for yourself, and I trust you may analyze their contents as well. In general, however, you will find it to be an excellent panacea! Entirely revivifying.â€
“Revivifying.â€
“Indeed! Your viv will be entirely reified, such as it is!â€
She couldn’t help but laugh, though she hadn’t been quite sure why. “You’re not selling snake oil, are you?â€
Here the Duskwight’s face seemed to bristle. “Madam! I have divested myself of such inventory entirely. If you are uncertain as to the effects of the product, I would happily try it myself to assuage your fears.â€
If nothing else, it would have been worth a laugh. She offered him the vial. Swift as a shrew in heat, he’d snatched it out of her hand and consumed the contents, though not without a gagging noise in the back of his throat. That hadn’t bothered her. Medicine wasn’t exactly known for its taste.
But he hadn’t died immediately, or even had any ill-effects afterwards at all. She had thanked him and agreed to take the potions to at least see their effectiveness and analyze their contents. Nothing had been odd about them, but there was a certain ineffable something that did make them seem almost . . . lively.
Testing one was inevitable, and perhaps against her better judgment, but there did not seem to be anything she could see that produced ill-effects. And, indeed, his claims had been sound. She had felt briefly and momentarily alive, and for the rest of the day she had felt exceptionally healthy. Lacking in somnus or other such restricted concoctions, the effect had made her all the more eager to sell them on the strength of the product. To rejuvenate one’s health safely? That wasn’t quite the same as lead into gold and reviving the dead to ask impertinent questions about one’s own inability to achieve emotional closure, but it was very close.
So she had pitched, and the items had sold, and sold, and sold all the faster. When the Duskwight had arrived the next sennight to ask how his wares had fared, Helena had negotiated terms with him on the spot.
“But what do you call this, anyroad?†she had asked as she handed over the gil.
“What I call it?†The Duskwight had considered this at some length while weighing the full coinpurse in his hand. “It lacks a name as yet. But . . . mayhaps you’ve seen the ads around the cities.â€
Helena’s eyes widened, and she nodded. “Right! A test market, then. A new flavor! You’re doing me a bigger service than I’d thought.â€
“Yes!†He smiled at that. “A test market, absolutely. Now then, if you’ll excuse me, I shall return on the day, on the bell, if that is all fine for you.â€
And so he’d left, and since then business had been fruitful. Helena drifted off in her thoughts only to be interrupted by another customer. She smiled, knowing what he wanted, and reached out for another small, dark vial.
She stifled a cough. Those had been growing lately. The forest did not agree with her from time to time. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
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Current Fate-14 Storyline:Â Merchant, Marine
Current Fate-14 Storyline:Â Merchant, Marine