I was tryin' to find a better replacement for me bow you see. I can't have this getting in the way when I walk you see. Do you happen to have a short bow by any chance?
I had this longbow for a while you see. It helped me protect a village from bandits one time and it's in good condition.
He takes off his longbow and puts it on the table.
Gobbler, your longbow peaks the merchants interest, “Hmm.. that is a fine lookin’ bow, wouldn’t be much use in the forest for me though... low branches make it hard to pull back on that big bowstring. And only weapon I got fer sale is tha handaxe. But, if yer lookin’ ta sell yer bow,. I can do 20 gold worth of pink quartz, a wolfskin, and the handaxe, or a trap. What ya say?”
"Yes miss. I am unfamiliar with the medicinal herbs of this land. I am in need of resupply. Or perhaps a person knowlagable in the local herblore. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated."
Healer as you pass by the middle stand you catch wind of the ripened cheeses and sweet butter made by the local farmers. A woman trying a sample sees you and drops the curd to the ground in shock, before the woman has a chance to recover it one of the town’s wild dogs quickly snatches it up and makes off with it.
You arrive before the third stall and see its countertops brimming with dark green mosses, bundles of dried garlic, the leaves and swollen leaf stems of mustard plants, cone shaped flowers that smell dank and somewhat pungent (hops), and bundles of short scrubby looking stems with spiky leaves and small purple flowers (heather), among a myriad of mushrooms of all shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. It appears there may also be more plants and herbs, but it’s hard to tell thanks to the sheer amount of the foliage lumped on the counter. Along the back wall you can also see a few tinktures in small glass bottles and vials on some hastily built shelving.
As you step up to the counter you see a small older man fast asleep in a rickety wooden chair under the shelves near the back wall. He is slumped to one side and is barely holding on to a little book. His glasses have already fallen off, but are luckily dangling by a sliver chain around his neck. You can’t know for sure, but you think this is likely Selby, because he wears the same color beaded necklace as Hertha.
“Don’t blame ya, ‘tis a very nice bow. Woulda looked good over hanging over ma hearth, but can’t win em’ all eh? Tell ya what, I’ll throw in somethin extra.. maybe you’ll think of me when ya change yer mind about sellin”.
With that she takes your gold and hands you the axe, then reaches into her pocket, and pulls out a small wooden whistle which she then hands it to you Gobbler. “Carved it ma self, works great on pheasant... happyhuntintaya.”
Despite the disorganization on the counter you are quickly able to identify a number of herbs. There are bundles of aromatic wormwood with leaves that are deeply indented, grey-green, and covered with fine silky hairs. Clusters of small circular red, white, and black berries that you know come from ivy. Short stemmed poppies with pale yellow flowers, wrinkled browned licorice root with yellow flesh, and branching stems with oval saw toothed leaves and small pretty looking purple flowers that aids you in identifying the plant as skullcap.
You recall that:
Wormwood and the various ivy berries are typically used in poisons. While poppy and licorice are usually used in medicines and skullcap is used for calming emotions.
“Ah, wha!” startled, Selby jumps from his chair and hits his head on the bottom shelf upending it. A few small bottles and clay pots adorning the shelf fall to the ground with a clatter, luckily only one of them breaks.
”Sorry friend, sorry! I must have mixed up my tea leaves again! Name’s Selby, how may I be of assistance?”
As Selby approaches you now see he is much older than you originally thought. He is mostly bald, though he still has a thick aged yellow beard, bushy eyebrows, and bristles sprouting from his ears. His fingertips are stained a reddish purple and the nails are crusted with earth. He wears a soiled tan smock that hangs well below his knees. You can see a pair of clippers and other small tools peaking out of the pockets. Selby seems to have spent many a year enjoying his craft.
"Sorry for waking you sir. Hertha sent me. She said you might be able to assist me with some healing medicines my companions and I can take on our travels. Also, I am looking for a book of local herblore if you have one. I can pay, or trade in skill for what you have."
Selby sucks in a breath of cool air and let’s out a whistle, “I’d be happy to help with material components, got a few potions laying about that I could scrounge up, but a book of herblore you say? Eh, heh, now that’s not easy to come by. Sure people knows about common plants and how to fix a sour stomach, but sounds to me your wanting something a bit deeper. Trouble is.. books are hard to come by in the Stormlands. Most people don’t have need for em you see? And they’re very expensive to make. But... I do have a collection of notes from years of study, trial and error, and eking a living in this hard land as an herbalist. Question is... what are ya willing to pay for them? I’m getting old ya see.. can’t do this forever.”
Healer pauses, lost in thought for a moment. Then his eyes flash a soft blue before returning to there normal gentle green.
"I have lived many long years wandering the wilds of my homland using what herblore I have learned and the magics of nature to heal the sick and wounded. To me, such a collection would be priceless. I would happily give you whatever you believe is fair. Name your price, and I will see it paid. I can promise you one thing. With me your knowlage will live forever, and save so many more than it has already."
“Well a fellow herbalist, how exciting! Yes, indeed!” Selby says as he claps his hands together. “How’s 30 gold? I’d normally charge more, but as I think you’ll do good with it I’m willing to share my knowledge for less.”
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“Very well. Ow’ bout you two?” She asks as she motions to Healer and Gobbler.
I was tryin' to find a better replacement for me bow you see. I can't have this getting in the way when I walk you see. Do you happen to have a short bow by any chance?
I had this longbow for a while you see. It helped me protect a village from bandits one time and it's in good condition.
He takes off his longbow and puts it on the table.
You can see for yourself.
Gobbler, your longbow peaks the merchants interest, “Hmm.. that is a fine lookin’ bow, wouldn’t be much use in the forest for me though... low branches make it hard to pull back on that big bowstring. And only weapon I got fer sale is tha handaxe. But, if yer lookin’ ta sell yer bow,. I can do 20 gold worth of pink quartz, a wolfskin, and the handaxe, or a trap. What ya say?”
“While he’s decidin’ anything for ya treeman?”
"Yes miss. I am unfamiliar with the medicinal herbs of this land. I am in need of resupply. Or perhaps a person knowlagable in the local herblore. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated."
Healers bows his head out of respect.
Trickery in Tales From the Yawning Portal
Healer in Trudvang: Wildheart
Gobbler is still hesitant to sell his longbow. He had it for a long time and cannot depart with it yet.
I'm sorry madam. I fear that I cannot depart with this bow just yet. The bow has too many memories with me.
He takes his bow back and takes out 5 gold.
I'm willing to buy a handaxe though.
“Mhmm.. fauna’s more my specialty, not so much flora.. yer lookin’ fer ma cousin Selby, two stalls over.. tell em’ Hertha sent ya, he’ll help ya out.”
Healer as you pass by the middle stand you catch wind of the ripened cheeses and sweet butter made by the local farmers. A woman trying a sample sees you and drops the curd to the ground in shock, before the woman has a chance to recover it one of the town’s wild dogs quickly snatches it up and makes off with it.
You arrive before the third stall and see its countertops brimming with dark green mosses, bundles of dried garlic, the leaves and swollen leaf stems of mustard plants, cone shaped flowers that smell dank and somewhat pungent (hops), and bundles of short scrubby looking stems with spiky leaves and small purple flowers (heather), among a myriad of mushrooms of all shapes, sizes, textures, and colors. It appears there may also be more plants and herbs, but it’s hard to tell thanks to the sheer amount of the foliage lumped on the counter. Along the back wall you can also see a few tinktures in small glass bottles and vials on some hastily built shelving.
As you step up to the counter you see a small older man fast asleep in a rickety wooden chair under the shelves near the back wall. He is slumped to one side and is barely holding on to a little book. His glasses have already fallen off, but are luckily dangling by a sliver chain around his neck. You can’t know for sure, but you think this is likely Selby, because he wears the same color beaded necklace as Hertha.
“Don’t blame ya, ‘tis a very nice bow. Woulda looked good over hanging over ma hearth, but can’t win em’ all eh? Tell ya what, I’ll throw in somethin extra.. maybe you’ll think of me when ya change yer mind about sellin”.
With that she takes your gold and hands you the axe, then reaches into her pocket, and pulls out a small wooden whistle which she then hands it to you Gobbler. “Carved it ma self, works great on pheasant... happy huntin ta ya.”
Speaking gently so as not to startle the man,
"Hello sir, are you Shelby?"
Trickery in Tales From the Yawning Portal
Healer in Trudvang: Wildheart
From what you can tell the man does not appear to stir, or wake up.
May I examine the visible herbs for any I can identify and their properties.
Trickery in Tales From the Yawning Portal
Healer in Trudvang: Wildheart
Sure, make a nature check.
Healers nature check:
9
Trickery in Tales From the Yawning Portal
Healer in Trudvang: Wildheart
Despite the disorganization on the counter you are quickly able to identify a number of herbs. There are bundles of aromatic wormwood with leaves that are deeply indented, grey-green, and covered with fine silky hairs. Clusters of small circular red, white, and black berries that you know come from ivy. Short stemmed poppies with pale yellow flowers, wrinkled browned licorice root with yellow flesh, and branching stems with oval saw toothed leaves and small pretty looking purple flowers that aids you in identifying the plant as skullcap.
You recall that:
Wormwood and the various ivy berries are typically used in poisons. While poppy and licorice are usually used in medicines and skullcap is used for calming emotions.
With a bit more authority, and volume.
"Excuse me sir, I am interested in your wares."
Healer glances around, hoping to have not disturbed anyone.
Trickery in Tales From the Yawning Portal
Healer in Trudvang: Wildheart
“Ah, wha!” startled, Selby jumps from his chair and hits his head on the bottom shelf upending it. A few small bottles and clay pots adorning the shelf fall to the ground with a clatter, luckily only one of them breaks.
”Sorry friend, sorry! I must have mixed up my tea leaves again! Name’s Selby, how may I be of assistance?”
As Selby approaches you now see he is much older than you originally thought. He is mostly bald, though he still has a thick aged yellow beard, bushy eyebrows, and bristles sprouting from his ears. His fingertips are stained a reddish purple and the nails are crusted with earth. He wears a soiled tan smock that hangs well below his knees. You can see a pair of clippers and other small tools peaking out of the pockets. Selby seems to have spent many a year enjoying his craft.
Healer bows slightly.
"Sorry for waking you sir. Hertha sent me. She said you might be able to assist me with some healing medicines my companions and I can take on our travels. Also, I am looking for a book of local herblore if you have one. I can pay, or trade in skill for what you have."
Trickery in Tales From the Yawning Portal
Healer in Trudvang: Wildheart
Selby sucks in a breath of cool air and let’s out a whistle, “I’d be happy to help with material components, got a few potions laying about that I could scrounge up, but a book of herblore you say? Eh, heh, now that’s not easy to come by. Sure people knows about common plants and how to fix a sour stomach, but sounds to me your wanting something a bit deeper. Trouble is.. books are hard to come by in the Stormlands. Most people don’t have need for em you see? And they’re very expensive to make. But... I do have a collection of notes from years of study, trial and error, and eking a living in this hard land as an herbalist. Question is... what are ya willing to pay for them? I’m getting old ya see.. can’t do this forever.”
Healer pauses, lost in thought for a moment. Then his eyes flash a soft blue before returning to there normal gentle green.
"I have lived many long years wandering the wilds of my homland using what herblore I have learned and the magics of nature to heal the sick and wounded. To me, such a collection would be priceless. I would happily give you whatever you believe is fair. Name your price, and I will see it paid. I can promise you one thing. With me your knowlage will live forever, and save so many more than it has already."
Trickery in Tales From the Yawning Portal
Healer in Trudvang: Wildheart
“Well a fellow herbalist, how exciting! Yes, indeed!” Selby says as he claps his hands together. “How’s 30 gold? I’d normally charge more, but as I think you’ll do good with it I’m willing to share my knowledge for less.”