Supplying the Brewers
It's Korday, Pryntar 23 13:48:00 1019. The full moon isn't up. The tide is high and ebbing. Fair weather clouds drift through the blue sky from the west, along with the wind. The sunlight on the snow is dazzling, and it gleams on the ice.
W01: Wayfarer's Inn
The inn is a stopover point for a lot of people, coming or going. Some are having a drink, some area taking a meal. Others are using it as a place to meet friends or for business. Lysa is at the bar, leaning against it as she speaks with the barkeep. A smile is on her face as she says, "Have you been being getting in any more of that good honey from the south? It is having a fine flavor to it."
The door opens again, letting in the wintry air for a moment, as a leather and mithral clad wild elf walks in, and up to the bar. He smiles and says to Lysa, "Hello, there. Lysa is it? I think we met in the City a while ago. Watched some kid from the bardic college while we sampled some o' the new drink offerings?"
Glancing over at the welcome breeze that cools her, Lysa smiles and recognizes the approaching elf. As you speak, she nods. "Aye, that is being correct." she offers a handclasp in a warrior fashion, "I am being Lysa Hrolfdottr. Sunblade."
The elf clasps the proffered hand and shakes a greeting, saying, "I am Ga'Elian, a hunter of the Faravanilas tribe from the Perianath forest near Llyranost." He then pulls a small sack from inside the canvas bag slung across his torso and sets it on the bar. As he loosens the drawstring, the smell, then the sight of some purple berries bursts forth. Nodding to the barman, he says to Lysa, "The barman here asked me to bring him some berries from the winter bushes that grow near the Ygdrassil sapling not far from here. This is a sample. There isn't a lot of food to be gathered this time of year, but the dryads keep things around the Tree vibrant and healthy."
Inclining her head as she releases her grip on the hand, Lysa remarks, "Such a tree is a rare find. Tell me, do these dryads also preserve and pollinate the flowers near to said tree? If so, then perhaps there could be some honey grown nearby that would be being of supreme quality."
As the barman finally heads over to reply to Lysa's question, and now to check out the berries, too, Elian replies, "Certainly. That is, the dryads likely don't spend a lot of effort on the flowers themselves, but all the things that grow near the Tree are blessed by its magic and that of the fae that attend it." A look of pastoral bliss momentarily brightens the elf's countenance, and he catches up a few bars of some lively melody, the lyrics in the Sylvan tongue.
GAME: Ga'Elian rolls perform/sing: (20)+10: 30
Nodding slowly, Lysa states softly, "I seek southern honey to brew into new flavors of mead." And then... she falls silent, voice trailing off at the lovely singing voice. She just inclines her head and listens attentively. Who wouldn't?
The barman, about to speak, stops short and listens, too. When the elf stops singing, he says, "Well, Master Hunter, anytime you wanna perform, the stage's right over yonder." He nods across the room.
Ga'Elian smiles cordially, then responds, "I assume that when you say 'southern' honey, you mean honey from south of your homeland?"
Nodding enthusiastically, Lysa grins, "Aye, that is what I am being meaning. Southern in relation to Stormgarde. Why are you being asking?" she adds.
The barman says, "Well, around here, we naturally think of 'southern' anything as being south of us, or, well, at least south of Alexandria anyway. Tomanswer your question, miss, I got a batch a few days ago. The mead's a-brewing now. Be ready in a few days."
Meanwhile, Ga'Elian shifts his posture to look across the room, as if surveying who's about.
Shaking her head, Lysa laughs softly, "I wasn't being asking for mead. I was being asking if you had an order of honey in that I could purchase... so that I be able to brew -my- own mead. It is being something of a hobby of mine. I also sell batches to help Daeus's temple."
The barman rubs his chin, then says, "Ah, well, in that case, I'm afraid I'm all out, but if your stuff's any good, I might be willing to outsource the brewing. See, the bar is plenty o' work already without me havin' to make me own product. Now I could give ye the name o' me supplier, but if'n ye'd want some rare stuff, I'm thinkin' the hunter here'd be as good a supplier as ye could find. Why lookit these berries. Ain't nobody else could find fresh berries this time o' year, and all burstin' wif ripe juice, too." He takes a few berries and eats them, then smiles. "I'll take the lot, master elf." he says, as he puts a small bag of couns in front of Ga'Elian.
Ga'Elian smiles, and puts the coins into his shoulder bag. He says, "I'd be glad to help out. By the way, I have some dealings with the Daeusites from time to time anyway. Demon-hunting and such, so I'd be glad to know I was helping to support them a little."
Glancing over her shoulders, Lysa nods. She looks back to the barkeep, "Stonework Calzones be already sellin' some of me brew. I would not being objecting to making a mildly different brew so that you would not be being selling the exact same flavor." she grins and sets a couple coins on the counter, "Might I purchase a few of those berries to enjoy them myself?" But she smirks a bit and adds, "I also plan to use some for healing potions."
The barman says, "Tha's alrigh'. Jest take a few."
Ga'Elian asks, "So, how long have you been brewing mead?"
"I started when I was a wee girl. Me Da ran a merc company, and I traveled with them." offers Lysa as she smirks, "Please let me pay for the product. It is only fair." she states as she reaches for a berry and pops it into her mouth.
Her face lights up with pleasure. "Oh, so good." she states, "Where was I?" she asks. "Oh yes, I was being caring for the men, patching up their wounds and brewing the mead for their entertainment... it was the best way I had to contribute to the company at the time."
Ga'Elian listens. He says, "I've really not spent much time at sea. There are a lot of my people, though, that seem to have it in their blood."