Missing Scenes from 28th of Flamerule 1491
Atalaya surveyed the herbs and teas available in the small cart stall in the open market. She picked up several containers to smell their aroma, checking for freshness as she chatted with the young woman about when and where the different teas came from. Finding a blend of mints that had a pleasant smell she added that to the hibiscus tea, the lemongrass tea and the Rosehip tea that she had already put aside. As Atalaya debated with herself whether or not to splurge on any of the more exotic teas were being offered, wondering whether or not they had been smuggled into the town by the seemingly ever present underground activity of the town, the vendor had been retrieving a pot of tea that had been seeping from the side of a small stove behind her and bringing out 3 battered but aclean teacups. Pouring a small quantity of tea into each cup she handed one to both Atalaya and Nevil. Then picking up her own cup, she blew gently on the tea, savoring the smell and then took a careful sip of the warm tea.
“Try this. I think that you will like it. It can be served both hot and cooled. You can even serve it over ice if you have any. This is called Maple Tea and comes from Neverwinter. It’s made with their famous maple syrup and a special tea leaf that they import.” She watched expectantly as both Atalaya and Nevil tried the tea. “What do you think? Good, isn’t it?”
Nevil is cautious but she tries to hide it from Atalaya because she seems so happy. She has one herbal vice afterall. Holding the sample tea with both hands and breathing deep its aroma. She knows sweet flavors are often used to mask the bitter flavors of other more purposeful ingredients. But the cup is small, and a sip can't hurt. Nevil takes a small sip, letting her whole tongue inspect the flavor.
The flavor is... unique. "It's more subtle than I was expecting. With a mild floral lingering." Nevil turns to the woman, "What is the base tea? The syrup complements well but I can't place it.”
“Well, that is the question, isn’t it. They say that those in Neverwinter that make this particular blend, import a wide variety of teas, so that the exact tea used can remain a secret. However, it is my belief that they blend several different teas together, and, as you have noticed, perhaps added a floral component. Then the maple syrup is added in. It is, I think, one of the best tea blends that I have found. I try to always have this in stock.” Watching the two friends try her tea, “Ready to add some to your order?” she asks Atalaya.
Atalaya nods. “Yes. This is delightful,” she says as she hand the other tins to the woman. Turning to Nevil she adds, “Is there any tea that you prefer. Or Inman? I want to be sure that I have something for everyone.”
"I'm easy to please with no particular taste." Nevil considers what Inman would prefer, "well he used to like black teas with bold flavors. I wish I could remember the name," she said, beginning to open tins one at a time to find the familiar smell. After several tins, and almost about to give up, she finds it. Her memories of times past with Inman, immediately triggered by its smell. "This one. What is it?" She asked, smiling.
Atalaya smells it and then looks to the vendor. “This seems nice, what is it?”
The woman looks at the tin and smiles. That is from Kara-Tur. It is called Pale Jade. It is a little pricey, as I have to acquire it through the Aurora’s Whole Realms Catalogue, but I can sell you a quarter pound tin of really nice Pale Jade for … hmm 8 gold and 5 silver pieces.”
“That is fair. Yes, add that to the rest.” Turning to Nevil she winks and says, “Your friend has expensive tastes. But with the money from the Captain and what we are going to get from the followers of St. Cuthbert, we can afford to get this for him.”
Turning back to the young woman, she asks, “So how much do we owe you for all this? And do you sell Nararoot? Or should I check with an apothecary for that?
Gina here: (Nararoot is used for birth control). Aurora's Whole Realms Catalogue sold the same amount (one pound) of Pale Jade for 20 gold pieces and Earth Dragon's Eye for 50 gold pieces.[1] The other teas that she is buying are relatively inexpensive as far as I have been able to tell. They are common throughout Faerun and generally locally grown. The cost for the Maple tea is probably in between.
https://forgottenrealms.fandom.com/wiki/Tea
I found this link. Thought you might like it. I imagine they'd be pretty cheap. I'll see if I can find anything definitive.
Yes, that is a good link, I poured over it as I wrote multiple times trying to decide what she might have in her booth. 🙂
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While Atalaya peruses other booths, Nevil approaches a merchant of general goods and produce. She inspects several items until she draws the attention of the owner who is eager to move his wares. Nevil can be seen gesturing, offering descriptions of sizes and shapes. Both find agreement. She then hands the merchant a list to review. The merchant nods, smiles, and contemplates a sum. With another handshake and an exchange of coin, the merchant calls for his assistant. Nevil points in the direction of the ship's dock and hands some coin to the teen. The young man smiles and begins to collect items.
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Atalaya, seeing that Nevil is engaged with another merchant, pulls Inman aside for a moment. “I’m going back to the tannery. I just thought of something else that I need from there. I’ll catch up with you and Nevil shortly.” At Inman’s nod, she makes her way back to the tannery. Entering, she greeted Kiorna Kester. “I’ve thought of something I would like to make. I’m wondering if you also sell leatherworking tools and unworked leather. Actually, I just need a couple of leather scraps. And some leather dyes and some oils and antiquing. She shakes her head slightly. It seems that I have left all my tools at home and now I want to do some leathercrafting. What, if anything, do you sell? You see, I’m going to be stuck on a ship for weeks. I’m going to go a little crazy if I don’t have anything to work on.”
Atalaya watches as Kiorna gathers some materials and places them on the counter. “What about a leatherworking knife? Do you have that with you?”
Atalaya winces. “No, and I guess I’ll need a leather mallet too.”
Kiorna nods and picks up both the tools and adds them to the growing pile. What color dyes or paints are you wanting?”
“Blue, white and green should do it. And a soft mahogany dye.”
A couple more small pots are placed with the other items. “Are you sure you just want leather scraps?”
“Yes,” Atalaya replies, "I'm just making some small tokens for my friends.”
Kiorna looks the items over and names a price. Atalaya reaches into her pouch and pays her without comment. “Thank you. You are literally saving my life,” she confides to the craftswoman. “I’ll remember you and your store if we come into any exotic skins while nearby.”
Her tools are very high quality and a set costs 10 gp. Good, don’t really want poorly made stuff. 😉 I’ll remove the 10 gp.
When considering the higher price in the range, I took into account that she is an artisan. And she's supplying tools for her competitors. ;-)
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During the picnic, Nevil and Inman find some private time to talk. Nevil leans with her butt on the low broad limb of the giant oak that inman is sitting on.
"Last night..." Nevil sighs. "I know I don't have to tell you the importance of this mission. How do I say this...?" Considering her words, "weigh what I am about to say carefully. You may not have an answer and that's alright. But we can't risk blindly stumbling through this."
Knowing the wisdom in her words does not make them easier to say, Nevil's heart hurts. She is risking her one comfort in Inman. Nevil takes a deep breath. "Inman, I never stopped thinking about us either. Even when I was with Nathan." She looks at him with the kindest eyes she can muster, "But, we both know that love isn't enough to make it work."
Nevil pauses, "With more of last night… with the intensity of our work… it will build again, if we let it.
But we can't risk us... the mission... if in the future, after this is all settled, our paths are destined to part again. Could this even work? You're a War Wizard. What would that life look like, if there was an “us”?
Inman sighs, seeming to genuinely think about this. "I don't know," he says honestly. "I don't know how to answer that. It's hard to imagine the future at this moment in my life. I'm drowning in 'now'."
Nevil nods, looking out at the woods, "I get that. I do. I know it's an impossible question. I'm not asking for certainties.
I guess what I'm asking is, do you see a reason, right now, why we need to guard ourselves and stay at arms length? If there is say it now.
Because this road is going to be hard, and I... I slept deeply for the first time in a long time last night. I'm guessing you did too.
"I did." He thinks for a long moment. "Maggie..." He gives her a grim look and then raises an eyebrow. "Right now? How long do you think we're promised?" He shakes his head. "I think we both know better about 'certainties'. There's only one, and given what we're facing, I'm not certain that that one is certain, either." His lip tugs upward. "Now is all we have."
Nevil looks confused, “only one what? What is going through your head?”
"Death," he says bluntly. "The only certainty. And considering what our new friends told us about the Eye, possible Undeath, which is worse. So no, Maggie, the only reason I can see for us to not be together is that I don't want to be the man who takes advantage when you're not thinking clearly. If you are, then no. I don't see any reason. I love you. I always have. You have to have known that."
"If that's the only concern..." Nevil, pushes off the limb and turns to face Inman still sitting. "If at some point you get tired of the hammock, there is room in my cabin. Why deny ourselves small comforts? I trust we can figure out what's fair as we go."
Inman optional
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Atalaya looks over at Vasilya after Nevil and Inman leave to take their walk. “I need to climb a tree,” she abruptly announces. She points to a tree at a wide angle from that which Nevil had taken. “Let’s see if there is anything climbable in that direction. She stands up quickly and reaches for Vaz’s hand to pull him up. “Come on, there has to be something appropriate in this forest.”
Vasilya, who had been enjoying resting on the picnic blanket, his thoughts wandering with the clouds overhead, looks at her in confusion. “What? Seriously? You want to climb a tree now?”
Atalaya nods. “Yes. It’s a beautiful day. We should enjoy them while we can and are on land. We are about to be shut up in a ship for far longer than I care to contemplate. I need to climb and listen for Mielikki’s voice before we go.” She tugs again on Vaz’s hand. “You can climb trees?”
"Of course I can climb trees, bitti chavi. I can climb walls." Boz winks at her, grabbing a branch and swinging himself up as quickly as a squirrel.
Atalaya laughs and nimbly follows Vaz up into the tree. Looking up, she sees a spot about half way up the tree where they can both sit and talk easily. She kissed Vaz quickly on a nearby ear and started up the tree laughing and listening to Vaz as he scrambled after her. Reaching the spot she was heading for, Atalaya wedged herself into the spot by the tree trunk and branch. Vasilya made his way up to her and seated himself by her, resting against the tree limb where it forked and provided him with a backrest. “You know, Mielikki talks to her faithful in the wind as it moves through the leaves,” Atalaya said while looking up into the upper reaches of the tree, watching the moving leaves and listening to the rustling sounds they were making. “The trick is learning to listen to her.” She grows silent as she turns her attention to listen to the leaves moving above her. After several long minutes she sighs and turns her attention back to Vasilya.
“I saw the fortune teller in the market again today. She sounds Gurrish to me when she talks. Have you ever asked her about your sight? Maybe she could help you use it without all the pain you have when you try.”
"Yes, I know the drabarni of which you speak. She is Gurrish. We have spoken to each other. She knows who I am, yes." He brushes the sparkling of sweat from his brow with the back of his arm, closing his eyes and letting the summer breeze cool his face. "Is not bad idea. I have thought of it."
Atalaya was quiet, also enjoying the breeze that blew through the leaves, rustling them with the mummers of Mielikki’s whispers. Watching the enjoyment of the breeze on Vaz’s face, she smiled. When the breeze calmed Atalaya shifted nervously on her perch. Taking a deep breath to steady her voice, she asked “I think you should talk with her. The drabarni. We still need to locate the … the object… and …” Pausing, her eyes showing her concern, she finally continued, “And if it comes to us needing your ability to scry for it, it would be so much better if you knew how to use your talent without it causing you the pain it did the last times you used it. I… I don’t want to see you like that again. It scared me and we weren’t… I mean I was just getting to know you then and…” Shifting slightly on her perch, she leaned over and grasped his hand. Entwining her fingers with his, “I don’t like seeing you in pain. Especially when I can’t seem to do anything for you to stop it.”
“Won’t you please take a little bit of time to talk to her before we leave. This evening or in the morning before we set sail?”
Boz nodded, squeezing her hand. "Believe me, I don't like it much, either. I have often wished to learn how to wield it. I will talk to her. Is certainly worth a try." He thinks for a moment. "You're right, it would be a powerful thing to help us track the Eye. And not having to pay for it by feeling like a knife is through my skull would be preferable. If there is time, I will try to go to her tonight."
Atalaya returns Vaz’s hand squeeze. “Good. I think that is a smart thing to do. I don’t like seeing you hurting. And, something tells me that we are going to need all the help we can get to recover our missing object.” Atalaya releases his hand and leans back, closing her eyes and letting the wind blow across her face a final time. With a sigh, she started the climb down. “I think I hear Nevil and Inman coming. It’s time to collect Cirilli and to let Cirdan and Raven know that we are planning to be gone with the ship for an extended trip.”
Atalaya made her way down the tree and waited for Vaz to join her. Vasilya, reaching the ground, pulled her into his embrace. Atalaya reached her arms around his neck and leaned into him, her head resting against his shoulder. “Please. Talk to the drabarni before we sail,” she whispered in his ear. When he nodded, she reached up, kissing him lightly on his lips, and then deepening the kiss as she felt him pull her tightly against him. The snapping of twigs and sticks breaking as Nevil and Inman approached finally registered and Atalaya pulled away from the kiss although she remained in Vaz’s arms, her face turning a bright pinkish color as she saw their friends approaching.
Nevil tried not to draw attention to her stolen glimpse of Atalaya’s tender moment with Boz. She smiled to herself. Atalaya wasn't sure what Nevil and Inman had discussed, both seemed contemplative yet content. Nevil spoke, "I probably need to go back and make sure the goods were delivered to the ship as agreed." Looking to the others, do you have any more business in town?”
“In town, I think I have finished my business. I need to collect Cirilli and talk with Cirdan and Raven briefly. We need to let them know that we will be using the Hond Ebrath for a while,” Atalaya replied as she moved to Vasilya’s side. The blush in her cheeks slowly faded as neither Nevil or Inman commented on it, or on anything they might have witnessed as they were approaching. Looking up at Vaz, she added, “Vaz has an errand on the way back. It’s probably best if we just go back to the ship.” Atalaya’s thoughts flit back to his capture by Captain Hawk, “Unless you want someone watching your back?” she added.
"I was distracted and thought I was safer than I was." He looks embarrassed. "And I stupidly trusted Jade. It won't happen again. I would rather go alone."
“Not a problem, as long as you stay alert.” Atalaya walks beside Vaz as they head towards Cirdan’s home. “But if you are not back on the ship within a couple of hours and you haven’t sent word, I’m going to be coming to find you,” she added as they continued across the fields towards Cirdan’s home.
"I would expect nothing less from you." He stops, pulls her into his arms, and kisses her deeply. "Your fierceness is why I fell in love with you. I'll be fine."
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