Four Horsemen: Chapter 28 Part 2 of 2

Petor turned back to the group.

Valter looked over and tilted his chin ‘what’s up?’

Petor shrugged back as if to say ‘was just thinking’, his eyes crossing to Desari.

“I’ve found several seeds that might interest you,” Desari said.

“Thank you,” He moved closer to her and looked at the projection.

“Are there any nethercap mushrooms?” Mya asked.

“Yes,” Desari and Hedgewick said at the same time.

“Lunar Lace, Void Blossom?”

“Yes to all three,” Hedgewick said.

“How much?”

“Eight and a half thousand.”

“For the seeds and spores?”

Hedgewick’s expression sharpened.

“Thirty seven hundred gold for seeds and spores of each. If you find a reliable way of growing them we would be most interested. Or buying the finished products, they are in high demand.”

“If you have books on their natural habitat and growing conditions then we might have a few extra to sell back,” Mya smiled lazily.

“If I was to give you the books and the seeds then we would like the first buying rights on the first three harvests, other than those you keep for personal use.”

“I agree,” Mya reached out her hand, Hedgewick shook it.

A document and pen appeared, crafting a new contract.

“Voidblossom was one I was going to suggest to you. When overcharged it creates areas of magical darkness, something that we call all see through.”

[Voidblossom-Cost 1400GP]

Description: A pitch-black flower that seems to absorb light. Used in spells and potions related to darkness and void magic.

Then there is the Hellfire Thistle. It grows in magma cracks. When magma hits the bottom of the thistle, a central stem is lit, it consumes the heat and races up the plant and detonates the spiked bract under the base of the flower. Spreading its heat infused thistles everywhere. If it senses fluctuations in temperature around it. Then it may also detonate, killing those around it.”

“How would you harvest such a thing?” Petor lowered his voice.

“You want to get it when its young and pluck the head that the flower will spread out from. That head contains the spikes and is the part that explodes. Otherwise, hitting it with a freezing spell, or taking the heads off with an arrow.”

She looked at him. “If the thorns land in the right medium, magma heat vents. They’ll grow rapidly and can create a field of exploding thistles.”

Create a field of them among a charging enemy.

“There are groups that harvest them, lighting their bases and hurl them as grenades at their enemies. Others use them in explosive potions.”

Petor studied the projection.

[Hellfire Thistle-Cost 1800GP]

A spiky, red plant that burns without being consumed. Used in spells and potions of fiery destruction and infernal summoning.

“The Orb of storm calling, is that one use?” Petor asked.

“Yes.” Hedgewick said.

Petor nodded. “Can I see the Shield of Spell reflection?”

“Certainly,” Hedgewick got out of his seat and drew out a shield from inside of his jacket. A red chain glowed across its surface, fading slightly.

It was a full length shield, its front polished to a reflective sheen.

“May I?” Petor held out his hands.

Hedgewick passed it over.

It had two straps and a handle behind to hold it easier. Weight was good, much lighter than the training shield he was using.

“Going to be hard to sneak with something this reflective. Thinner than the one that I use already.” Petor took the shield off and handed it back to Hedgewick.

“I’ll go for the orb of storm calling and then seeds for the Hellfire Thistle.” He figured he could work out a deal with Mya if she wanted him to grow the other plants for him too.

“A fine deal,” Hedgewick smiled.

“How much would four patches of Ever-burning Bramble be worth to you?”

“Bloodied,” Desari said.

“Twelve thousand, each.” Hedgewick snapped.

“A good deal in high demand?” Mya asked.

“They can be used to create potions that will convert the corrupted ground of battlefields into fields able to sustain crops. They can also create charms to protect people against the wraiths, ghosts and undead that may rise from such an area.”

“Twelve thousand each,” Petor nodded.

“I’ll offer the same deal as Mya and offer them to you for free and include information on how to mature them? We hold the right to first appraisal and offer on the first three batches you intend to sell?”

“I want to keep a good stock of them.”

“Of course, though if there any extra we would be very interested in them.”

Petor held out his hand. “Deal.”

“A pleasure doing business with you.” Hedgewick shook his hand, a thrill of mana running through his hand.

The pen on the desk picked up and wrote down information.

Hedgewick reached into the plate with materials and drew out seeds in pouches, he held out some spikey seeds in a glass vial to Petor. Then drew a book from one side of his jacket. “A primer on Abyssal plants.” Hedgewick winked and took out a sphere filled with swirling clouds with rain and flashes of lightning connecting them.

“Add your mana to activate and then throw it. You will command the storm within.” Hedgewick said.

Petor stored it away. “Might need some space for the brambles.” He stepped to the side of the table and held out his hand, the first dropped. Hedgewick collected it into a storage device. Petor did the same with the other three.

“Those will do nicely. If you have  Non-blooded we’ll pay nine-thousand per patch.”

“I’ll keep that in mind. My coin?”

“I can do it all in credit or partial in coins and credit?” Hedgewick said.

“One hundred in gold, another fifty gold in silver and one gold in coppers?”

Hedgewick poured coins into a purse and held it out to Petor. He checked the contents.

“Thank you.”

He took out the card from his pocket.

[Balance]

[Credit: 63,719GP]

“Do you have more orb’s of storm calling?”

“Three more,” Hedgewick leaned forward with a knowing look on his face.

“I’ll take them.”

[Balance]

[Credit: 56,219GP]

The pen continued to scratch as Petor moved over to Valter.

“What would it cost me to commission a rare-grade spear?”

“Why not buy one?” Valter frowned.

“You know your way around a weapon, you’ve seen how I fought, you modified the spear that you gave to me for my fighting style. I never knew how a custom made weapon would increase my speed and effectiveness. Also it keeps gold within the group and the better gear you can make the stronger than we all become,” Petor said.

Valter considered him. “To make a spear of metal it will be four ingots. Mithril is one thousand gold per ingot. Then there is time as well as ingredients to create and amplify the inscriptions. Call it six thousand gold altogether. I have forged mithril before, but not a rare weapon before. I do not know how long it might take me to complete such a thing.”

“Quality has a quantity of its own.”

Valter grunted. “You pay for it, I’ll make it.”

“Shield And armor?”

“I can do that as well. If you are to continue using my services then as we get higher grade materials I can craft armor to replace out different pieces so you can upgrade sections as we go instead of having to completely swap out one set for another.”

“That works for me. How many ingots?” Petor held his breath, anticipating what was to come next.

“Say forty for the complete set of armor. Another ten for the shield.”

It would clear him out of all the gold he’d earned so far. Though it would greatly increase his defense.

“How much for all of it?”

“Eighty-one thousand gold. Including inscriptions. With a full set I can do quite a bit to augment your abilities.” Valter’s eyes burned like hot embers.

“Mya, could you get me a deal for my gold and my Emberblooms? For the materials.”

“Happy to do so,” She grinned and stood, pushing off of the table. With a snap of her fingers the table and chairs disappeared, Hedgewick’s pen and paper continued to make notes as if nothing had changed. “Lets see what you’ve got there.”

Selling off all of the leaves from the emberblooms and stormvines he was quickly Thirty four thousand richer, and then Eighty-one thousand poorer.

[Balance]

[Credit: 10,019GP]

Gold was gold, a rare grade weapon and armor was something that he could use immediately to protect himself.

“If you’re doing some armor I have a request too,” Desari said. “Though I will need both of your skills.” She looked at Mya and back to Valter.

She pulled out a page and held it out to both.

“Oh, now that is interesting.” Mya said. “If you can do two of those I’d be interested as well, though full length jacked and then what looks like a vest.”

Petor glanced at the page, in keeping with their current styles of armor hidden within their clothing.

“I can do this. It will be another twenty ingots for each of you. I can do inscriptions for increased strength, and speed. If you require casting speed I would not be able to do it.”

“I can take care of that,” Desari said.

“For shaping and carving as well as the metal, Twenty six thousand gold.”

“Done,” Mya took out her card and tapped it to Valter’s the funds transferring from her credit to his. Desari did the same.

Valter nodded and stepped up to the table.

“I’m guessing you want to buy some materials?” Hedgewick smiled.

“One hundred and fifty ingots of mithril. As well as the arcane heating stone, the Heat retainment scroll and the 101 basics of Mithril smithing.”

“Certainly! Though do you have some extra gold as its over your credit?”

“I have several items to sell and then gold.

“Please,” Hedgewick placed down another table.

“I also have some items to sell,” Desari said.

“I can appraise them all at the same time,” Hedgewick smiled.

Valter pulled out spear heads, armor plates and other gear. Desari put down dozens of different potions.

Hedgewick went through each of them.

“Mid to high grade of uncommon, with all the items. Six thousand three hundred and fifty gold.”

“Done.”  Valter took out several bags, Hedgewick checked the contents and put them away.

“A fine deal.” He shook Valter’s hand and took out the goods, clearing Valter’s goods and replacing them with materials, a rune carved stone, a book with silvered lettering and a scroll in a glass case.

“I see why you are so eager to start with Mithril, you have long left the realm of uncommon smith.”

Valter grunted in a ‘so you say’ manner, he checked everything and put them away one by one as Hedgewick moved to Desari.

“Potions, varying types, Rare grade of the mid and two of the higher.” He tapped his chin.” Thirty six thousand.”

“Agreed, I would also like to purchase two hundred vials, one hundred glass potion bottles. And several books.” She passed him a note.

He reviewed it and nodded. “Three hundred and fifteen gold?”

“That will do,” She held out her hand and he shook it.

With a flourish the table and all the items upon it disappeared.

Mya stepped up, looking up from a note she quickly finished.

“I have a list of materials I would like to purchase.” She handed him the note.

“For all of these? Forty seven thousand.”

“That’s reasonable,” Mya handed him small chests, he checked each before storing them. Once all the chests were accounted for, he pulled out thread, then bolts of material cloth and leathers of all kinds. Then several lengths of different kinds of wood.

Mya stored them away as fast as they were handed to her.

“Pleasure doing business with you mister Hedgewick.”

“And you too Captain Mya,” He tilted his head to her and then the others. He raised his head and clapped his hands together.

Runes appeared around the snake beast and it dropped between them. The runes closed over its body. “Well, shall we head back? Unless you want to blow up more of the hill?”

“A warm meal wouldn’t go amiss,” Mya said, taking the lead.

Petor studied the forest as they headed back, each of them scanning for threats. Hedgewick pleased to talk on trade treaties and things of interest to merchants in the area.

He tuned out the man and glanced over to Valter. His eyes were sharp but Petor could read the anticipation in the big man’s movements.

Just what are you going to craft up?