Alexander Vulcanus: The Reach

Chapter 2 - Potion Carts

Alexander's eyes are ablaze with the fire of the burner. He is conjuring up new potions every few minutes for a spectrum of different reasons; a health potion that allows you to quickly regenerate your wounds, a strength potion that gives you the muscles of a trained warrior, or a stamina potion that gives you the endurance of a racing horse. Alexander focused on those three, he knew they were highly sought after by warriors, thieves, and bounty hunters alike. With Alexander's potions reaching their finished state, around a hundred assorted potions done, and ready to be sold, he started to put them in his cart. Fiona was interested in helping with the cart, and since her parents left for the surface years ago she had no resistance in joining Alexander.

While they traveled they talked about what they would sell the potions for, about who they could meet and about where they would stop. Soon they arrived in the opening to The Reach, they traveled through a small tunnel and a massive area that seemed endless from where they were standing, dwarfing all in size, stood directly in front of them. "Where do you figure we should set up shop at?" Alexander questioned.

"I'm not quite sure, maybe we should ask around?" said Fiona, looking for anyone who might have a clue. They continued upwards, passing many other carts filled with assorted goods, food carts with apples, oranges, pears, and other fruits, a couple of armor carts with breastplates, leggings, helmets, and gauntlets, and many other types passed by, but still no potion carts. They continued upwards until they found another man selling potions. The man seemed calm but attentive. He was focused on what he was doing, and on those around him. He was old maybe 70 years, and his eyes, though still, looked as though they displayed a whole story. Alexander pointed the man out to Fiona and they walked over to him.

"Hello," he said, in a tone that welcomed the two.

"Hello, we were just walking by and wondered if you knew anywhere we could set up our potion shop? Today is our first day here, and you seem you know what you are doing," said Alexander, not quite certain why he felt so inclined to share all the facts of his travels.

"I see, well I'm not extremely experienced here myself would you believe it? But I've found here to be a nice place. You're welcome to set up here next to me. Your potions are far enough from mine that we should have no competition." Alexander seemed surprised that the man had said that. There had been nothing written on the potion's bottles, and they were completely covered. As Alexander began to place the pieces together, Fiona urged him to help her set up the cart.

Putting aside what he was thinking about, he helped her set it up. In no time they had the cart ready. With their eyes covered by their cloaks, they sat back watching many people going about their business. Warriors bartering with shopkeepers for armor and weapons, Archers practicing their aim at shooting ranges, thieves stealing, and travelers buying food. Quite a few people would walk up to the old man's shop and buy his potions, though what he was selling Alexander could not figure out. Many different types of people bought his potions, so perhaps it wasn't just one simple type. Finally, a man walked up to their cart, he looked down at their feet.

"Hi, I saw you were selling potions of strength. I'm a warrior myself, but my party can't seem to get very far into the tunnels before we get attacked and are fought back by the monsters down there. I figured buying a few strength potions might be a bit of help for us."Alexander motioned to a group of potions and opened a cap for him to see inside. "Alright, those look good enough I figure. How much do you want for them?"

Alexander motioned towards the sign and said "At least 1 denari for one potion, no more and no less." The man gave Alexander 6 denarii and Alexander gave him 6 potions. "So far so good," he thought, a profit already. Fiona thought they could have sold them for more but Alexander wanted to cultivate their reputation first.

For the rest of the day, not much happened, even the old man had few customers. He had told Alexander that around that time many people were out doing work, clearing tunnels, mining, or training. Nearly an hour later Alexander got his second customer, a group of bounty hunters. "4 stamina potions, 4 strength potions. Make it quick. We have work to do and not much time to do it." They handed over 8 denarii and Alexander got the stamina potions while Fiona got the strength potions. As they handed them over the leader of the group said, "You new here? Haven't seen you kids around these parts. Where are you from?"

The old man stepped in and said: "They're friends of mine, learned from me, don't worry about them."

The leader replied, "Alright, but these potions better be of good quality, me and my friends here aren't very fond of getting scammed." Alexander thought about saying something, but he stopped himself; he decided that he didn't want any further problems. It was strange that the old man had helped them without even knowing them, but he wasn't one to complain.

Although he had only two customers, Alexander was still happy with the day's sales; It was his first day in the Reach, and he had done better than he thought he was going to do. The end of the day came (as far as the people underground knew), and so the old man packed up and started walking away.

Before he left, Alexander asked "Sir, what is your name?" to which the old man didn't respond, even though he acknowledged the question he just kept walking. Alexander found it odd, but he couldn't linger where he was any longer. Fiona and Alexander packed up their stand and headed back to Dirt, as quickly and discreetly as possible to avoid others knowing who they were. They parted ways at the entrance and headed back to their houses with the money split between them. 7 denarii each, it would help pay for food and water, even though it was only a little.