Apothecary Shop

Roughly (1) week after the expeditions return from Sentinel Island

As they walked towards the apothecary, Islana realized she had never been there, despite being in town for a few months. It was maybe a good thing to get a sense of the place.

Islana was glad to no longer feel like she was alone in the investigation. She had been unsure of what to do once she found out Hendrick went missing. Her mind went to the now missing guard, she only knew him for a short time but hoped he was alright. Such things were just the way she was. Islana couldn't be called gullible, exactly, she just had a core of compassion.

They arrived at the apothecary and entered as Jiyn held the door open. Jiyn had never been into the place either but had seen it often at the corner of Suncross square leading into Lowood. Alexis had been to Nicolaus’ shop, quite recently due to her injuries in fact, though she would not call herself a frequent customer. Gonyaul smiled like a kid in a candy store as he entered the shop now for the third time. Yet instead of heading towards the main counter, as would a normal customer he got distracted at the door.

The little clinking mechanism that signaled that the door was opened was being reverse engineered in his mind. The young man opened and shut the door four more times at varying speeds to test how it worked. He was oblivious to anyone in the shop potentially staring at his “childlike” wonderment at play. “I can make use of this.” He whispered to himself.

Islana couldn't help but smile at Gonyaul's wonder at the door. She then took a moment to take the place in. It looked, well, like it was what it said it was. The young woman didn't really know what she expected. She did have a respect for people in that field, it seemed like it would take a lot to learn everything they'd need to know. Islana herself was quite content letting others do those kinds of jobs.

Nicolaus adjusted the flame on the slowly boiling mixture in a glass retort, and tapped a alembic gently before turning back to a small brazier heating a tray of silver grey powder. The powder turned yellow and began to burn in a gliding fire. The silver grey powder turned yellow and a bright yellow flame floated above its surface like a tide, beautiful and strange.

"Alexis... you look well. How are you feeling this fine day? I see you have brought some friends as well. Nicolaus Cagliostro at your service." He gave a slight bow, while watching the bubbling liquid from the corner of his eye.

“Good day, Nicolaus I’m fine, thank you.” Alexis nodded a friendly greeting to the physician. “Sorry to interrupt you, but I think you might be working on something of particular interest to my companions and me.”

Nicolaus looked up from his experiment and raised a eyebrow, "And that would be?"

Gonyaul proceeded to move along the room eye balling each displayed piece of inventory one at a time. He wanted to touch things; however, he respectfully did not. Lingering especially on anything he had never seen before; which was a good deal of it. He was the last of the group to finally bring his attention up front to Nicolaus. And he kept having to fight the temptation to want to look away towards the lab experiment the man had been running when they entered.

Alexis gestured to the wayward Gonyaul and explained. “Gonyaul brought some sap here for you to analyze. And it might be relevant to a case, Islana and Jiyn here…” She turned to point them out and gestured them to come closer. “… are investigating.”

Nicolaus studied the young man, lean and ebony haired, but fair to the point of femininity. No real indication of his tribe and the name was no clue. "You discovered this sap, Gonyaul?" he gestured to the experiment in progress.

There was a time for entertaining oneself and a time to focus. And now that business and greetings were underway it was time to concentrate. Gonyaul’s enthusiastic demeanor shifted to the self control of a monk as he gave Nicolaus his undivided attention. He bowed slightly while simultaneously giving a interesting hand gesture.

“Yes. Came from dark bark tree with carved image.” He replied.

Wait, the lab experiment was the sap. Gonyaul’s imaginative mind just exploded in surprise.

" It has some interesting properties, but I have only scratched the surface I believe. For one, a drop of it could put a raging Marsh Achusrasque to sleep. Where was the source and how does it relate to your concern Alexis?"

“This sap in particular came from a tree near to where Gonyaul lives. There are more of those trees however around a place where a mass murder took place. I believe Islana can explain better.”

All eyes turned to the diminutive, russet haired woman, as Tolan passed by holding a sign to post on the shop exterior.

Cagliostro's Blue Bear
An elixir that restores lost endurance and stamina. A little gets the heart going.
*- Use sparingly -*
Discount if you return the vial!
- May cause nausea, vomiting, hallucinations, anxiety, rapid heart rate, dizziness, trouble sleeping, and seizures -