You were disappointed with your meeting with Mister Minz although you relished the chance of reading some of the most important books and manuscripts available in The Library of the Arcanum. Mister Minz had bade you find more information on your friends by going to Morian which was not a short trip. Fortunately the spring was making the path through the Azaleis to Verdant Beach much easier. You decide to visit The Goat, for old times sake before picking up some supplies there and passage for a ship to Morian could be secured at the marketplace. The Goat was stale and smelt much like it did more than a year ago when Richalt walked through its doors. You decided to inquire about him but as a nomadic healer with no fixed address it would be hard to connect again. He and Ivy where probably on their hands and knees smelling some tiny flower and  cross referencing it with the information in the Medic's Garden's Manual. 

After a beverage and a bite to eat in the Goat, you both walk halfway down the Verdant Beach Way, enter the iconic blue and white gates of the town and stop at the market, which is active but not in full swing as winter has just broken. One of the stores there is kept by the Seller, the official storekeeper of Elda. He keeps the store as a hobby, but his time is occupied with the economy of Elda—supplies, imports, exports, and market fairness. It just so happens that he was at his store this day, as he enjoys the banter with customers and bartering for goods before the summer months make him too busy. 

We told him of our expected journey, and he directed us to the captain of the Swift Blue, a smaller vessel but with less cargo space, more likely to fill its hold quickly and sail with limited passengers than the others. He also tried to sell us items that had been on the shelves since last season:

1. Glistening Rainbow Feathers: These iridescent feathers shimmered in the light, changing colors as you moved them. While beautiful, they had no practical use in spells or crafting, making them a hard sell in a world where utility often trumped aesthetics. The Seller claimed they were from a rare bird that only nested on remote cliffs, but you couldn't see a need for them on your journey.

2. Enchanted Ice Stones: Small, clear stones that emitted a cool breeze when touched. They were meant to keep things cold, but their enchantment was weak and they were prone to cracking under pressure. The Seller insisted they were perfect for keeping your drinks cool in the summer, but their fragility and limited cooling capacity made them impractical for most adventurers.

3. Magical Paints: Vials of paint that supposedly changed color based on the painter’s mood. They sounded intriguing, but their inconsistent behavior made them unreliable for any serious artistic or practical application. The Seller touted them as a way to add a personal touch to your gear, but you couldn't justify carrying such an unpredictable item.

4. Tangled Tangleweed: A plant with vines that, when dried and braided, were said to be unbreakable. Unfortunately, the drying process was complex and time-consuming, and if not done correctly, the vines would crumble to dust. The Seller assured you they were a great investment for making durable ropes, but you doubted you had the time or skill to prepare them properly.

5. Echo Stones: Small, smooth stones that could record and playback short messages. The enchantment on these stones was weak, often distorting the recorded message or losing it entirely. The Seller demonstrated one, but the garbled playback did little to convince you of their usefulness. He claimed they were perfect for leaving messages for your companions, but their unreliability made them more of a novelty than a practical tool.

Despite the Seller's enthusiastic pitches, you politely declined, knowing these items would likely be more of a burden than a benefit on your journey. We did however take some dried ganet jerky, a flask of Karaz lava infused water which tasted like home, a new forestine leather pouch and a simple silver chain with the word love engraved in it which you thought would make a great gift for your mother when you got to Karaz. The Seller had thrown in the pouch for free as we were his first spring customers, he added that as it was a gift we should pass it on when done with it to pay the gesture forward and "keep trade alive" he said. You and Talik laughed all the way to the beach about the seller's leftover items, who is ever going to buy tangled tangleweed? We said we'd come back 10 years from now and it will still be there, dust covered on The Seller's shelves. 

The Seller proved wise and the Swift Blue was underway that evening, passage was not paid for by the elders this time. Our journey was considered a private one, no official business this time, so boarding was in the smallest cabin in the bow and every crash of water and roll of the waves was felt. Talik didn't eat for the entire three and a half day journey, even the smell of food set her off. Towards the end of the intolerable journey you found out for a price there were was a better room towards the stern in the lower decks but for a price. You had nothing to offer but while searching your belongings in the pouch that The Seller had given you was a small red crystal. You offered that to the captain pouch and all, who immediately upgraded your accommodation for the last night. To your surprise the captain then summoned Daemos who took the pouch and all his takings into the sprite world. "Safest bank in Solea don't you know?" He quipped as Daemos evaporated. You would have given anything for Talik to stop feeling so ill. If only teleportation was free and available to everyone but you understood the councils controls of the system while they establish a better understanding. You bring water to Talik and encouraged her to walk above deck for the fresh sea air before moving to the better cabin. She was so glad when we saw land at the nearest port of Morian that was adjacent to the Bordrad marshes in the south. 

If you had to purchase one of the Seller's hard to sell items which one would you take and why? Respond in Thy Quests below. 

Next: E9Q1Galmon?