The following day, Eris wanted to skip questing and prepare for her upcoming journey.
First, she had to buy some survival items that adventurers commonly brought in their long trips. Fortunately, there was one place in town that catered to these needs of both adventurers and travellers.
Tabor's Shop for the Bold and Brave
From the moment she stepped inside, the sharp smell of potions and ointments filled her nose. Shelves lined the stone walls of the shop, its right side stocked with all manners of curiosities: glowing vials of elixir, shining crystals and other strange trinkets, some even seemed to be alive. To the left, one can find various essentials for enduring the harshness of the road: from bandages and salves to bags and blankets.
At the far side of the room, there stood a bulky bearded man holding a quill and writing on his ledger. It was the shopkeeper Tabor.
"Good morning, Tabor!" Eris greeted.
"How have you been, lass?" Tabor replied, his deep voice commanding respect and authority.
"I've been pretty lucky," she smirked, holding up a gold coin for Tabor to see.
"Hey, kid. Don't you be flashing that thing around, you hear me," Tabor warned her out of concern.
"I know, you don't have to tell me twice. I'll be parting with it, anyways," she teased with a playful grin.
"Eh, good news for me then," the burly man let out a rumbling chuckle.
Eris proceeded to buy a small leather bag she could attach to her waist and some bandages. Instead of potions, Tabor recommended a new product he had, a mixture of herbs and other medicinal ingredients compacted into tiny spheres smaller than a fingernail. He said it served well as an initial remedy for illness, poison and wounds when ingested. It was also more convenient to travel with than the typical liquid potions.
Eris left the shop with all the supplies she thought she needed. The two waved their goodbyes and went on about their day.
I should probably go to a weapon shop at Iron's road.
Eris didn't need a new fancy weapon. Her familiar dagger was enough and it suited her perfectly - light, balanced, durable and above all, deadly. She just wanted a new sheath to replace her old worn-out one.
As Eris entered the weapon shop, a wave of intense heat and unrelenting echoes of hammer hitting metal crashed against her. At the back, a forge that burned fiery green flames spew burnt metal and soot.
"What can I help you with, Miss?" a young cheerful blacksmith asked Eris.
"Just getting a new sheath for my dagger," Eris replied.
"Let me see, our leatherworker is out sick today so maybe I can find something that fits."
Eris handed him the dagger.
"This doesn't seem like an ordinary dagger," the boy remarked quietly. He tried to channel Mana into the weapon but nothing happened. "Hmmm... "
"Is something wrong?"
"No, it's nothing."
"I see this dagger hasn't been refined yet. Do you want to refine it, perhaphs?" asked the blacksmith.
"How much would it cost?"
"It depends on the kind of refinement but I'd say for a blade this size, it's roughly twenty silvers."
After a moment of consideration, she decided to have it refined. She knew she needed a stronger weapon for her next missions, and it came at a reasonable price.
"Okay, then. Since I'll be going to fight in dungeons. It's better to have a refined weapon."
"Dungeons, you say. Well, you've come to the right shop. You can count on me. I come from a long line of blacksmiths! Do you know the legend of Darius?" the boy proudly declared.
"Darius, you mean the Dragon Slayer!?" Eris asked, unable to hide the shock in her voice. "He's your great ancestor?"
"Well, no… But the axe he used was forged by my great ancestor. The recipe and secrets for making that axe was passed down to us."
"Oh, that's so cool! Maybe, you can refine my dagger the same as that axe, then?" Eris shamelessly requested.
"I'm afraid that's impossible. You won't find many of the materials needed in any market today. But I assure you, I'd get this dagger the best refinement it can have," the boy confidently replied.
The blacksmith then proceeded with his work. First, he dipped the blade in special forging oils and dusted it with powders made from different monsters and minerals. After which, he placed it into the forge heating it until it glowed a bright green color. A series of hammering, quenching, grinding and polishing by the skilled blacksmith ensured the blade's exceptional quality.
"Done! I've added fire and acid resistance to it. Things you'll likely encounter in dungeons. It's already durable so I just added a touch of wind element to improve its slicing ability. You'll notice the difference when you use it," the blacksmith explained, sweat sliding down his soot-streaked face. "Oh, and here's the sheath."
"It's incredible!" Eris exclaimed as she ran her fingers through the newly refined blade. After admiring the smith's work for a time, she then placed the coins on the wooden counter and made her way toward the door.
As she was about to leave, she turned and with a joyful shout, "My name's Eris! Future Dragon Slayer! Best remember that!"
He shouted in response, "I will! Just tell people I refined that dagger, the name's Ulfric!"
Right across from the weapon shop was an armorer's shop.
Perfect, I'll find me some new gear.
The shop smelled of heatel metal and oiled leather. An open hearth at the back illuminated the dimly lit chamber with its seething emerald flames.
At first, Eris thought she was back at the weapon shop, just that the items here were different. Racks of gleaming breastplates, pauldrons and gauntlets lined the walls. Shields of all shapes and design leaned against wooden racks. However, Eris had no interest in these shiny and heavy creations. Instead, she turned her attention to the lighter gears favoring agility over bulk.
The armorer, a lean woman with quick eyes and soot-laden fingers, looked up at Eris from her workbench.
"I'm guessing… a gambeson and a greatshield?" the woman remarked with a sarcastic tone to her voice.
"Ha, nice guess but I'll stick with leather armor and armguards," Eris replied with a mischievous grin.
"Well, you're in luck, I make the best ones in town," the woman spoke, her confidence unwavering.
"Everyone seems to say that around here," Eris shot back with a smirk, keeping to their banter.
The woman didn't say anything more and instead, she went at the back and got Eris the armor she was looking for.
"Here, leather armor and armguards made from the finest dire wolf leather waxed with the shop's basilisk recipe for durability and magic resistance," the woman declared, handing them over to Eris. "Check if it fits."
Eris slipped the armor on and thought that it fit her perfectly. She let out a satisfied smile to the armorer, signalling her approval of its craftsmanship.
Eris proceeded with her payment and waved the armorer goodbye.
"You should come more often. I can do some touch ups on that if you need," the woman suggested. "If I'm not at the front, just say you're looking for Nyra."
"I will. Thanks Nyra! Name's Eris by the way."
Eris visited a few more shops before calling it a day.
Feeling triumphant with her day's heroic quest for gears and bargains, Eris returned home with the smug grin of someone's who'd just fought off a legendary beast and lived to tell the tale.
It really is nice to have a dayoff once in a while.