The First Legendary Beast Master

Chapter 946: Dwarven Goods

After a few hours, everyone gathered again, and plans were made to spend the evening, then set up shop the next day so that they could peddle a large number of water creation items to the local farmers.

The ladies were busy making statues for Karl to inscribe, as they needed a spell effect added to them to create enough water to do entire fields or irrigation canals. But they already had a load of Commander Rank [Water Creation Rings] made, which could fill a large water barrel in minutes, which would be enough to water a garden or small field manually.

That meant finding a place to stay, and preferably one with adventurers from the region staying there as well. If they could get some more local news and updates, they might have a better idea of where they should be looking.

Other than just heading northwest into the middle of the country, where nobody had been clearing the spawns, for lack of local population.

The problem was that nobody that they could find was travelling further inland, except to the next few cities on the road.

It wasnʼt just that there were no major cities in the region, there was apparently no travel at all in the interior. The desert was inhospitable at the best of times, and then that gave way to a monster filled wilderness for only a short distance before turning into swamps and thick jungle.

The problem that Karlʼs team had with that was that the description of the interior of the continent did not even vaguely match what was on the maps that they had.

There should be some swamp in the northeast of the country, where the Lizardfolk were living. But it should not take up nearly half the country.

Nor should the desert be so large that it nearly reached the swamps.

In short, the information that they were getting from the adventurers in the Barukth taverns and Inns was completely useless, as it was quite possible that none of them actually knew what was there, and if it was changing, they didnʼt go often enough to see the changes in real time.

So, Karl and company settled on an Inn by the market that had a good nightlife, and a helpful Innkeeper.

”Do you know how I get a stall for tomorrow? Is it possible on such short notice?” Karl asked.

”Not a big deal, there are usually a bunch unbooked. I will send Wilma over to book a table for you with the guards. Theyʼll give you a number card to find the booth to set up in the morning.

What were you selling?” The ginger bearded Dwarf asked.

”Water charms. We heard that there is a bit of a drought going on, and our crafters at the Guild House in Drodh make rings to create water, as well as some statues that can create a flood to fill irrigation canals.” Karl explained.

”Exactly how much water can you get from the rings? Enough to fill a soup pot? Purifying water for the stew and ale making is one of the most time-consuming parts of our day.” The Innkeeper asked.

”For a Commander Rank ring, it will make about a hundred litres a minute, unless you have good affinity with the Water Element. If you just stand there, you can fill an entire brewing vat eventually, but it wouldnʼt be a fast process. Unless youʼre making a small batch every day to refill the barrels that come empty.

Do you make your own ale in house or buy it from the local brewery?” Karl replied.

”We make ours. There is a small brewery in the basement that makes all our ale and wine. But I buy the hard liquor. Thatʼs never been our family specialty.

Most of the Inns in town buy their ale and wine, but weʼre one of the oldest, and it is tradition. We have some imported as well, for those who like a particular flavour, but itʼs more expensive than the house barrels.”

The Dwarf considered the options for a few minutes, then nodded. ”I donʼt suppose that I could buy two of those rings in advance, could I? One for the Inn, and one for my sister. She lives at the edge of town, with a large garden that hasnʼt been getting any rain all summer.”

Karl nodded. ”Thatʼs not a problem. How does ten gold coins and one barrel of ale per ring sound to you?”

The Dwarf considered his funding, and his supply of ale.

”I can work with that. That sister of mine had better be appreciative, ten bloody gold coins spent on a present for her. Thatʼs a thousand dinners I have to serve to make it up.” He grumbled, but Karl could tell that he wasnʼt actually mad about the situation.

Karl chuckled as the dwarf placed the gold on the table, then went into the basement to bring up two barrels of ale.

”Why are you trading him for ale?” Ophelia whispered once the Dwarf was out of sight.

”Because these lands are largely Dwarven, and Dwarven Ale is supposed to be the best you can get. So, if weʼre going to make friends and host guests in our camp, itʼs best to have some liquor for them.

Getting ale from a trade for goods is a steal for us, and it saves on haggling.” Karl explained.

Ophelia nodded. ”So, itʼs just a matter of hospitality. That makes sense, as weʼre going into unknown lands. If we do meet any locals, it is clear that they donʼt do a lot of trading with this region.”

Dana patted Ophelia on the shoulder and smiled. ”Besides, we could use a nice barrel of ale for movie nights. I talked to one of the butterflyʼs illusionary Dwarves today in the Tiny World, and sheʼs willing to put them on for us.”

Ophelia smiled. ”She will have all sorts of new stories soon, with us all travelling together. Butterfly does an incredible job of them.”