### 154

You part the bead curtain that hangs across the doorway and enter the cool interior. The light is poor and the room gloomy, for the windows are obscured by sheaves of herbs and plants. You are studying a curious row of coloured bottles when a woman appears. She has piercing green eyes and her red hair is raised, bound with rings of jadin. Softly, she speaks to you.

'Welcome, Northlander. I sense you are a warrior--or am I mistaken?' As you hesitate to answer, she shrugs her shoulders and searches through a pile of parchments stacked on top of a wine casket. She blows away the dust before handing you a yellowed sheet. It is a list of merchandise, written in Sommlending:

- Potion of Alether (increases COMBAT SKILL by 2 for the duration of 1 combat)--4 Gold Crowns
- Potion of Gallowbrush (induces sleep for 1-2 hours per dose)--2 Gold Crowns
- Potion of Laumspur (restores 4 ENDURANCE points per dose)--5 Gold Crowns
- Vial of Larnuma Oil (restores 2 ENDURANCE points per dose)--3 Gold Crowns
- Tincture of Graveweed (causes sickness and loss of 2 ENDURANCE points per dose)--1 Gold Crown
- Tincture of Calacena (causes terrifying hallucinations for 1-2 hours per dose)--2 Gold Crowns

You may purchase any of the above;12 all potions, vials and tinctures are Backpack Items. You then leave the shop and continue along the street.

Turn to 179.

[12] Though you may purchase any of the above, it is likely that you are limited to one of each potion.

Text copyright © 1985 Joe Dever.
Illustrations copyright © 1985 Gary Chalk.