Lost in Realm

3

Nhilva thought One-Eyed Jax was a bit of an odd one. For starters, it was a little too low key. She had seen enough bars and inns during her time in both this strange world and the one she came from. Almost all of them leaned toward the extravagant side. One-Eyed Jax appeared to be the opposite. Aside from the obvious sign above the door, which was a little hard to see at a certain time of the day, one would mistake it for just any other normal house. The heavy wooden door was covered with a dark, charcoal-coloured pattern. She recognised them to be a form of Drow rune, mixed with human ones in between. It was complicated. Her old host had studied many runes in her time, even though she did not recognise all of them. Perhaps it was why the place emanated such a low-key vibe? Regardless, people still came. Especially Drow.

Having been on the surface for a while, she had experienced how others see her kind the first-hand. She had known such a thing existed here. After all, the roleplaying game she was familiar with had established that. But to know that was one thing, to actually be on the receiving end was another. To have a place that treated her as any other traveller as equals was such a wonderful relief. She decided until she relearned the spell that altered her appearance, she would stay here for a while.

She used to be able to do it as easy as breathing. Alas, as her magic was stripped away from her, such ability was lost in her head. Maybe it was still inside her mind, but dormant. Who knows? They always say Lolth took them.

Letting out a long sigh, she climbed up the short steps, pushed the doors open and entered the tavern. Contrasting the low-key exterior, the atmosphere inside was buzzing. It was clear there had been at least two ships docking today, for there were sailors everywhere. Drow, Human, Dwarves, Elves... she could have sworn she saw a Goliath at the end of the floor.

"Nhilva!" The barkeep spotted her and called out across the room. She was a plumed human female, medium height, with a freckled face, grey eyes, and the voice volume of a giant. Her wild curly hair was tied and twisted into a tall bun, secured with a wooden spoon. She was swarmed by at least half a dozen patrons at the bar counter.

"Serena." She smiled and gave the other woman a nod.

"Having a good day?"Serena continued to talk to her despite there were a crowd of customers between them. "Did you find the caravan I told you about? One that planned to bypass Luskan and head to Waterdeep?"

"I did. Thank you."She was originally there for something else entirely. The one she got was at the end was a surprise. "Is Dimitri here?"

"In the cellar; his usual place." The woman cocked her head toward the direction of the basement entrance.

"Cheers."

Dimitri was a Myconid, the fungus folk. He was one of the many reasons Nhilva realised this whole realm was very real. He was very old and had only one eye. Half of his cap and gills were gone, in a battle with the Arcane Brotherhood some time past. As a skilled apothecary, he had resided in a room next to the cellar for some time. It was to say the owner personally gave him permission to stay there free of charge. He almost never left One Eyed Jax these days, aside from essential trips to acquire potion ingredients that he wanted. Nhilva headed downstairs and found him with very little difficulty. She had visited him a few times in the past.

"Dimitri."

"Priestess." The ancient-looking giant mushroom opened his eye and looked at the silver-haired Drow female before him. She had removed her hood, so he was able to see her delicate features in the dim light. For a Drow, she was very beautiful. One could easily tell the rank within the house she came from. For Drow, the higher the rank in a house, the more pleasing they looked.

"You need to stop calling me that," Nhilva sighed. "You know I no longer have such a title."

Dimitri chuckled, which sounded like two dry planks of wood knocking against each other. The deep timbre of his voice echoed in the cool yet somewhat stifling chamber. It was something both she and the Myconid were familiar with from the glorious Underdark. One of the few things she missed solemnly.

"What do you have there?" His hand consisted of multiple stem threads pointed at the bundle in her arm.

She handed it over with great care.

The sorcerer unwrapped it and his glowing eye widened ever so slightly. "My."

"He's injured, Dimitri."

"My eye still works." Dimitri did not look at her. Instead, he continued to examine the wee creature. Occasionally his fingers shimmered with purple light. After spending nearly half an hour diagnosing and muttering to himself like any old person, he finally returned his gaze back to her once more.

"Zurkhwood spores."

"Rare here."

"Aye. Barrelstalk."

"Also rare."

"Potent healing potion."

"...You are bloody lucky. I got one," Nhilva grumbled.

The Myconid chuckled in the semi-darkness again. "Come see me when you got all of them."