Merchants and Rumors

A panther in the night, a fire burning bright. Ray snickered, already fond of Haai. "I'm expecting it to be but I don't plan to go extremely deep in, or alone. I'll likely ask someone to go with me. Safety in numbers and all that." As for why she was saving money, Ray sighed. "People often get sick in Deepfrost unfortunately and this leads to a severe depletion of my wares.  I can only grow so much of my own or gather so much during the warmer seasons so sometimes I end up running out of a necessary herb for a treatment. Then I have to seek out the few merchants who still have some and that can be quite a hefty sum given the low supply." She explained. . Ray then smiled a bit sheepishly. "And it's not the best business practice but when people are desperate I often cut prices or offer some necessities for free. That can lead to enough of a decrease in profit that I need the savings to keep everything up and running to keep up with the high demand. But I can't just turn away those in need who can't pay my normal prices."  She explained with a sad smile. After one too many instances of people desperate for help knocking on her door in the middle of the night, Ray had started preparing emergency kits to cover a variety of cold season illnesses. It was exhausting but so worthwhile when later that person came in and would thank her profusely for helping them save a loved one. Ray glanced at the crossbow again. "I'm sure he'll love it. If my future partner doesn't buy me weapons then I've clearly chosen wrong." Ray said with a chuckle. r a y The only way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very existence is an act of rebellion. —Albert Camus