It was thrilling to walk deep within the Earth where the very walls glittered with beautiful minerals and gemstones. My customers would love these! How fortunate I was to be a Snapper, a child of the Earthshaker, able to extract such beauties from their confinement to my hearts desire.

My host and the one who had found me wandering, Ember, watched on with a slight smile. Such life and energy was entirely new to her. She told me that I was ‘a fascinating tale told entirely by visual’, much like the ancient paintings that adorned her lair.

Perhaps it was time to add a new one.



~AlmightyAmu

Did you know that there’s a Trading Company over at Clan Àidhear? There are some traveling merchants, who – like I am – are going to and fro clans all over Sornieth to sell’n buy all kind of boring and interesting goods! When I told them I would love to see the place for myself, they actually did invite me to headquarter. Dalcenti and Fuchur must have heard from my “Exotic Wares” and this strategy of theirs was to find out, what I’d like from their assortment to establish trade with me. But I kept my cards close to my chest, negotiations will take place soon. I can feel it!

Fuchur was kind of creepy though. I did notice quite soon, that there was something very odd about the sales organizer as he was going from crate to crate, feeling the surface and little ribbons attached to each good. Only after we were about half through our tour I noticed his milky eye-color and just had to asked him about it. My voice might have been a bit too loud as some working harpies and dragons nearby were looking over quite awkwardly. But the Spiral himself didn’t seem to mind and told me his story: He was actually born nearly blind, but didn’t feel felt restricted by it. And after observing him going through the storehouse explaining about the goods etc., he really didn’t need any kind of help going around. But all that made him even creepier in my eyes!

I wasn’t able to pitch a deal with them right away, but when I returned to the Humming Chimes Inn a lot of dragons wanted to have a look, what “Aneira’s Exotic Wares” had to offer! Late that night, some goods had changed their owner, my purse got a bit heavier and my belly fuller. I wanted to get going earlier next morning, so at some point I bid adieu to all the other dragons in the hall to get a snatch of sleep. I’m very curious, where I’ll end up next…

Lately I thought to myself, expanding to a less frequented territory might have its advantages & today was the day I run into a small Nature clan during my travels.
I was greeted by the clan's founders - though the female was mute, apparently - but the male introduced their clan by the name 'Vertere'.
After they invited me into their domain I was curious about their merchants and wares, to see if we could exchange goods - but can you believe: they told me they didn't have one! And they seemed to have no interest to change that either.
Their daughter though showed interest in precious goods like gemstones & fabrics & said, when someday the clan would grow, she'd love to get back to me about wares like those. She also made a seemingly very honest compliment about my iridescent scales - a nice young lady!

Upon asking I learned that there are some things members of the clan produce at least, so I thought maybe I could help them expand! Buy some of those & take them with me, make a little profit & their clan better known. They seemed sceptical of my idea.
I soon joined them in that reagard...

There was a dragoness named ButterTart in their clan, which I found to sound rather sweet & she really did like making pastries! So I went to meet her as soon as I could.
She was resting in the sun and only barely opened her bright red eyes when I approached & said she didn't feel like doing something today, but that she had something left if I wanted to try - and of course I did!
Not for long, sadly, I ... I don't even know what she offered me, it was... Some clump & I think something oily was leaking out of it... It smelled awful, too, but the most shocking was, that obviously someone had taken a bite out of it before... Oh, I don't want to think about it anymore!
Even if I felt rude, I couldn't bring myself to try it, my stomach was too upset upon seeing it already... Gladly, she didn't seem to mind.

Instead, she said to me that I should visit Krasi.
I was curious, so I did.

Krasi turned out to be a Tundra girl with an interest in herbs, like many Nature dragons, so I wasn't sure if I could find anything interesting for my shop here, even if she was a friendly girl and the first one to chat with me a lot.
We talked about our professions & at some point she told me that despite concentrating on potions she liked making juices - and wine!
By the end of the day we went down to one of their storage rooms beneath the ground & I could taste from one of the many bottles - her clan didn't drink much of it, but she liked producing it - and it was pretty good!
She gifted me some bottles as they would only spoil here, she said & I thanked the young lady & offered her a sample of my wares in return. She was interested in a vial of toxin, which she received. A sweet child!

We took the rest of the opened bottle to the evening meal they invited me to & shared it with some other members of the clan.
I already said my goodbyes, as I intend to continue my travels soon, after a bit of rest - so they gave me a lucky charm the other daughter of the founders made, it seems to be a habit of the clan I find quite endearing.

I hope it will guide me well & am curious to see what else will be waiting for me! And maybe those bottles of wine will change their owner again, before my journey ends.

The next clan I visited was almost the exact opposite of Clan Vertere. A teeming little settlement, in the middle of the desert! And these dragons did have a market. Merchants and craftsdragons, bakers and weavers, and most importantly, customers! Right away, I knew coming here had been a great idea.

There was a big sign outside the inn, welcoming traveling archaeologists, and the friendliest little Tundra I've ever met. Well, one of the friendliest, let's say. It's hard for any dragon to be friendlier than the average Tundra. Anyway, she introduced herself as Cecily; what a pretty name! She showed me all around Scatterspark Outpost, introducing me to everyone... even though she couldn't always remember their names.

I'll definitely have to establish trade with this settlement! They had so many wonderful things, I'm sure there'd be a market for them back home. The lanterns they decorated the town center with, for one thing! They were beautiful blown glass, some of them lit up with enchanted flame or little balls of sunlight, and some of them with glowing electric lights inside. I met the dragonwho made them: the tiniest little Fae, who barely spoke a word! But what an artist with glass. I had to buy a few of his lanterns to take back home.

And the weaver's work was lovely, too. We traded, some interesting pigments I picked up, for a yard of fabric enchanted to keep the wearer cool. That will be a popular item, with summer warming up! And there was so much else to see, too, so many interesting dragons and unique products.

Cecily even let me set up shop for the afternoon at an open space in the market. I sold some of that sweet wine the last clan gave me, and some rare herbs I picked up along the way. Cecily sat around the stall with me, asking me questions about my travels and my products. In exchange, she told me about her own time wandering the world and sailing. You wouldn't think a girl with such simple charm would've had such an interesting life before coming to this town! And it was definitely nice to have an Ice dragon with her chilling aura on such a hot desert day.

By the end of my visit, I'd made new friends with quite a few of the local merchants, and even with the leader of the outpost's own trading company! Another Snapper, if you'd believe it, and a kind one, too. Before I left, she gave me a few tips on boosting my own traveling shop a bit. What a sweet dragon! All in all, I'd say that today's expedition was pretty successful, indeed.