Emporio Verdantis
Owner & Staff
In the heart of the bustling metropolis of Teradryn is the Emporio Verdantis. A grand hall of wrought iron and crystal clear glass, inside which grows a veritable forest of plant life, both great and small. Nowhere else in the great city can one find such tranquility, surrounded by nature growing in harmony, oblivious to the industrious city beyond its crystal borders. Flowing through the Emporio Verdantis is a broad stream of life-giving water that is magically refreshed, providing the garden with all its nutrients. Sheets of light, amplified by the glass ceiling, cut through the canopy of towering ferns and verdant trees to strike the undergrowth. The ample lighting promotes the blooming of exotic flowers in every color of the rainbow, peppering the viridescent vista with patches of prismatic petals. To finish the illusion, a host of songbirds make their nests in the upper branches, filling the air with their scintillating song. Although Emporio Verdantis is a haven for wildlife and plants that could not otherwise survive in Teradryn, its primary function is as a boutique. The rare plants provide not only a sense of the sublime, but their fruits, sap, leaves, bark, roots, buds, and flowers are also utilized as reagents for a myriad of tonics and potions that many of the city dwellers swear by. A troop of gardeners employed by the Emporio Verdantis toils tirelessly from dusk to dawn to grow the most exotic flora. The world’s most renowned alchemists and brewers frequent the Emporio Verdantis. Druids, rangers, and wizards from far and wide travel to gaze at its wonders and enjoy its fruits. Through the ages, the Emporio Verdantis has become an indispensable library of natural lore, and a prime location to purchase potions and tinctures. Resplendent EcologyMany thousands of years ago, before the city of Teradryn was even an idea in the mind of an unborn child, there stood a wild and tangled grove of Mallorn where the Emporio Verdantis now blooms. Though that magical grove is long since forgotten, the power in the earth that allowed it to flourish lingers ever potent. A 4 centuries ago, when the archdruid Elodie Greenheart first came to the great city, they sensed life beneath the cobbles waiting to be set free. Being a wealthy individual, Elodie bought the plot where the power was strongest, and began construction of the Emporio Verdantis, importing rare plants from all reaches of the world to create a unique and flourishing ecosystem inside the glass paradise. Elodie’s greatest desire is to preserve life in a world whose cities are ever-expanding. Many of the endemic species only survived thanks to the work of Elodie and their fellow druids. Despite their motives, Elodie knew that they would need a steady flow of gold to keep the garden maintained, so began sourcing plants whose parts were known to be therapeutic, and thus the shop was born. Since then, Elodie has continued to bring in new and exciting specimens from the far reaches of the realms. The fauna brought in has come to call the Emporio home. Today, the place is filled not just with the panoply of incredible vegetation, but also with songlarks, rainbow tree frogs, and even tiny, butterfly-winged dragons. Invigorating Waters Running through the glasshouse of the Emporio Verdantis is a crystal-clear stream that makes a light tinkling like the beating of fairy wings. The water originates from a wellspring at the heart of the store and is tended to constantly to ensure it never becomes tainted. The stream is crucial to the Emporio Verdantis, for it allows for special flora to grow, as well as providing restorative properties. Clerics and druids who frequent the shop are permitted to use the waters in their rituals, allowing them to cast powerful healing spells or remove curses and diseases. The PharmacyWhile the ecosystem of the Emporio is magnificent, in recent years the operation has flourished as a mercantile enterprise, specializing in remedies and even other illicit substances. Toward the rear of the enormous hall is a broad desk of varnished hardwood, behind which sit rows of glass-front cabinets whose shelves are stocked full of bottles, vials, carafes, and decanters of all shapes, sizes, and colors. Each is meticulously hand-labeled by one of the alchemists that the Emporio hires, providing the name, effect, and directions for use of the liquid within. At the Emporio Verdantis, one can purchase almost any potion in known existence. Their circle of alchemists is at the forefront of their field, combining magic and science. Thanks to the rare plants that grow throughout the greenhouse, the alchemists have easy access to a variety of ingredients that would otherwise be extremely troublesome to acquire. This allows them to create magical brews that normally take months to prepare. As well as the available potions, those trusted by the Emporio are able to acquire deadly poisons and illicit substances on discrete terms.
Floorplans for the Emporio Verdantis
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