Is it wrong to fleece adventurers at the item shop?

Considering how reluctant she was at first, Elzbieta is done surprisingly fast with her soup. I would laugh, or possibly giggle, except, I don't want to discourage her, thus I keep my thoughts on the matter to myself.

I don't urge her to get back to work right away either. She has to feel pretty full right now after all. I get the mana mill so she can work outside in the backyard though, once she feels ready for it. Besides, she can soak up some more sun that way.

I'd join her and just sit there for a little while as well, except, I decide to return the empty soup pot and the mittens right away. After washing the former down at the creek. I have no doubt that Maryla will give it another wash at the inn, but somehow it would feel wrong to return the dishes dirty.

At least Maryla seems to be satisfied with the outcome.

That is good enough for me as well. I certainly won't protest, although I'm not quite sure how I should feel about being roped into this. Ah, never mind. It seems the issue is resolved for the time being and at the very least I now know what to expect in the future.

Although my business down at the inn is essentially concluded, I don't get to return back home right away afterwards.

There seems to be some kind of commotion at the guild counter.

A trio of adventurers is gathered at the counter and I know all of them. It is Tamara, Odolan and Szmuel, the trio of youngsters.

They seem to be discussing something, mostly among themselves. Every once in a while they direct questions or comments at Krystina though, who seems busy consulting her guidebook on whatever is the matter.

The local guild official's brows are furrowed, thus I decide to head over and inquire about what is going on, although it is, in all likelihood, none of my business.

Krystina is the first to see me coming. Of course. She is the only one really facing my way after all. Curiously enough, she motions for me to come over and join her and the others.

“Valeria! You wouldn't happen to know a thing or two about ghosts?”

Ghosts? I almost miss a step at the direction this suddenly takes.

“A little? Maybe? I'm not sure it'll be enough to be helpful though. What's the matter?”

The guild official points to a quest paper on the counter. Curiously enough the first thing I notice is that it isn't filled in her handwriting. Before I can inquire any further she starts to explain.

“I received this request just a little earlier. Its from another branch office. It's asking for three barrels of ectoplasm. And well, the only helpful information my guidebook can offer, beyond the reward obviously, which has already been determined by the other branch official, is that it comes from ghosts Which, in hindsight, is kind of obvious too.”

I nod along with her words when something odd strikes me.

“Barrels? You can't keep ectoplasm in barrels! Wood is entirely unsuited for this purpose! It needs to be stored in burned earthen containers. Earthwares or ceramics. Glass works too. Usually amphora of some … oh. You mean three barrels, as in the measure for the amount? Not three actual barrels? That … that is a lot of ectoplasm.”

I feel a little silly now, as Krystina nods. Apparently none of the three adventurers have thought about that little detail yet though. They look about as sheepish as I feel.

And that is indeed a lot of ectoplasm. I'm not even quite sure if I want to know who would order that much and for what purpose. What I ordered from the city recently pales by comparison.

It is Tamara who speaks up first, after I fall silent.

“Is it really that much?”

I nod and focus for a moment to recall some of my lessons, before I answer her question.

“You'll need to deal with dozens of ghosts to collect that much. Maybe as many as hundred or a little more.”

Szmuels fur puffs up at that bit of information. It seems he is not terribly comfortable with this. He looks terribly adorable like this though.

Without thinking about it I pat his head and scratch behind his ears to calm him down a little. It seems to work well enough too, considering how he soon leans into my hand.

Odolan is the next to speak up and keep the conversation going.

“Deal with ghosts? How do you even do that? I doubt you can just waltz into a haunted place and clobber them with clubs or swords. Or am I wrong?”

I nod and do my best to recall more of my lessons.

“Unless you have ghosttouch enchantments for your weapons that wouldn't achieve much. And even with those, the only thing you would achieve would be a temporary banishment of the ghost until it can reform its manifestation. And of course you won't be able to harvest any ectoplasm like that.”

I tap my chin as I think about it some more.

“Your best bet might be to ask Danuta or another full time spell caster for help. Someone who is familiar with the Soul Drain spell. And no, before you ask, that spell does not actually drain the soul. It just is spectacularly badly named. It just drains the ghost's essence and transforms it into stabilized ectoplasm, so it won't evaporate again right away. This banishes the ghost too, until it can gather enough essence to manifest once more.”

Finally Szmuel manages to pull himself, reluctantly, away from my hand.

“So we need to wait for Danmeowta to get back from herrr own adventurrre?”

At this point Tamara chimes in again.

“Not that I would mind, but is there no other way?”

Somehow I get the impression that she actually does mind. Is that a hint of jealousy I detect in her voice? Ah, never mind. None of my business! Her asking for an alternative could lead to business for me though!

“Well, yes, there is another way. You would need a ghost tap. It is a little like a tap for beer barrels, except it is enchanted to draw the ghosts essence in and turn it into stabilized ectoplasm. Of course ghosts usually won't let you put that thing into them. You'd need to immobilize them first. And even once you get the tap set up you still need to catch the produced ectoplasm in a suitable container.”

I shrug once.

“So, yes, there is another way. It isn't the easy way though. The spell and a spellcaster who knows what they are doing are usually the better option.”

Odolan decides to ask the next questions.

“Could you make something like that for us? Or would we need to get it in Barter Town?”

He pauses briefly before he asks the question that might just be the most important one.

“And how exactly do you immobilize a ghost?”

Good questions, all of them. I tap my chin once again, as I ponder the answers. Can I make a ghost tap for them? Probably. I'll have to look into it first to make sure though. As for immobilizing ghosts, I might just already have something in stock for that purpose.

“Maybe. I'll have to think about it first and do some research. I'd need a tap as well. Maybe Krystina's parents would part with one. I won't be the one to ask though. That is all up to you. And don't even ask me about the price. I simply can't tell without doing my research first. It won't be cheap though.”

I tap my chin again and bite my lip lightly, as my thoughts are already wandering. It takes a little effort to refocus on the other issue.

“I just happen to have chalk for warding circles in stock. One of you would need to bait the ghost into an unfinished circle and another would have to close it, while the one playing bait moves out and away from the ghost. That could work. I really wouldn't advise it though. A net or a lasso with a ghost touch enchantment would be better options. Those I can make for sure. But don't get me wrong. They won't be free either.”

Well, this is it. I have provided them some options. They have to think on it on their own now.

Before Krystina or I can say anything else, Tamara bursts out with a request.

“Could you look into making that tap? I mean, just figure out if you can make it and what it would cost? And maybe you could give us an estimate for a net as you suggested?”

Neither of the other two adventurers protests.

I look over at Krystina, but she just shrugs. In the end I sigh and give in.

“Fine. I'll do my research and make some calculations. See me in the evening. I hope I'll have more than a rough guess for you by then.”