The Potion Seller
The Timeless Alchemist
An alchemist, wizard, and harsh judge of character, the elf only known as The Potion Seller is the famed owner of the Strong Potion in Ponvarus. An enigma to all, he offers his services only to a select few and never to those wearing plate armour (this criterion is seemingly the only consistent rule he follows, according to several disappointed knights). Still, his inventory of potions is in a league of its own.
History
Historical city records from the Grand Repository evinces the existence of a 'Strong Potion' shortly after the settlement of Ponvarus in 1309 AM, pre-dating the proclamation of the Golden Republic itself by nearly a century. It is assumed that there have been several owners since. And, as many plutocrats and consuls have come to learn, nothing budges The Potion Seller's principles and commercial independence. Indeed, his reputation is such that all of the Seven Families actively avoid all interaction with him.
The last Septemvirate action against him was almost 500 years ago: Iron Brigade mercenaries from the Valyves family were sent to his shop in an attempt to force him to cooperate with them. The Potion Seller actually agreed, and even offered them a special concoction "only for the strongest" as a show of faith to Jean Valyves, the erstwhile patriarch of the family. Indeed, the potion made him brilliant, yet there was a slight trade-off: every single member of Jean's offspring started to show symptoms of various deadly diseases that should have been curable, though no magic could affect them. A letter was sent to Jean, remarking that "my potions are only for the strongest," and that he "should perhaps find a seller that sells weaker potions." Attached to the letter was the forced contract between the Valyves family and the Strong Potion, alongside a flask that would only open after the cancellation of said contract. Jean was hesitant; he considered taking legal action, but quickly realised that all of his children and grandchildren would perish before the first hearing, in addition to having to defend his highly dubious contract in the first place. Jean relented, and only three of his grandchildren died in the time he spent considering his options. After drinking the contents of the flask, the effects in Jean's descendants disappeared, and he himself died after two days. His cause of death was established as a sudden heart attack. Resurrection magic was unable to reverse his untimely fate.
And so The Potion Seller has remained undisturbed by Septemvirate politics ever since.The last Septemvirate action against him was almost 500 years ago: Iron Brigade mercenaries from the Valyves family were sent to his shop in an attempt to force him to cooperate with them. The Potion Seller actually agreed, and even offered them a special concoction "only for the strongest" as a show of faith to Jean Valyves, the erstwhile patriarch of the family. Indeed, the potion made him brilliant, yet there was a slight trade-off: every single member of Jean's offspring started to show symptoms of various deadly diseases that should have been curable, though no magic could affect them. A letter was sent to Jean, remarking that "my potions are only for the strongest," and that he "should perhaps find a seller that sells weaker potions." Attached to the letter was the forced contract between the Valyves family and the Strong Potion, alongside a flask that would only open after the cancellation of said contract. Jean was hesitant; he considered taking legal action, but quickly realised that all of his children and grandchildren would perish before the first hearing, in addition to having to defend his highly dubious contract in the first place. Jean relented, and only three of his grandchildren died in the time he spent considering his options. After drinking the contents of the flask, the effects in Jean's descendants disappeared, and he himself died after two days. His cause of death was established as a sudden heart attack. Resurrection magic was unable to reverse his untimely fate.
