PLINY’S POTIONS – In a mystical twist of economic woe, a wizard, shrouded in mystery and clad in robes that seemed to shimmer with magical energy, recently spoke out about the soaring prices of essential magical ingredients. The enigmatic spellcaster, who insisted on being known simply as “Moonwand” and swore he would never disclose his true name, revealed that the apothecary’s shelves are now laden with sticker shock.
Moonwand, a wizard of considerable repute, lamented the inflationary woes that have struck the magical marketplace. According to him, a single vial of Eye of Newt set him back three gold pieces just yesterday, and to add insult to injury, it didn’t even include the entire newt. He nostalgically recounted days of yore when a handful of coppers could secure a wizard a higher quality product, and more of it.
“If this trend continues,” Moonwand warned, “I might have to dust off my druidic skills and commune with nature instead. It’s embarrassing, but what choice do we have when the prices of spell components are reaching astronomical heights?”
The wizard, who once again emphasized that he would never be so foolish as to reveal his true name, further bemoaned the state of magical craftsmanship. He complained that the once-exquisite glassware, traditionally handblown by gnomish glasssmiths, is now predominantly sourced from the Orient. Moonwand expressed his dismay at the lack of artisanal touch and claimed he can hardly find anything that meets his magical standards.
In a desperate attempt to maintain his magical pursuits, Moonwand confessed to resorting to purchasing items from adventurers who make a living reselling treasures from haunted tombs. However, even this alternative market has seen prices skyrocketing, leaving the wizard in a magical quandary.
As the wizarding community reels from these revelations, many are left wondering if the golden age of affordable spellcasting is coming to an end. Moonwand’s plight serves as a cautionary tale for wizards far and wide, urging them to adapt to the changing magical economy or risk being priced out of their enchanted pursuits.
For now, the wizard known as Moonwand stands as a mysterious harbinger of economic turbulence in the magical realm, leaving fellow practitioners to ponder the future of their mystical endeavors in a world where even Eye of Newt comes at a hefty cost.
After the interview, I asked the shopkeeper Pliny what Moonwand’s real name is, and he told me that it’s Dave.
Lhana Lhak
