The Bitter Still

Shop · kept by Shesh

The Bitter Still

The shop is called The Bitter Still, named for the sharp, medicinal smell that hangs over its boiling room.

Stock

12 items · 384 gp

Adventuring gear

4 items · 1 sp to 50 gp

Acid (vial)On a hit, deals 2d6 acid damage.25 gp
Alchemist's Fire (flask)A squat ceramic flask with a waxed wick and a warning…50 gp
Healer's KitA compact roll of bandages, splints, salves5 gp
Oil (flask)A thumb-stoppered bottle of lamp oil, sold for lamps, hinges1 sp

Other

4 items · 1 cp to 2 gp

Candles (10)Each candle sheds dim light in a 5-foot radius for 1 hour.1 cp
Scent-Masking ResinA smoky amber solution made from resin and bitter herbs,…2 gp
Blue-Tell Contact PasteA paste that reveals fresh contact with iron by leaving a…5 sp
Green Wick PowderA pinch of phosphorescent powder folded into a paper twist1 gp

Potions

2 items · 50 gp to 150 gp

Potion of HealingHeals 2d4 + 250 gp
Potion of Greater HealingPrizedHeals 4d4 + 4150 gp

Consumables

1 item · 50 gp

AntitoxinA bitter, chalky draught sealed with a green wax plug50 gp

Tools

1 item · 50 gp

Alchemist's SuppliesA travel set for measuring and preparing alchemical mixtures50 gp

About

The shop is called The Bitter Still, named for the sharp, medicinal smell that hangs over its boiling room. Its narrow front windows are fogged by steam, and every shelf is packed with labeled jars, copper coils, and careful rows of colored glass. The owner, Shesh, is a middle-aged human alchemist with a soft, sibilant voice and sleeves permanently marked by herb stains. She is patient with honest questions, exacting about measurements, and watches the shop through a small polished mirror angled toward the back shelves. A brass alarm cord sits beneath her counter. Prices are in standard D&D 5e coinage; custom goods are minor, nonmagical conveniences.

Stash

5 items to steal

The stash · GM only

The shop's cash and valuables are divided between a floor-bolted till, a locked rear office, and a cool cabinet behind the counter. The narrow aisles, hanging glassware, and exposed workbench make hurried movement difficult.

Security check: DC 15Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) to lift items unnoticed; thieves' tools check to open the desk or cabinet locks
If they fail: A failed Dexterity (Sleight of Hand) check alerts Shesh to movement among the shelves. She pulls the brass alarm cord, then bars the front door and calls the two nearby watch patrols. If the party is caught, she demands restitution and turns them over to the watch if they threaten her or try to flee.
The whole haul: About 377 gp

Day's Tillage18 gp
Kept: Under the counter, in a lockbox fixed to the floor.
A small till containing copper and silver for daily trade, with a few gold coins tucked beneath its removable tray.
Value: 18 gp, 7 sp, 12 cp
Shesh's Scent Vial8 gp
Kept: In a narrow drawer beneath the owner's writing desk.
A silver thimble-sized scent vial engraved with a simple wave mark. It holds a trace of Shesh's favorite orange-blossom oil.
Optical Mixing Lens35 gp
Kept: On the high shelf above the workbench, behind stacked ledgers.
A palm-sized piece of clear crystal used for testing mixtures, wrapped in felt to keep it from chipping.
Reagent Ledger15 gp
Kept: In the locked desk drawer in the rear office.
A bound account book listing customer debts, recent bulk orders, and suppliers of rare reagents. Its value depends on who wants the information.
Value: 15 gp to a rival; substantially more to someone seeking a listed customer
Antitoxin Stock300 gp
Kept: In a cool cabinet secured with a small brass lock.
Six sealed vials of antitoxin packed in straw. They are genuine merchandise, but stealing them risks poisoning or spoilage if handled carelessly.