Widow Kemp’s Remedies

A narrow apothecary shop tucked into a quiet corner of Crossweave, its windows crowded with colored bottles and dried herbs. The air inside smells of lavender, sulfur, and something faintly metallic. A painted sign shows a mortar and pestle wrapped in flowering vines.

Location

Crossweave district, on a side canal near the Floatmarket. The shop sits at water level, accessible by a short bridge from the main walkway. On foggy mornings, the colored glass bottles in the window glow like trapped fireflies. Locals navigate to it by smell—follow the herbs.

Proprietor

  • Elara Kemp — A sharp-eyed human woman of indeterminate age with silver-streaked hair worn in a practical bun. Called “Widow” though no one remembers a husband. Former ship’s surgeon on weave-wave vessels; retired after losing her taste for “exciting medicine.” Knows more about poisons than she’ll admit and more about curses than she should.

Atmosphere

The shop is organized chaos—bundles of dried plants hang from the ceiling, jars of preserved specimens line the shelves, and a massive ledger tracks every transaction. A small cauldron bubbles perpetually on a brazier in the back. Elara works with precise, economical movements, rarely looking up from her mortar. A raven named Stitch perches near the window and occasionally offers commentary.

Inventory & Prices (gp)

Medicinal Supplies

ItemPriceNotes
Healer’s kit10 gp10 uses, bandages and salves
Antitoxin10 gpAdvantage on poison saves, 1 hour
Healing poultice3 gpHeals 1d4 HP, applied during rest
Fever reducer1 gpTreats common illness
Smelling salts5 spRevives unconscious (not at 0 HP)
Bandages (clean)2 spBasic wound dressing
Surgical tools15 gpFor field medicine

Alchemical Supplies

ItemPriceNotes
Acid vial10 gpDissolves metal, 1d6 damage
Alchemist’s fire15 gpBurns on contact, hard to extinguish
Holy water25 gpEffective against undead/fiends
Smokestick5 gpCreates concealing smoke
Thunderstone15 gpLoud bang, may deafen
Tanglefoot bag20 gpGlue that hardens, impedes movement

Herbs & Components

ItemPriceNotes
Wolfsbane5 gpWard against lycanthropes
Belladonna3 gpPoisonous, medicinal in tiny doses
Dried lavender5 spCalming, repels some insects
Spell components (common)1-5 gpVaries by spell
Preserved organs2-20 gpFor rituals and recipes
Rare herbs (ask)VariesSeasonal availability

Potions (When Available)

ItemPriceNotes
Potion of healing50 gpHeals 2d4+2 HP
Potion of climbing35 gpClimb speed for 1 hour
Antidote (magical)40 gpCures most poisons immediately

Potion availability varies. Ask Elara what’s currently in stock.

Thread-Weaver Remedies

ItemPriceNotes
Fray-salve8 gpTreats thread-parasite wounds
Weave-sickness tonic15 gpSettles stomach after rough crossings
Void-ward incense20 gpBurns for protection during rituals

Custom Orders

Space for GM additions:

ItemPriceNotes

Services

ServicePriceNotes
Identify substance5 gpElara can identify most compounds
Treat poison/disease10 gpProfessional medical care
Brewing commissionVariesCustom potion, if she has ingredients
Discrete consultation15 gpNo questions asked, no records kept

Staff

  • Elara Kemp (Proprietor): Knows every remedy and most ways to need one
  • Stitch (Raven): Speaks three words—“no,” “careful,” and “interesting”
  • Tam (Delivery Boy): Scrawny kid who runs errands; knows every shortcut in Crossweave

Quirks

  • Elara keeps a locked cabinet labeled “For Emergencies Only”—no one has ever seen her open it
  • She offers free treatment to children and dockworkers who can’t pay, but keeps meticulous IOUs
  • The cauldron has been bubbling the same mixture for six years; even Elara won’t say what it is

House Rules

  • Poison purchases require a “good reason” (Elara decides what qualifies)
  • No selling to obviously intoxicated customers
  • Magical remedies require 24 hours notice
  • The raven’s warnings should be heeded

Notes to Self

Elara keeps a private ledger. Contents unknown.