Smoked fish, Mushroom Cakes, pickled mushrooms...
Besides buying these Underdark specialties, Renato also stocked up on plenty of waterskins filled with clean water.
Food was expensive in New Rolling Stone City, making it poor value for someone like him, who already had a substantial supply of dry rations.
But his escape from District 1 had reminded him that in the Underdark, disaster could strike at any moment. Taking extra supplies only meant less room for loot; taking too few could prove fatal.
He had spent two months learning the "rules" of the Phantom Forest, but the Underdark was clearly much more "welcoming." Besides proceeding cautiously, Renato needed an extra margin for error.
Dain's little shop beside the Deep Hammer Tower had already closed. But the locked stone door did not fool Renato. He cornered the underground merchant in the back alley, where Dain was furtively packing his things.
Dain carried a large bundle on his back, with two bulging Bags of Holding hanging from his waist, and was creeping deeper into the alley in a crouch.
"Where are you going, Dain?" Renato leaned against the wall, casually blocking the alley's exit. "Giving up on business?"
Once he recognized Renato, the underground merchant grew tense, and his right hand immediately pressed against the Magic Scroll at his waist.
"I'm taking the day off. Closed for now!" Dain raised his voice and scanned his surroundings. "Don't come looking for trouble, Sorcerer! I'm not someone you can just rob..."
Taking the day off? Renato's gaze swept over all the bags hanging from him. He looked as though he was moving his entire shop. Renato did not believe a temporary closure required that much luggage.
Underground merchants really were well informed. It seemed Dain had also learned of the army's annihilation and was preparing