<div class="floatleft">(http://i1177.photobucket.com/albums/x359/Briar_Rose_Thorne/Silverra1.jpg)</div><span class="bbc_font" style="font-family: comic sans ms;"><strong>Silverra</strong></span><br/><br/>Much of the early business at the festival was done nearest the gates. All the same, Silverra's wagon was set up somewhat away from the bustling heart, nearer the edges where her brightly colored lanterns warmed the shadows and the lively tunes of the more exuberant music was muted by distance and the public stages.  The merchants and entertainers who set up in this area courted those who did not rush into the festival to chug down its offering like cheap ale, but rather those who eased into it slowly, pacing themselves and appreciating each nuance.<br/><br/>Her potions and unguents were displayed on the counter in single, colorful vials, or in small bowls or platters in the case of sugary confections for those who preferred a more subtle presentation.  Above each offering were tasteful, subtly erotic illustrations in frames of metal and wood inlaid with fine beaten wires of copper, brass, or silver.  Popular fertility symbols were featured in the art, along with some that were more obscure, primitive and even somewhat disturbing.<br/><br/>The bulk of her wares was kept in the cabinets below the tables.  Though the festival provided their own measures against those who would steal and commit even baser crimes, Silverra preferred a more insidious security.  An alchemist dealt in things other than aphrodisiacs, stimulants, intoxicants, and enhancers -- and she had made it known that some of those things were liberally mixed into her wares in a manner known only to her and her assistants.  In the early years, an opportunist low on coin had decided to test his luck with extremely humiliating but not fatal results, and word had gotten around.<br/><br/>"Can your potion make me like this?"<br/><br/>Silverra smiled brightly, and moved up to speak to the middle-aged merchant who was looking at one of the illustrations with both doubt and hope in his watery eyes.<em> "My elixirs always perform as promised, sir, provided they are taken as I instruct.  This effect does not last long, perhaps an hour, and must be taken with a full mug of water, not alcohol, for it also enhances the effect of strong drink -- it would be a shame to waste the other effects by intoxication too great to put it to use, would it not?</em><br/><br/>Personally, she didn't think it would help him all that much given certain other drawbacks that were much more apparent at the moment than any lack of girth or length ... but she doubted that he would appreciate advice to that effect.