<div class="floatright">(https://i.imgur.com/YG2TjEk.jpg)</div>The mood in the Dreamy Dryad picked up as Marros started his tune, and turned festive when Meridia and Elizanyrra began dancing to the music. A semi-circle of local patrons soon gathered around the dancing duo, clapping along, cheering, and toasting in their honor. When the first song finished, two of the bravest lads in town gathered their courage and approached the beauties, offering their arms and asking for a dance. Other couples joined them on the impromptu dance floor as tables and chairs were cleared away against the walls.<br/><br/>A middle-aged woman dressed like a well-to-do merchant joined Marros at his table.<strong>"I couldn't help but overhear what you were saying. I am Kerowyn Hucrele, a merchant here. Unfortunately, Oakhurst has no legends of gift-giving eladrins or reindeer-elves to warm our winters. Instead, we have goblins who auction a single corpse-white apple at each winter solstice. It is extremely poisonous, killing with but a taste... I buy it up every year to see it burnt, lest it fall into the hands of someone else with wicked motives. The next auction is tomorrow, and if you will do me the favor of accompanying me and... discouraging the competition, shall we say, then why, I'd be more than grateful to share the local dragon lore with you. Do we have a deal?"</strong>