Race/Appearance: Half-elf woman (Q/S heritage) in her apparent late 50s, but actually about 120 years old). Tall and willowy with sun-weathered skin, silver-streaked auburn hair often tied with dried herbs, and unusually large, calloused bare feet. She dresses in practical, earth-toned robes embroidered with leaf and flower motifs, always carrying a mortar and pestle at her belt and a pouch of fresh clippings.

Her personality is gruff but kind-hearted, with a dry wit and a tendency to mutter in Elvish or S. when concentrating. She's deeply empathetic to the suffering of common folk (especially after wars) but has little patience for greed or waste. She haggles fairly but offers discounts to those in genuine need or who share useful plant knowledge. Secretly, she's a bit of a hoarder of rare specimens and loves trading stories over herbal tea.

Elowen was born in the aftermath of the War of the Three Kingdoms to a q'alan elf scout and a human herbalist from a solemknight village. Her mother died during the war, leaving her father to raise her amid the ruins. As a child, she showed a natural talent for identifying plants and compounding remedies, guided by faint memories of her mother's teachings.

She earned the name “herbfoot” during her wandering years, when she walked barefoot across the land gathering rare flora from places as far-flung as the dusty plains and the dragonkind mountains.

Thornwhisper Apothecary (or “Potionmasters”)

The shop is a cozy, two-story timber-and-stone building on the edge of the town market, nestled against a small grove or garden plot. Its exterior is covered in climbing vines and window boxes overflowing with medicinal herbs (lavender, comfrey, ginseng and a collection of small cactus plants.). A weathered wooden sign depicts a rabbit holding a glowing mortar and pestle with blooming flowers, and the door chime is a bundle of dried seed pods that rattle like tiny bells.

Dimly lit by hanging lanterns and filtered sunlight. Many vials, jars and containers of herbs.

The back room is off-limits to most, but visible through a bead curtain.

Atmosphere & Services: Warm and inviting, an air of mystery. Prices are reasonable.

Quirks: A friendly but mischievous cat, (her pseudo-dragon familiar) that knocks over jars; occasional light-fingered “customers” who “borrow” items, well-known to the footman guard who patrolls the streets outside.