Chapter 4 Halfling Food
"Sir, if this is the food you fell in love with at first sight, then you have really good taste."
A short halfling used In a professional tone, he said with a smile, "The three-layered castle mushroom is one of the most precious and temperamental plants in the darkness of the Underdark. Only the dwarves of the distant Bullingdon Stone know the secrets of its cultivation and preparation.
Traditionally, the rhizomes of the trichosanthes fungus are washed, soaked and dried to make delicious spongy bread, a recipe most popular in the markets of the ancient city of Orens
But what you will definitely not find on the market is the Snebeli Mushroom Lasagna, a dish that the dwarfs reserve only for themselves: hence its name: Svirnet Mushroom Lasagna. ”
Brian looked at the short, fat halfling standing in front of him with interest.
The halfling had a smile on his face, and his long gray hair was curled around his ears, flush with his elegant and smooth collar. Even in this closed stone room with only a few vents, as a prisoner He also wore expensive, well-tailored clothes.
Anyone can tell with just one glance that this is a halfling who knows how to enjoy life.
Because halflings are a race that loves comfort and have a strong love for peace, quiet, fireplaces, homes, and most importantly, food.
In stark contrast to humanity, these simple pleasures are the only ambition of this unique and ambitious team.
Whether living in the luxury of a halfling cave in a lush pastoral landscape, living on a rugged adventure trail, or even serving as a slave, halflings are constantly alternating between two emotions about food: tasting. and desire.
Because of this, halfling slaves are the best treated in the drow cities in the Underdark, and they are often treasures as servants.
Brian turned his attention to the sumptuous food placed on the stone table.
Now, he has been in the ancient city of Orens for nearly two months as a slave. He has stayed in this stone room that was closed around him from beginning to end, never leaving even half a step.
Fortunately, his treatment is pretty good.
The drow wizard arranged for him a halfling servant with excellent cooking skills, and he was almost free to enjoy fine wine and delicious food.
The most important thing is that he systematically learned the magical knowledge about the Underdark here.
This kind of special opportunity, for him, is simply something that comes but cannot be sought.
If he wasn't worried about his future fate, Brian would really want to stay a little longer.
However, as he continues to learn, he has clearly felt that the upcoming fate is approaching quickly.
After all, his understanding of the evil race of drow made him understand that the better treatment and attention he received, the more dangerous the role he would play next.
"I just said it casually, I didn't expect you to actually make it." He said casually, looking at a bowl of food that was very similar to spaghetti on the table.
This otherworldly pasta is made from powdered rhizomes of the nutty triplex mushroom and is filled with a faux vegetable ragout made from the tops of the rare plant.
This was a bowl of food that moved him quite a bit. The only flaw was that the bowl containing the food was only the size of a palm.
"Mother Jonara has told me that as long as it is your request, I will try my best to satisfy you." The halfling still had a smile on his face, but his tone of voice was deliberately aggravated, as if he were speaking. What mystery lies in it.
When Brian heard this, his expression changed. He heard what the other party meant and smiled, "Thank you for your help, Elton. You let me taste the delicious food I have been waiting for."
After saying that, with a thought, a small bowl as big as a palm flew into his hand.
Then, he concentrated again and used the supernatural power "Secondary Creation" that he had mastered.
Secondary Creation.
For wizards, it is a conjuration spell that requires at least the ability to cast fourth-level spells.
But in the hands of a psychic who is proficient in the creation department, it is only the lowest level of spiritual power.
The fundamental reason is that the psion of the creation department has the means to extract ectoplasmic energy from the star realm, and there is no need for wizards to prepare complicated casting materials.
The so-called ‘star realm’ is somewhat similar to the starry sky in the real world.
It is said that the origin of all matter in the multiverse was born in the star realm.
Originally, Brian didn't quite understand this point of view, but since he mastered the creative knowledge about psions, he vaguely felt that this statement still had some basis.
This is because creative psychics do not need to prepare expensive and complicated casting materials when creating things out of thin air. The only thing they need is the ectoplasmic energy or crystals they extract from the astral realm.
Just like the spiritual power he was currently using, light blue light surged in his palms, and in the blink of an eye, two slender crystal chopsticks appeared out of thin air in his hands.
Under the surprised gaze of the halfling Elton, Brian digested the food in the bowl slowly and methodically.
Although he has been immersed in the study of magic knowledge in the past two months, it does not mean that he has not considered his situation and the method of escape.
The halfling servant in front of him was one of the links in his thinking about his escape plan.
This is the good relationship he forged with the other party after many trials and verifications.
Although the small favor of asking the halfling to help him would not have any effect on the situation at hand, he thought that he was prepared and might use it at some point.
However, Brian was worried that the drow elf Jonara, a wizard, was secretly monitoring his every move, so he could only choose to use very cryptic words to communicate with the halfling servants.
The two of them seemed to be having a discussion about food, but the real meaning was that Elton conveyed to him that he had successfully completed what he had told him.
"Your Excellency, come and try this again." Seeing Brian finish enjoying it, the halfling Elton immediately pointed to another delicacy, winked playfully, and introduced with a smile:
"If you have ever followed a caravan or traveled around the Sword Coast, you must know that east of Baldur's Gate, a two-month journey away, is Greentown, a halfling town surrounded by walls. Then you have a good idea It's possible to miss the real town altogether, as the entire grounds seem crowded while quaint country cottages are connected by narrow paths, so the town's buildings are mostly built into spacious cellars.
< br>
These cellars can extend up to three stories underground, where halfling residents connect underground passages of tunnels all to one another, and then operate shops and inns from these cozy, fireplace-lined underground spaces. There, you will find the town’s most unique cuisine: fried cheese bread with fat tomato broth.”
Hearing the halfling’s endless words, Brian pretended to be very special. Listen with interest and search for information in his long words.
Until the other party finished speaking, he looked at the other party thoughtfully, secretly remembering Baldur's Gate and Green Town in his mind, and then turned his attention to the food with a series of smelly and long names. .
Obviously, the halfling Elton helped him with a small task, and if he was lucky enough to escape, he also needed to complete a small request from the other party.
Actually, he is quite familiar with Zhilu Town. He once had the honor to go to a halfling's underground tavern and taste the delicious food.
I was also lucky enough to taste the ‘fried cheese bread with fat tomato broth’ that Elton mentioned.
Halflings not only know their cheese, but they also know countless ways to prepare it.
Buttered bread, topped with cheese sticks, sprinkled with seasonings, deep fried, then cut into strips or dipped in soup.
These sandwich breads are sometimes served with a spicy kick, often sprinkled with dill, nutmeg, basil, etc., depending on the chef's mood.
The same goes for the accompanying soup, usually chunks of tomato but occasionally a smooth red pepper puree.
It stays warm and acts like a dip, once the cheese has melted perfectly into the soup, it goes down smoothly.
Crispy cheese bread is one of the most unique halfling recipes and is very popular across the Sword Coast.
Thinking of this, he looked very interested, picked up the spoon and tasted it with relish.
Seeing the change in Brian's expression, the halfling Elton smiled and bowed as usual, and left the room quietly.
Brian has long been accustomed to this kind of situation.
After he finished enjoying the food sent by the halfling, as usual, he picked up a magic book called "Seven Transformations of Shadow Energy" again, and studied and read it carefully with the help of the light of the candle.
In the past two months of study, he not only learned the basic principles of the spells released by this group of drow wizards who live in the dark area all year round, but also learned two practical skills based on the knowledge he had mastered. low-level spells.
They are the second-level protection spell "Magic Field Backlash" and the third-level conjuration spell "Mucus Devouring".
The former allows the target to be counterattacked by his own spells when he casts them, while the latter summons an 'ooze monster' fear eater with a challenge level of about level 5 to assist him in fighting.
As a wizard, he knows very well that the truly powerful spellcasters are not how many spells they have mastered or how many powerful magic equipment they have, but how many unknown and strange spells they have developed.
Because during battle, if you follow the common spell list among spellcasters to duel with others, it will be easy to be targeted or offset by various fancy counter-spells.
For example, from the moment you raise your hands to chant and prepare to release the "Fireball Technique".
Some experienced spellcasters will instantly judge the power, flight speed and trajectory of the fireball through the arcane energy surging in the air, and then think of countermeasures and counterattacks as quickly as possible method.
Relatively speaking, if the spellcaster releases an extremely strange and unknown magic.
When the enemy responds, not only are they unable to understand the function of the spell immediately, but they also need to spend more time if they want to use their own secret knowledge to determine the characteristics of the spell.
In this case, it is impossible to quickly think of the simplest and most effective means of resistance.
Therefore, the well-known spells mastered by spellcasters are generally used to deal with non-spellcasting professions who do not know much about spells.
When fighting against real spellcasters, using these well-known magics can easily backfire.
This is also the real reason why it is difficult for the spellcasters of their player group to get advantage from the original resident wizards.
Because of this, as a spell caster, Brian will always try his best to learn or develop his own magic.
He also knew that the drow wizard Jolana provided him with delicious food and drinks, allowing him to do everything possible to understand the true purpose of learning drow magic.
After all, his opponent is a talented drow wizard. How can he do it without some preparation.
Thinking of this, his mind quickly recalled a young drow wizard he once knew in the ancient city of Orens.
"No matter how strict a society is, there will always be one or two deviants."
Recalling this sentence, Brian vaguely speculated that his opponent might really be the weird drow alternative he knew. .
If this was the case, he felt that if he chose to fight head-on, his chances of survival would be slim.
In this case, he would have to change his original plan.
Whether it is her or not, it is always right to be prepared, he comforted himself in his heart.
"What are you afraid of?"
Suddenly, a cold voice came from behind without warning.
Brian, who was in a trance, looked startled and instinctively turned to face the drow wizard Jolana Tux.
He sat on the chair, put down the magic book in his hand, raised his head slightly, met the wizard's scarlet gaze, and realized that his comfortable learning career was probably coming to an end.
(End of this chapter)