The market in Bree-town proved quite fruitful for my brewing endeavor (though I still have far to go). There was a woodworker there named Marnewyn who can produce the barrels I need, most notably the fermenting barrel (which I now know I couldn't improvise from a used barrel since it needs to be larger, more water-tight, and made of a stronger wood that can withstand fermentation). I'll gather sturdy yew in the Lone-lands and bring back a cartful; I should be able to fill the cart in a couple of weeks (assuming Frideric doesn't put me onto extra assignments). I'll bring it back to Bree-town and trade it for the barrels she'll make from it (and she'll keep some part of the wood to trade for her time and effort). I also need to look into herbs used in dyes and paints, which she also needs; I will ask Hana about that, and Strangsig which herbs she uses, and if there's any we can get but don't need that are used in dyes, I'll gather those as well (perhaps I can even get a few coins for them).
She also told me of a tailor in the Soft Lands, a Missareva (whose shop is in the Conholt district on Garden Street). At last! It seemed odd that not a single person I asked knew of a tailor (but perhaps I asked the wrong people, or with the wrong question). As the cheese-seller didn't show, I will call on this Missareva as soon as I am able (perhaps tomorrow on the way, or perhaps on my next return to town).
And the hobbit spoke of a fellow named Gafford that might be able to make or provide the pot, bucket, and air-locker, but he also didn't attend the market. There wasn't mention of a shop. If I weren't due to leave tomorrow, I would pursue finding him as well (but that can wait for my next visit).
The library in Bree is a small affair (but they make good use of the space, so they have quite a few books and journals), and the fellow there thought there were a few books or journals that had descriptions of how brewing is done. However, I certainly cannot take them back with me to read! On my next visit to town I will have to pay (of course!) for access to them so I can read them and make notes as well as I can. However, there's an interesting way out of the problem of coin. The fellow mentioned that I could (instead of paying with silver) get all the access I needed if I provided him with a book to add to his collection. So I will speak to Hana about getting another blank journal, and perhaps I will pen my own work, cobbled together from what we have in the Ruin-hold and my own observations, concerning the Lone-lands: its landscape, its dangers, its resources, its beauty, its hardships, its landmarks, its history. This seems like a good way to pass the time (when I'm on assignments that involve a lot of waiting).
The cart is loaded with oats and barley (and Steve has provided a small collection of jars as well), and tomorrow I begin the journey back to the Ruin-hold, which I expect will take about two days. I am feeling quite optimistic about being able to start learning to brew within the year. Anlaf, beware! Your swill will soon have a rival. Most likely even worse, at first, but I will refine and experiment, and not rest until I have produced something that is at least tolerable! Unlike his (for it seems he's content to rest on his agonizingly awful laurels). As I write this in the Prancing Pony, I savor the taste of Barliman's beer, trying to memorize every detail, so that when I'm brewing, I will know what to aim for.
