Very good update, watabou! i love the dew vial and the new NPC.
I suggest another thing, only a little esthetic change:
The lvl 11 shopkeeper is a troll (maybe with another troll in the shopkeep, as 'bodyguard' or non-quest giving blacksmith, only for esthetic), and maybe a change of the room, with leather in the walls, skulls...
The lvl 16 shopkeeper is a dwarf, maybe of another city or non-crazy one, which is up enough to save his sanity. Or maybe 2 or 3 sane dwarves refugees with tents around a campfire...
A little chat screen (like the scrolls when step a new zone) when you first enter the shop will be cool. And a special sign with the name of the shop at the side of the door will be cool too.
In addition, with the little chat you can give a "not a very good quest", like this: Each shopkeeper needs some type of item (armors, weapons, scrolls, potions...) and pay x1.5 each, or something. Random each game you play, of couse.
Ideas, ideas... Sorry for the annoyance.
Bye!