In general, the travel system is very capricious. I remember on some trip I needed to mine iron ore. I hit the knots with a pickaxe - there is no step. Until I read in the description of this step that you need to hit with the left mouse button. And I’m used to hitting with my right button.
So the game may not give you a step with another artisan.
Purple Lotus Potion is a useful item. Not because, that someone is afraid or does not know how to crush the fleeing inhabitants of Sepermeru. Simply because, having knocked out an artisan and then got involved in a battle, at the end of it you can suddenly discover that the knocked out thrall during this time fell under the net and disappeared.
So - good luck! :wink: