Despite Zelena's noncommittal answer Aldino seems optimistically hopeful that the four of them will join him as he researches the location of the dwarven mine and seeks out its lost wealth. He continues to regale them with stories to entice the gnomish lady to join his endeavor though actual evidence of its existence is sparse.
__________
When the shoppers seek directions to a store with magical notions and other exotic items the locals direct them to a place called Summoner's Court and, specifically and coincidentally, a shop called the Pearl. Three roads lead into Summoner's Court perfectly spaced along the outer edge of the court. Summoner's Court itself is cobbled except for a ring of large, black granite stones set into the roadway and inlaid with arcane symbols in silver and gold: a henge of ancient and unknown origin. Shops crowd the court but never encroach closer than five feet to the henge and in most cases sit farther back than even that.
Approaching the Mystic Pearl incites a sense of deja vu. You may not have been
here before but then again, you have. Back in Venza. The store is identical down to the giant snakeskin in the window and the brass plaque declaring 'Almar Ben Shawari, Proprietor'.
Almar seems to be identical to his Venzan manifestation: a corpulent man, the top of his head shiny and hairless, and huge, drooping black mustachios. Questions or demands of any sort concerning the shop's origin elicit only a gleam of the eye, a twitch of the mustache, and a redirection of attention to the shop's wares, at least until Borric and Sylvain make orders for items not in stock.
"Ah, noble patrons, a taste for fine goods! Items I do not have on hand, alas, but I should be able to acquire them in a few days. Full payment in advance, of course, and as you are traveling perhaps you can stop in the Mystic Pearl in K'issp and pick them up then, eh?"
| GM: | My understanding of Arcane Row, after reading the introduction again, is that it exists in some form in most of the larger cities. The ancillary shops are different city to city but the Mystic Pearl is in each of the cities; some sort of dimensional effect. So, as long as their business was conducted in the Mystic Pearl Borric & Sylvain could commission an item in Tritower and pick it up when they arrive in K'issp, for example. Conversations still going on can be assumed to occur during travel. |
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