Quote from Culuril >>

Triäsa laughs, "A little more bodice?" she says in reply to Daventry. "That might work for you, but I do not think I could ever influence anyone in that way."  She sighs lightly.

"Nah, Tri. It's all about confidence! Hells, I'm all wire, barely a few steps above a skeleton. But a batted eye, a quick grin, a bit of skin, and the right words can work wonders. 'Sides, with your singin' voice, I'd bet you'd have anyone in this inn at your beck and call." Daventry gives her a wink before heading back to the common room.

She gives Ludolf a whistle. "Turns out you clean up pretty well, old-timer. Let's get this show on the road, before the shop closes up. After we've cracked the case, perhaps a trip down to the Elfsong, see if the ghost'll grace us with her presence? Or ask around and see what more... well-to-do Baldurans do with their nights."

"Oh, thank you for noticing Triäsa. I just thought it's about time I should treat myself to some of the finer things in life." Ludolf answers the young half-elven bard, now confidently seeking out her brown eyes with his piercing gray. "But you will never be anyones servant Triäsa." He adds before releasing her.

"Yes, which way is it?"

Cleaned and washed from the road you all feel a lot better. You step back out into the haughty, high class Upper City and feel a bit more in place. As you walk through the Wide taking in the various shops and people you note that the sun is starting to get low on the horizon with probably another two hours to dusk. Daventry would know that anyone who is not a member of the patriar aristocracy can not be outside in the Upper City once the sun goes down. She also knows the Lower and Outer Cities become even more dangerous at night. 

Thankfully, with directions you don't have any trouble finding your destination. The stall looks to be one of the more permanent set ups in the wide, however, it's location could not be more out of the way or inconvenient. Despite the poor location there are a few people perusing the books flipping through pages and covers of the tall stacks of what appear to be common tomes. Behind a long counter you see two humans working to organize the books and help potential customers with any needs. The first is a small women with dark skin and eyes with small round glasses far down her nose. The second is an older man again with dark skin and hair but blues eyes. For those who have traveled a bit you might recognize their features as being from Amn. Both are working diligently either organizing the stacks or helping customers. 

"Thanks Daventry, and yes, it is a long time since this old-timer did town, although I seem to remember some rowdy places in Luskan, mostly pirates, you would have loved it." He says to Daventry with a smirk.

As they reach the bookshop Ludolf approaches the proprietors. "Excuse us, we are looking for rare books, can we have a look at your rarest collection of books please?"
Persuasion:20

Triäsa quickly moves into the shop, but pauses to take a momentary glance at some of the book titles she passes.  Then seeing Ludolf already speaking to the proprietors, she hurries to come alongside him.  "Yes, we always love finding new,  rare treasures!" she adds helpfully. (Not that help was needed there!)

(And what was up with post #948? You stole my voice!")

The older man looks up from the stack of books he is organizing and takes in the group of you. "Ah yes, you all do seem to be the learned type. We have quite a few interesting, one of a kind titles. Is there a topic you are particularly interested in or are you just looking for something exotic?" The man turns his back and starts looking over the titles lining the back walls. "I can't say I have ever seen such a group come to the store before. Are you some sort of book club?" He pulls two books down from the upper shelf and wipes a thin layer of dust from each and places them on the counter. Now these are two very very rare items." Looking at the spines of the books you recognize the titles immediately; Mazfroth’s Mighty Digressions and The Dark Hunger. The man looks back at you, "Now these are rather pricey but well worth it as you won't find another copy anywhere on the Swordcoast. 300 gold each."

Daventry takes a look at the set of books. "Strange, ran across another vendor a ways down the Coast Way, towards Beregost. Had the exact same book - the Dark Hunger. Tiefling fellow. Pretty sure his was naught but empty pages and false promises though. Shame on him, trying to sell off a fake."

She puts a hand on the counter. "Mind if we take a look at the book? Wouldn't want a second set of disappointments." She moves her hand to open the book.

@Daventry Go ahead and make a deception check. 

"Those do sound interesting," Triäsa says to one of the proprietors while Daventry is speaking to the other about taking a look at The Dark Hunger.  "I read about a book called Fallen Tethyamar.  It would be truly amazing if you had that. Although these others seem truly an amazing find."  

(She is both trying to distract so that maybe Daventry has an easier time dealing with just one of the proprietors and is curious about the third book.) 

OOC: I'm so good at charisma checks with this character...

Daventry Deception: 10

Watching the interactions, Pardot briefly closes his eyes and then focuses on the proprietors of the shop as they discuss the books with his companions, trying to discern if they are being honest about their books, and what they know of them. ((insight 15))

"Yes I guess you could call us a book club." Ludolf says and chuckles. His eyes widen at first as he sees the titles of the rare books. He had just meant to ask general questions and now the case cracked wide open before his eyes. He quickly enters Triäsas mind. "Please Triäsa, can you discreetly discern if these tomes too are those creatures or the actual books?"

Mysterious DM rolls:

 The older man looks at Daventry with a bit of suspicion. "I can't imagine you ever saw a book quite like this. Even the title is unheard of in most circles. Where did you all say you were from? Are you with the guard, you have to tell me if you are..."

The younger merchant with glasses looks up from her stacks at Triäsa, "Why yes I do believe we have a copy of that around here somewhere it is very rare and expensive though. It would be behind the counter somewhere." She goes back to an area where the older man when and pulls the book for a shelf and hands it to you. 

@Klin The store is rather plain though filled with books. You recognize the majority of the tomes to be rather plain particularly the ones in the front of the shop. Behind the counter along the wall are more unusual titles but nothing of great value as far as you can tell. The store is pretty much as you would expect.

As you are all speaking you notice a tall authoritative women with dark skin enter the shop. The other two merchants notice her immediately and straighten up. "Ah Korvala, good to see you. These folks were just asking about some of our rarer stock." He says with a smile. The women nods, "Thank you Avani. I can help them why don't you start closing the shop down for the evening it is getting late." The women turns to Ludolf and Daventry with a sly smile, "So you are looking for rare books of the occult it seems? These are two of the finest."

@Pardot

Pardot walks up behind Ludolf and touches his hand to get his friend's attention. Once Ludolf looks down and they make eye contact Pardot sends him a telepathic message saying, "I don't trust them... something tells me they know more about these books than they are letting on..." He then quickly gives his friend's hand a squeeze for whatever he plans to do next.

Triäsa quickly takes a small step away from where Ludolf and Daventry are speaking, turning as though intently studying the book.  She casts Identify on the book the younger merchant handed her. 

'Music and magic mingle,
Surround around this space.
Set vibrations within this entity
To reveal enchantment within.'

She tries to keep her voice as low as possible - a slight whisper if she can - while singing the words for the spell. 

"Thank you Pardot, I had begun to suspect as much. I think we must assume these books are more of those creatures." Ludolf messages back to Pardot.

"Yes, I am particularly interested in this one, but I can't quite afford it." Ludolf says to woman, motioning to The Hunger but avoiding coming too close to it. "300 gold is a rather hefty price, even for a book such as this."
Persuasion to haggle: 9 saving guidance for later.

As Triäsa sings softly Ludolf tries his best to focus his mind on the present conversation. Wis save: 17

Ludolf also tries to spot if there are any Flaming Fists about.
Perception: 6
 

Triäsa as you cast identify on the book you feel the same strange summoning magic you felt in Bookwyrm's office when you tried to identify the goo. This does not appear to be a book at all but another of the strange aberrations still in book form. (Sounds like you are trying hide the spell, make a stealth check)

The women smiles, "You drive a hard bargain and I would hate to deprive you of the knowledge within the pages. I can give it to you for 275 gold but not a silver less." She says to Ludolf. Ludolf you do not notice any of the Flaming Fist around though you don't think you have seen any in the Upper City at all. There are other guards here with a different crest (it looks like a boat on the sea). There are two on patrol nearby. 

Perception check against Triäsa stealth for the spell I did it at disadvantage as they are distracted by your party: 5

Your spell goes unnoticed. 

 (Yes. Trying to not let anyone notice the spell. Stealth: 10)

Daventry gives the woman a keen once-over as she and Ludolf negotiate. "Now, our ultimate benefactor, he's a well-learned scholar who's put his trust in others to bring in rare tomes such as these... but recently those who have sought such treasures have presented him with disappointments and fakes." The rest of you notice that Daventry's trying to mask her northern accent a bit, and is trying to 'speak all proper-like'. Daventry glances down at the books, then back to the woman. "I understand not wishing to have any street person place indelicate hands on exquisite pages, but... perhaps you could personally open up these books and allow us to see several passages so that we can verify that your shop is a cut above the rest of the Wide?"

Persuasion? General Charisma Check? All the same, flat d20 go: 3

Insight: 2 into the woman - Dav watches her movements, watches her response. She was suspicious of the shopkeepers based on the situation at hand, and the person they serve even more so...