"Aaah, Lady Brand," the bookseller says taking the proffered letter and opening it. He squints at it for a moment and then moves over to the candle burning in a sconce on the wall by the door where the light is better.

Then, as Brand is watching, there is a tiny pop and a small lens appears in the man's hand, which he uses to peruse the letter. 

"And you would be?" he asks, while still reading.

[[And that's me for the night.]]

[[I actually edited my dialogue above, before your response. Any idea best way to deal in general]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[I actually edited my dialogue above, before your response. Any idea best way to deal in general]]

[[Not sure what you mean here, but I'll just try to write around any small changes in dialogue.]]

"As many and various as my customer's interests," says the man as the small lens disappears. "Are you a potential customer as well as being here to pick up a book?"

"Oh, and I'll have to get you to prove you are who you say you are," he adds waving the letter in his hand. "It says something here about a ring."

Brand carefully lifts the chain from around his neck, and shows him the ring.

"And yes, I could well be interested. As you know my father has a fascination with the breadth and depth of variation in the animal kingdom. I am more interested in the variations among sapient beings -- the various races from near and far -- and potentially even those from other planes of existence, should such books exist..."

The bookseller conjures his lens again and uses it to quickly compare the seal on the letter and Brand's signet ring. The lens then—once more—simply disappears.

"Good, good," he says, "If you don't mind waiting here, I'll get your mother's book for you."

He then walks away into the depths of the shop speaking more loudly with every step he takes. "I was not aware of your father's interests in animals, that's interesting to know... And we should perhaps talk more about this... 'variations among sapient beings' of which you speak."

There is silence for a moment and then he speaks again, almost shouting now. "Bear with me a minute, I'll just wrap the book in something to protect it from the rain."

Still feeling cold and still dripping with water, Brand is left to himself for the moment, just inside the entrance of the shop.

[[Make a Perception check.]]

Perception: 13

[[If there is space to move around without putting water everywhere, then he will rub his arms etc, change gloves to the other pair and if there is a heat source, stand near it. All without risking covering books in water...]]

[[If you are going to tell me he is feeling tired, or unwell, then he will probably say (shout): "I would assuredly like to discuss my interests with you, but unfortunately, as you see, I am soaking wet and what I now realize I most need is a warm fire! Perhaps, if it suits you, I should come back to discuss my needs tomorrow or the next day?"]]

[[Does Brand or the household posess Drizabones, or equivalent?]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

Perception: 24

[[If there is space to move around without putting water everywhere, then he will rub his arms etc, change gloves to the other pair and if there is a heat source, stand near it. All without risking covering books in water...]]

[[See below.]]

[[If you are going to tell me he is feeling tired, or unwell, then he will probably say (shout): "I would assuredly like to discuss my interests with you, but unfortunately, as you see, I am soaking wet and what I now realize I most need is a warm fire! Perhaps, if it suits you, I should come back to discuss my needs tomorrow or the next day?"]]

[[No. Just wet and cold.]]

[[Does Brand or the household posess Drizabones, or equivalent?]]

[[Not really. Those who could develop such materials don't need them because they have magic to solve the problem.]]

Brand is rubbing his arms and looking around the shop for a source of heat greater than the nearby candle when he suddenly realises that he is being observed.

Perched on the top of a bookshelf about fifteen feet away is a large rat, which is clearly staring at him intently.

[[Unfortunately, I have to go out now for a couple of hours. Back later.]]

[[No problem...out and about today so, will be using phone for responses...expect even more confusing english]]

Brand pauses in his pacing, looks up at the rat, puts his head to one side and speaks to the rat. "Hello, little one. Is it warmer up there than it is down here?" He stares at the rat, watching it watch him.

[[If it does intelligibly answer:]] Brand rapidly covers up his look of surprise. [[while I formulate an answer]]

[[Else:]]

He shrugs, "Well, at least we are both out of the rain."

He opens his satchel and and glances inside, "I do have some road rations, if you are hungry. But you would need to come a little closer. I don't want to risk getting the books wet."

He then breaks off a small portion to eat himself, his stomach rumbling at the sight of food. He is looking forward to a hot dinner.

[[Does Brand or the household posess Drizabones, or equivalent?]]

[[Not really. Those who could develop such materials don't need them because they have magic to solve the problem.]]

[[ In a DnD world, I'm not sure that argument holds: limited spell slots mean choices, even for cantrips...though if you are saying they store it in items, then that works. Come to think of it I think I remember "Keep Rain off Head"....was that yours or Stephens D&D? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Does Brand or the household posess Drizabones, or equivalent?]]

[[Not really. Those who could develop such materials don't need them because they have magic to solve the problem.]]

[[ In a DnD world, I'm not sure that argument holds: limited spell slots mean choices, even for cantrips...though if you are saying they store it in items, then that works. Come to think of it I think I remember "Keep Rain off Head"....was that yours or Stephens D&D? ]]

[[In a DnD world where you have practitioners who aren't adventurers then them not having utility spells like Prestidigitation makes no sense. It's not like they are really going to be using that Fire Bolt cantrip during their everyday activities, whereas Prestidigitation has so many mundane uses you will find it almost ubiquitous in this setting, and good for drying and cleaning clothes.]]

The rat continues to stare at Brand without reacting as he speaks with it and then gets out his food.

And by then, the bookseller is coming back with a parcel. "This should keep the book dry," he says holding out the parcel for Brand to take.

Brand sticks the remnants of his food back in his satchel and accepts the parcel. It is not all that big and it has been wrapped in waxed paper and secured with string.

"I'm sure your mother will find that very interesting," says the bookseller, "and tell her I am very happy to try to source any other titles she is wants." 

He then raises an eyebrow and asks, "Were you eating in my shop?"

Strangely enough, the rat has not moved, but Brand can see its whiskers twitching so he knows it must be alive.

[[ Ahhhhhh....one Spell to rule them all makes sense. Can I get it in a ring? ]]

Brand smiles guiltily, "it's been a long and cold day, and your friend up there looked hungry."

[[ Ahhhhhh....one Spell to rule them all makes sense. Can I get it in a ring? ]]

[[Probably not. It represents a magic user's basic understanding and mastery of the rules that govern magic, and that's a lot to put into a single ring.]]

"Malfos?" says the bookseller, not bothering to look at the rat. "He shouldn't be, he's already fed twice today."

The bookseller then closes his eyes and opens them. Then, after a moment in which he looks intently at Brand's face, says, "Do you have your own familiar spirit?"

"Not....that I'm aware of. Sadly I am not an innate sorcerer... How would I know? You have actually touched on another area I would like to know more about

"That is a common misconception," says the bookseller. "One does not have to be an innate sorcerer to have a familiar, just knowledgeable in the ways of summoning and ready to make a deal with either the creature itself, or its master."

He then glances beyond Brand at the dismal day outside before saying, "You mentioned you were interested in some books for yourself, and you used the phrase 'variations among sapient beings'. Do you mean like the difference between innate sorcerers and normal humans? Or were you thinking of something else?"

Brand thinks for a moment, "Well, actually both. To address the former, I am interested in the range of other races of being that inhabit this world and others. There are many reasons I want to know about this, but the most pressing is a simple matter: I have an image of a creatures eyes -- it's all I've seen -- and I do not recognize the species, they are certainly not human or Itich. Physical and cultural information -- either or both -- even for the likles of the Itich would be valuable. My teachers were good, but there are certain prejudices even amon humans, you can imagine the biases that exist for non-humans."

"And to address the last option, which is currently actually of direct and enduring interest: I am aware of the existence of people who are not innate sorcerers, but who can achieve the same effects. I am also aware of...ritualists, is it...who can achieve, albeit more slowly, some of the same results, but by no means all. I would like to know about the ways by which once such as I might found out about these options, and whether I am a...latent sorcers, is it?"

"If you have or know anything that may address these matters, I would be most interested."

[[More late tonight. I have a work farewell dinner to go to in Canberra now.]]

[[OK, no probs]]

"That's quite a list of enquiry you have there Master Brand," says the bookseller when Brand finishes. "And I'm sure I'll be able to help you with something..."

He thinks for a moment and then says, "You said something about the itich. I have a copy of a treatise about them written by an alumnus of the School of Occult Studies who served out his king's patronage in the northern patrol. Would that be of interest?"