While he knew how to read, Hawke wasn’t exactly a reader, so when he stops the wagon at the front of the establishment and hitches Bill, he enters inside and chooses to take a gander at the baubles around. Eventually though, he does keep an eye out on any books about rocks and crystals. 

For anyone able to see Xalkas during their own perusal of such a wonderful bookstore. It is plainly obvious that he is a bit miffed at everyone else’s interest in the bookstore as he was hoping to pick up a little something for everyone without them having noticed his purchases.

He decides to wait until all of his companions have left the store in an effort to surprise them with their gifts. 

Kerric:

With everyone else going inside, Kerric decides to stay out with Bill and the wagon, enjoying the day.  He keeps an eye out for any suspicious activity, wary of being tailed by cultists.

Perception:  18

Ebele's mouth would gape slightly in amusement as her ears would pick up the start of Benny's alliterations. Her ears would even twitch in anticipation for what clever string came next. Even if she was the only one who truly enjoyed it, it perked the monk up. She even giggled when T'chal'fronack'zcinicker mentioned they may have broke the man. Raising a hand, the monk would call out after the townsfolk. "Bye Benny!"

"Bye Blondie!"

Ears actively alert, Ebele bobbed along in the cart, smiling as she'd listen to Kerric share his knowledge of the local history. Her head would tilt in curiosity as she'd hear him rhyme off the different pronunciations of the town with such ease. Even thinking some of them to herself, she was tripping over the names. Maybe he could even give Benny a run at his own game! Chuckling once again to herself, the half elf was enjoying the spur of chatter and excitement brought on both by the mention of the Womford Bat and the bookstore. Both worth exploring in her opinion. Xalkas' and Reghys' excitement and wonder for the bookstore was infectious and charming. 

"Yes please!" Ebele would chime extra enthusiastically in an all encompassing response to Hawke's questions. She'd put up a finger gesturing in a random direction. "Begin by Bubs' Books an' Baubles because our buds bounce boisterously. The books beckon the bookworms!" A soft snort would escape her lips, breaking her stoic stance. She'd sink back into her seat to sit silently. She simply supported the starting goal to search for the Dwarven books. And her friends' enjoyment for literature. Okay. And she was excited for braille. Her cheeks would give it all away.

Hawke and Bill, the match made in heaven, trotted to a smooth stop across from a small shop. It looked like a little hobbit stop tucked into the side of a grassy hill over looking some of the farm land and docks. A modest sign hung outside the door 'Bubs' Books an' Baubles.'

Outside of Bub's Books an' Baubles

One by one, Ebele listens to T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, Xalkas and Reghys hop out of the cart. As curious as she was, she was happy to stay back to give the others room and the freedom shop without babysitting a blind monk. She'd scoot herself out of the cart to give her legs a stretch. "So Womford Bat snatcher eh?"

Womford Bat: Check It!
Want to ponder or try to learn a little more about the Womford Bat? Let's hear how you'd think about it.
Survival, History, Religion, Arcana, Investigation for books
Roll call: Any one
DC ??: I'll provide based on what you do and how you look.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, Xalkas and Reghys, you make your way up the steps to the shop entrance. You're greeted by a bright blue door, that was just a little low for the tiefling who'd have to hold his hat as he'd duck inside last.

Inside Bubs' Books an' Baubles

"What do we have here?" The light in the shop was surprisingly bright, it'd take some time for your eyes to adjust to the dust beams. Eventually though, things would settle and you'd find a stout gnome with a hearty white beard. His eyes bugged out from his glasses that rested on a crooked nose. "Good day tall tiefling." The shopkeeper would tilt his glasses down to give you all a look up and down. You couldn't even see the white of his eyes without the glasses. Pushing them back up his nose, he'd reach a hand out. "Welcome. Please peruse, my peers." He'd grin.

Bubs the Shopkeep

"Braille you say?" Bubs would stroke his beard as his eyes would begin darting around, trying to remember where he'd tuck such a rare ask. It wasn't common, but he was sure to have one. The gnome would disappear between columns of books. "Ahh yes... here we are." Some shuffling and tumbling of items could be heard before a puff of dust would cloud the space. Making his way back, he'd step on a stool at his counter to bring him to a higher level. The shopkeep would place down a bundle of dusty cloth for you to unravel. "Here you are."

Book of Braille
Cost: 23

"Now you mentioned something about buying or selling of Dwarven History books?" Bubs would start twisting his mustache in thought. Eventually his brows would pop as something would ring a bell. "I heard rumours about some beautiful old books written in Dwarvish that showed up in the cargo of a shady keelboat skipper at the docks. The Womford Rats maybe?" He'd shrug. "I heard from Endrith Vallivoe, a shopkeeper from Redlarch, I think, who bought one of the books. Can't say I've seen them myself though."

Reghys as you take a look around, you come by a few book covers that catch your attention

Reghys Book Finds

Xalkas didn't have to try hard to get lost amongst the plethora of items and books in the store. He was practically able to browse the whole back of the store in private. Sharing the same height as the shopkeep, you also find it incredibly easy to snoop around and get a good look. The discoveries you make, have you in a confident and cheerful mood.

Xalkas' Finds

Bubs would scan his shop with an amused look on his face. "Can I help you find anything?" His eyes would follow the curious bunch puttering about. "Tea and crumpets?" It wasn't every day he had the chance to entertain or even sell to customers. It was as if it were a welcome change of pace. "Where do you three come from?" 

Kerric:

Enjoying the pleasant area near the shop and keeping an eye out for any threats, Kerric makes small talk for the moment with Ebele, saying, "This is quite a pleasant place.  A nice respite from what seem to be daily cultist attacks.  Tell, me, Ebele, what can you sense about your surroundings here without being able to use your sight?  I must say, your ability to function well with your other senses is quite impressive, especially in combat."

Diligently checking on his surroundings, Kerric doesn't sense anything amiss in the immediate area. You were able to take a moment or two to indulge in the pleasantries of the surroundings. Kerric was right, Womford did have a more relaxing atmosphere, despite the rumours of trouble, compared to Bargewright. The sun was getting a little lower in the sky and he could see that villagers in the distance were preparing to wind down their afternoon activities.

Ebele would pause mid tip toe reach when she'd hear Kerric speak up. She'd listen to his words with a warm smile and bright cheeks, eventually lowering her foot all the way back down to the ground, finishing a step. Bringing her feet back together, she'd tilt her head down towards them before moving back up to face the elf's direction. "Well." The half elf would wiggle her toes in the grass she found. "I can still have some really clumsy days." There were times she was almost like a doe fresh on their feet. She'd let out a soft chuckle remembering her early days with the group. "But it takes time, just like any other skill, to master." The monk would relate to the warriors own training. "Blocking out one sense heightens others." She'd remind. "Without sight, I was forced to better trust my instincts and learn to focus on my other senses." Ebele would admit, albeit a bit sheepishly.

Side stepping a foot to the dirt road, she'd wiggle and press her toes down into the ground. "Tactile connection with what's beneath my feet allows me to feel my environment and sense reverberations from the ground that also help me with location." She'd hop from foot to foot, grass to dirt before stopping to wiggle her toes again. "With a little patience, time and experience, my ears focus on sounds all around me, determining their sources and how they reflect off things. Much like echo location like bats!" She'd say excitedly, remembering the Womford Bat before adding. "Then of course there's smell. It surprisingly can identify and give away a lot about a person, place or thing."

OOC:  Is Ebele a half-elf or a human?

Kerric:

"Most impressive, as I said before, Ebele.  We elves value keen perception and connection with the world around us.  Anyway, if you feel safe enough out here without my presence, I would like to go inside and try to find any interesting Elvish books which might be the equal of this fine Dwarven tome I purchased in Red Larch.  What do you say?" asks Kerric, obviously willing to stay outside for her safety, but still wanting to do some investigation of his own into the bookstore.

Reghys was beaming with joy at the sheet music and the various tomes. Gathering four of them, plus one book of sheet music, they are carefully opening them at random spaces, making sure to not break the spine. One of them contained a collection of choral songs for services to Mellora, the second seemed to be a collection of children's stories, even with the occasional illustration. The third was a book detailing the history of the great dynasties and the last one a traveller's account of the Dessarin valley, with handdrawn maps, and annotations for places of interest and a ranking of nearby taverns.

Reghys brings all four of the tomes and the sheet music to the store clerk, and picks up a cloak clasp on the way. 

"What a delight your bookstore is! I would love to purchase these volumes. Now, how about a deal- all of these texts and a brooch and some ink and paper for a nice and even hundred gold pieces?"

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker raises an arched eyebrow at yet another alliterating smart alek and ....wait wait...what the hell was going on in his brain. This place was wrong, and catchy, and could creep up on ones control like a chaotic ...aahhhh!

He dropped his 23 gold on the table, grabbed the book, and bolted from the store leaving behind his friends to no doubt go insane. He brushed past Kerric on the way out, "Do not go in there...it's catchy..."   and heads out to the wagon.  Looking rather grumpy and with a huff to things, he sits on the wagon and opens the....rather beautiful book...on braille.  He begins reading it with interest and says to Ebele absently, "Good news, found a book you can read....I'm uh...giving it a feel now."  He grins and winks her way...then.....when realization sets in, he sighs and turns back to the book.  "Also, we should go see the Womford Rats down at the water....they're the ones that sold the dwarven book...might have a lead for us."

OOC: Ebele is half-elf 

Ebele would turn to face Kerric once again. She’d let out a soft chuckle. “Yes Kerric. I feel safe. Thank you.” The monk would nod. “Please, don’t let me keep you from checking out the bookstore.” She’d smile gesturing towards where she hears T'chal'fronack'zcinicker exit. 

Kerric:

Smiling like a schoolboy let out of class early, Kerric heads into the book shop and looks for Elven books—epic stories about Elven heroes and their deeds, if possibles.

Xalkas couldn’t help but smile at the continue alliteration. I was almost like one of the exercises he did when he was studying magic. He considered joining for a moment but became distracted by how beautiful the outside of the bookstore was. It had been so long since he had been around books. He could hardly wait for the wagon to stop completely before hoping out and rushing inside.

 Xalkas hears Ebele’s remarks about the Womford Bat and tries to recall if he ever read anything about it during his studies. (If I roll poorly, Xalkas would scour the shop for a book about local legends/ tall tales or something similar)

History check for Womford Bat: 9

As Xalkas steps through the bright blue door, which he loved … though he didn’t mention anything to the others about this. Xalkas couldn’t help but be reminded of home and the toy shop owned by his parents. Xalkas feels pangs of homesickness. He hasn’t seen his parents since he left to learn magic from the Mad Wizard of Wine. He does hope that they are fine and everything is well as he begins his search of Bubs’ Books an’ Baubles.

Delighted the proprietor of the establishment is a fellow gnome, Xalkas lets out a small squeak of delighted excitement. He gives Bubs a quick nod before disappearing into mass of dusty books and other various knick knacks.

Spying two covers that quickly and easily catch his attention, Xalkas quickly thumbs through both of them. Hoping to find arcane ruins and glyphs. The second he quickly discovers is a book of sheet music and he knows exactly who would enjoy it.

 Moving over a different area of the shop Xalkas spies a beautiful cloak clasp and gathers it in his hands to ask Bubs about it. He also grabs both of the brooches to inquire about them also. He finds a bottle of ink that he collects as well.

Much to his delight he finds a game that he hasn’t seen nor played since he was a child. He excitedly snatches it up and inspects it to ensure that all of the required items for play are present. (I assume that it is a complete set) He adds it to his growing pile of assorted stuffs. As he picks up this game from his youth, he spots a most cunning and devious device. The gnomish finger trap… He gathers it as well excited to share it with the group later. As he is making his way to the counter to pay for his gathered items a most peculiar and rare find catches his eye, a ‘Pet Rock’. He grabs it and brings it along to the front.

 Hearing Bubs inquire if he needs help finding anything with his arms full of stuff, Xalkas has to stifle a small chuckle. ‘I did find rather a lot I suppose.’ He thinks to himself. To Bubs he asks, “I could use some potions of healing if that happens to be something that you carry in this magnificent shop of yours. And as far as tea and crumpets I would love some.” Xalkas then falls silent unsure of how to answer the question on where the three of them come from. The simplest answer would be to say Red Larch… Though what brought everyone there and where they were before is more difficult to answer.

 Placing his intended purchases on the counter Xalkas asks his litany of questions. Pausing after each to allow Bubs to answer him.

“This clasp here…” he points to it “do you know if it is of Elven make?”

“Can you tell me anything about the history of these two brooches? I find the histories of items like this quite fascinating.”

Holding up the bottle of ink, “I’ve been trying to locate a bottle of ink that disappears from the page after being used for writing. Is this such an Ink? I also require the fine inks used in the copying and transfer of spells. Do you have any such inks available?”

Lastly Xalkas points to the Pet Rock, “I haven’t seen one of these work properly in some time. If memory serves me correctly you could customize a phrase associated with it to activate them. Is that still the case?”

Ebele couldn’t see Kerric’s face, but his steps sounded like they had a little extra pep to them as he headed into the shop. She’d smile. Those excitable boots traded off with the sound of T'chal'fronack'zcinicker‘s approach, which wasn’t as enthusiastic. She even heard a little huff. A sock chuckle would leave her lips listening to their slightly grumpy tiefling. She’d tip toe over when he’d mention he found the book, listening for him to turn the pages and to hear his fingers brush against the pages. “And what do you think?“ She’d nudge asking about the book of braille.

(Will resolve DMs side of things around Friday :) )

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker sighs, "I think my fingers are not sensitive enough or something. I can't make heads nor tails of these dots...even with my eyes closed. You give it a shot...I'll tell you what you're finger is over...unless you already know how to read braille...in which case....maybe you should be teaching me.  Also...I'll have to figure out how they make the pages bumpy if I'm going to be incorporating it into our group contract." 

Reghys

Bub's would smile to himself as Reghys approaches the counter setting their four tomes on the counter for the exchange. "The respect you show for these tomes and the ease in which you found them proves to me they sat on my shelf all these years for you to find." He'd nod to the Satyr, accepting their proposed deal. Taking the coin in hand, the gnome would offer, "Would you like these wrapped to go?" The shop keep pulls out a signature blue silk cloth that matched the stores door. Should the special wrapping be accepted, it'd be tied with a white ribbon.

Xalkas

Bubs would chuckle lightly when the curious wizard would finish unloading the items one by one, accompanied by their own questions or comments. "Tea and snacks first."

Waving his hand in an elegant manner before snapping his fingers, Bubs would summon a spectral servant, poufing into existence behind the clerk. Without skipping a beat, it'd start moving. Almost like a dance, it's step around behind the counter, plucking cups, saucers, teapot, spoons, dried tea leaves and the like. There was even a delighted hum escaping the wizards lips as he'd accept the prepared items from the unseen servant. "Sugar? Milk?" He'd ask as the items get nudged closer to his guest.

"Potions of healing you say?" Bubs' bushy brow bobs. "What ever for? Those must be some hefty paper cuts!" He'd let out a hearty giggle to himself.

Potions eh?
To address Xalkas' inquiry about potions
Roll call 1: Xalkas
Roll: Roll straight charisma with adv. when you respond to him.

Spells eh?
You sure can try.
Roll call 2: Xalkas
Roll 1: Investigation. No adv.
Roll 2: Arcana. No adv.
Roll 3: 1d4

With tea and crumpets served, Bubs would correct his glasses on his nose "Now let's see what I can recall." The shop keep would in turn, pick up each item, doing his best to recall what he could. "My mind wasn't as sharp as it once was lad." He'd wink with a smirk tugging at his mustache. 

The scholar would squint, flipping the clasp over and back. "This here clasp, is of the Wee Folk." It was of the fey. "Nothing magical though. I assure you." He'd add truthfully.

"If you're looking for Elven..." Bubs would pat his nose for a moment before putting his finger up as he remembered something. He'd bend forward so fast, you fear he was about to smoke his forehead against his own counter and knock himself out. But his hat would just graze clear. Clucking his tongue, he'd shuffle a little before coming up with a rectangular wooden box. Unclasping it, the shop keep would lift the lid and spin it so that the contents were facing the eager patron. "Perhaps these?"

 "A traveling craftsman by the name of Rinn unloaded these one day. Needed funds to reload on some supplies and buy a lift home." Bubs would explain before Xalkas could ask. His eyes would light up a little when the young wizard would bring up the brooches next. "Ahh yes. These are part of Rinn's collection as well." He'd tap his fingers next to them.

Moving onto the next item, that was an easy one. "Ah yes. Invisible ink. You'd be correct." The shopkeep would nod simply. "Yes of course. Standard wizard ink and paper is available too."

"Ahh, yes. You absolutely can customize a phase of your choice." Bub's would nod responding about the Pet Rock. "This little guy was left at my doorstep." Bubs would point to the little note inside. "He had a hard rock life."

"Would you like any of this wrapped?" He'd add at the end.

 Kerric

Kerric swiftly makes his way into the bookstore with long determined strides, eager to begin browsing in a section dedicated to elven history. Completely focused and absorbed in browsing the covers on the shelves, the elven warrior doesn't pick up any of the conversation occurring at the counter with the shop keep. His eyes scan the delicate spines as his hand hover mere centimeters away. The first two drew your attention right away.

 Kerric, as you pondered over the first two pieces of literature for yourself, your attention would be drawn to another on the shelf.

 Ebele and T'chal'fronack'zcinicker

"I agree, we should check out the Womford Rats down by the river once the others are done their shopping."
(Forgot to respond last post.)

Ebele would find a seat next to T'chal'fronack'zcinicker as he sighs. "You won't learn it with just one blink of your eyes." She'd tease gently with a smile, reaching her hands out to find his on the page. "There should be a legend at the beginning that breaks down the common alphabet. It's a good place to start. Then we'll blind fold you." The monk would encourage with a playful tilt of her head before guiding his fingers over the first of the ABCs when she finds them. Her hands were soft, calloused from her training, yet were still sensitive enough to feel the raised braille lettering. "It'll take time, study and of course practice to train the sensitivity of your finger tips to fluently register the read." She believed he knew that deep down, but she also believed T'chal'fronack'zcinicker was bright and could be a fast learner if he really desired to learn the skill. While the others continued to browse in the shop, Ebele would review the braille alphabet, one letter at a time, with T'chal'fronack'zcinicker.

"Perhaps Xalkas might be able to help create some kind of press with interchangable plates for you?" The blonde would blurt the first thought that came to her mind. If their wizard could tinker something together for her brewing kit, surely he could engineer something for their group administrator.

Kerric:

Finding the three interesting books, Kerric will take them over to the proprietor and pay his 60 gp to purchase them.  Nodding to the others, he heads back out to the wagon to have a sit down and read one of them, and an interesting bookmark/hair pin in the shape of a flower falls out.  Smiling, he looks over at Ebele and shifts over to reach towards her, holding it out and saying, "Ebele, would you like a new hairpiece?  I think it looks like a silver buttercup."

Soon after, Kerric is absorbed in a detailed treatise on the Ruler's Blade, an ancient Elf Blade of incredible power.  He sighs happily and even a bit dreamily, continuing to read the impressive history of his noble people.

Having not found anything of much interest to him in the shop, Hawke ends up picking up a random book from the shelves to give it a little skim through, at most taking a look at any illustrations that might have been printed on the pages. He returns the book to its place, however with the textblock facing outward. A small mischievous idea pops up in his mind when he notices this small mistake.

Some of the texts didn't exactly have any titles on their spines, at most having fancy and ornate covers, so what would the difference be if he just... turned them all with their textblocks facing out? With the shop keep helping out the others with their purchases, he uses the distraction to start quickly turning all of the books on one of the shelves, and if possible, he would try to do it to all of the shelves, making sure to complete the entirety of one before moving onto the next, or getting as far as he could up until it was time for them to leave.

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker lets Ebele help him for a bit, then nods, "Yeah, good idea on Xalkas....maybe he can fashion a braille thing.  Alright, I will diligently practice, I pride myself on my ability to learn new things....and before long you'll have a braille contract in your hand.  Are you as excited as I am about that?  Probably, how could you not be!"   Though for now he leaves the book with Ebele to enjoy and turns to Kerric, the last one in, and the first one out.  "Hey, Kerric....so...apparently the River Rats down by the water were the ones selling the dwarven books. We're going to go there next. Once the others get out of the book store.  Geez, but they are slow!"  He heads over to the store, opens the door, and yells, "Rock and roll, you ruckus reluctant ramblers!" 

He closes the door abruptly and looks back at Kerric with a "did he hear that?!" sort of face on.  Then, shakes his head and walks back to the wagon, hopping back into the front seat. He can be heard mumbling, "...never coming back to THIS store...."

Hawke

The druid had been so quiet, Bubs had practically forgot about the tallest patron who slipped in amongst the group. Hawke was able to find his way deeper into the bookstore, further than even Xalkas went. Eyes scanning the spines of books and nose leading his through the dusty maze, he eventually reaches a darkened corner that led into a small cobble stone alcove. Investigating it closer, it looked like a perfect little reading nook for a rock gnome. If the kalashstar tucked their legs into their chest, and leaned his head down, he might be able to fit. It'd be pretty snug though.

Neatly lined up along the layers of shelves were a series of books that caught the druid's attention, some were even pinned between some boulders. And as Hawke mischievously begins flipping them over, some of them spent more time in his hands than others. Eventually he makes his way through the nook, realizing there were more than just books on rocks. Hawke plucked away at those ones too. Finally, when he about thought his job was done, one last thin spined book was tucked away, almost hiding from his plain sight. With that smirk of his, Hawke grabs the book with a burst of excitement for catching it. No one gets left behind. Right? As he frees it from the shelf, the sudden weight of the book causes him to lose balance, practically going down to the floor with it.

Outside

Ebele would nod along with T'chal'fronack'zcinicker's words. They sounded excitable coming from him, but she couldn't really make up her mind if he truly was, or was being polite. Pondering to herself, braille book left on her lap, the monk would spend some time with it in silence.

When Kerric would make his return and speak up about a hairpiece shaped like a silver buttercup, the blondes head would tilt in curiosity. What would prompt such an unexpected gift? She'd smile softly with a nod, leaning over towards where she heard the elf's voice before turning slightly to present the side of her pony tail to him so he can put it in. "What do you think?"

The monks head would snap in the direction she'd hear T'chal'fronack'zcinicker's sudden shout out towards the establishment. Her eyebrows would raise. Okay... We best be going the docks then huh? Ebele would hop from her place, gathering the book of braille, safely returning it at the next opportunity.

Hawke had always been a free yet wild spirit. He was always travelling around, causing some small bits of havoc here and there, and for hobbies, reading was definitely far back on the list of things he would rather do to pass the time. But with his curious nature, he dives deeper into the bookstore, not realizing just how big this place was, and then he stumbles upon the the alcove. 

With a precautious glance, he looks to see if there was anyone milling about the area before squeezing himself in. Definitely a snug fit, but it wasn't the smallest hole he had been in before (c;). Then he laid his eye upon the various books that had been stuffed in here. He took a quick skim into one of them, then flipped it, and kept doing that to the other books in there, up until he found the first book that really piqued his curiosity. "Ron's Rock's, huh?" He says to himself, looking through the detailed illustrations. With a nod, he sets that book aside and keeps doing his thing.

Near the end of it, he had a good stack of books he wanted to look over and possibly purchase, including the one, that for some reason, was really heavy in his hand. The druid picks up the ones he had set aside, and quickly reads them over again, then puts the ones he didn't want back on the shelf, textblock side out of course, and with some scooching out, he is back on his feet and picks up the books he wanted. It was a lot more than he expected to get, but, hey, it was a way to pass the time and it was better than spending his money on alcohol. 

 The druid makes his way back to the front when he hears T'chal's yelling, wondering if he really had spent that much time in this place. Oops!

Had Xalkas still been being served, he would wait patiently till the gnome was done with his purchases (though he does put the heavier book on the counter off to the side just so he didn't have to hold it). When it was his turn, he sets his books down carefully and slides the heavy book along with them. "So, uh, Mister Bub's? What's up with this one? Why's it so heavy?"