It's almost closing time and you prepare to close up shop. It takes everything in your body to not to rush to lock the door. If one more customer comes in asking for //Sanguine Desires // you ''will'' set the shop on fire with the patron still in it and go home.
You look at the clock. 5 more minutes left...
(text-style:"rumble")[//Ding!// ]
Dammit. It's the bell on the shop door. Your eyes roll back in their sockets and your soul //begs// to leave your body.
A man with shoulder-length brown hair and a well-tailored robe enters the shop. He smiles warmly at you as he begins to browse. He carries himself with a pretentious air, his hands are clasped behind his back as he examines your wares. You've seen enough wizards to know one when you see one. You stifle a sigh of frustration. There are two ways this could go: He yammers at you and leaves with nothing, OR gives you an obnoxiously complicated order, yammers at you, but you walk away with 500 gold for your patience.
* [["Sir, it's closing time. Please come back tomorrow."]]
* [[Allow him to look around for 10 minutes. That robe looks expensive, maybe he has the money to make it worth your while.]]
(set: $galescore to 1)
(text-colour:#ffe066)[◈ Gale Disapproves.]
“My apologies... I realize you would prefer to retire for the evening, but I’ve come at this hour for a very specific reason.” His voice takes on a more serious tone, the lightness fading as he meets your eyes with a hint of urgency.
* [[1. You feel a little nervous. "Okay..."|Allow him to look around for 10 minutes. That robe looks expensive, maybe he has the money to make it worth your while.]]
(set: $galescore to it -1)(text-colour:#ffe066)[◈ Gale Approves.]
The man wanders the shop looking at the books but doesn't touch anything. He looks unenthused by the titles on the shelves. He moves swiftly through your collection as if he already knows he wont find what he's looking for.
He seems easy going at a glance however, there's a strange uneasiness bubbling beneath the surface.
“Hello. I’m Gale...” he begins, his voice smooth, yet carrying an undertone that suggests he’s not here for idle chatter.
* [["A pleasure, I'm..."]]
(set: $galescore to it +1)"A pleasure, I'm..."
(input-box:2bind $name,"=XX=",1,"Tav")
* [["So, what can I do for you, Gale?"]]
* [["So...Gale. What's so important that you insist on keeping me past close...?]]
(text-colour:#ffe066)[◈ Gale Disapproves.]
(set: $galescore to it -1)
(if: $galescore <=2)["Well... $name." He mimics your rudeness, "I've heard whispers from some very exclusive circles that you have a collection of rare books at this shop..."
"You've heard correct." You declare in your best customer service voice, “I’ve got some very rare items, like a first edition of //Bluebells by The Lake//, and the entire collection of //Adventures of Theobald//...” You let the titles hang in the air, gauging his reaction, ready to see if your offerings pique his interest.
Gale looks mildly annoyed. “Yes, quite nice indeed... But those aren’t quite what I’m looking for...”
"So, what do you have in mind?"
"I'm looking for a //cookbook.//"]
* [["Ah well, perhaps I don't have what you're looking for. Here, on the house." You hand him a copy of 'Sanguine Desires'. "This looks more your speed."]]
* [["I don't know what you mean."->"I don't have a book by that name."]]
* [["If it's a cookbook you're looking for I have some very nice ones on that shelf over there."]](text-colour:#ffe066)[◈ Gale Approves.]
You can see the hint of a wry smile form.
"While I //do// love to cook, I'm not quite in search of cozy peach cobbler recipes."
You say nothing.
He sighs, dropping the pretense. “Fine. I won’t beat around the bush. I’ve heard that you’re in possession of the original //Armadel’s Cookbook//. Tell me—do you have it?”
Regrettably, you //do// have that book. You had a feeling it would attract weirdos. Everything from how you acquired it to what's in it is strange.
* [[You sigh. What is it with this book?|"Ugh... What is it about this book?"]]
(set: $galescore to it +1)(text-colour:#ffe066)[◈ Gale Disapproves.]
"You're lying." Gale says with a frown. "I can practically smell the weave coming off that book."
"You //smell// it? Fucking wizards..." you mutter with a groan. “And how do I know you’re not with The Order?”
“Because if I don’t get my hands on that book, my name will be at the top of their most wanted list.”
* [["Ugh. What is it about this damn book...?"|"Ugh... What is it about this book?"]]
* [["Wait. Why?"]]
(set: $galescore to it -1)
(set: $donthavebook to "true")(text-colour:#ffe066)[◈ Gale Disapproves.]
He glances down at the book and scoffs. He opens the cover and sees a tipped-in page depicting a shirtless vampire ravishing a half-dressed drow. "Do I look like a man who would be interested in this ''trash''?"
You suppress a smirk, the satisfaction blooming inside you. Insulting a wizard is like candy to you...
“//Nightfall’s Temptation// is where the series should have ended!” he declares, his tone sharpening. “Gregon’s death perfectly tied up Melora’s character arc and brought the whole glass dagger mystery to its proper conclusion. Reviving Gregon? That spits in the face of every reader! And to add insult to injury, the illustrations look like they were drawn by a child!”
He taps on the picture, "Look here. He only has four fingers."
You maintain a stone-cold expression, giving away nothing. You’d never admit it, but his critique is spot on. //Nightfall’s Temptation// was a god-damned masterpiece.
Gale snaps the book shut, pushing it back across the counter toward you with a dismissive flick of his wrist. “As much as I’d enjoy prolonging a conversation about erotic literature with you, I have more pressing matters. Now, about this cookbook...”
* [["Ugh... What is it about this book?"|"Ugh... What is it about this book?"]]
* [["I don't know what you mean."->"I don't have a book by that name."]]
* [["...You're right. This book is absolute trash."|"...You're right. This book is absolute trash."]]
(set: $galescore to it -2)(text-colour:#ffe066)[◈ Gale Approves.]
"Well, $name, I've heard whispers from some very exclusive circles that you have a collection of rare books at this shop..."
"You've heard correct." You declare in your best customer service voice, “I’ve got some very rare items, like a first edition of //Bluebells by The Lake//, and the entire collection of //Adventures of Theobald//...” You let the titles hang in the air, gauging his reaction, ready to see if your offerings pique his interest.
Gale looks mildly annoyed, though he remains resolute in his politeness. “Yes, quite nice indeed... But those aren’t quite what I’m looking for...”
"So, what do you have in mind?"
"I'm looking for a //cookbook.//"
* [["Ah well, perhaps I don't have what you're looking for. Here, on the house." You hand him a copy of 'Sanguine Desires'. "This looks more your speed."]]
* [["I don't know what you mean."->"I don't have a book by that name."]]
* [["If it's a cookbook you're looking for I have some very nice ones on that shelf over there."]]
(set: $galescore to it +1)Gale's expression darkens, "That's not something I can share with you. Rest assured, once I have the book, all of it will be irrelevant."
As a peddler of dubious wares, you are no stranger to morally ambiguous—or morally bankrupt—clientele, but something about the shift in demeanor makes you uneasy.
* [["You know what? The less I know the better."|"Ugh... What is it about this book?"]]
(set: $secret to "true")(text-colour:#ffe066)[◈ Gale Approves.]
You gesture for Gale to follow, leading him behind the counter and into the dimly lit backroom.
[“I don’t usually let patrons back here. (if: $donthavebook is "true")[But I’d rather not have any other wizards ‘smelling’ my books,” you mutter, scanning the cluttered space for something to cover his eyes.]]
"Shit... I don't have a blindfold. Er... Can you, like, blind yourself or something?"
Gale folds his arms, raising an eyebrow. “What?"
"Just, like, cast a color splash spell or whatever?"(if: $galescore is >3)[
Gale smiles at you with pity, your attempt to speak about magic is endearing to him. "You haven't a clue what you're talking about do you?"](else:)[
His eyebrows raise in disbelief, "Do you mean color //spray//?"
"Sorry..." you mumble, "I'm rubbish with magic... But yeah. That."
Gale stares at you for a few moments, waiting for you to reveal that you're joking. But you don't. "You'd really have me color spray myself in the //face//?!”]
You meet his gaze, resolute. "Look, I can't risk you seeing my stash. I don't want to tempt you into breaking into my home to steal my merchandise."
He's clearly unimpressed by your problem solving. He gestures vaguely with one hand, his voice dry, “How about I just... turn around?”
You spot a cloth bag draped over some crates...
* [["Fine. Turn around."]]
* [[You throw Gale the bag. "Put this on your head."]]
(set: $galescore to it +1)(text-colour:#ffe066)[◈ Gale Approves.]
"I have to say, your attempt to insult me with such dreck—it's a rather inspired choice. I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who values a story well told. Consider my respect earned. Now, about that cookboook..."
* [[Alright...|"Ugh... What is it about this book?"]]
(set: $galescore to it +2)He glances down at the bag, then back at you, he hesitates.
"It's fine, it's just the bag I use for the market." You assure him, your tone light and unbothered.
With a reluctant sigh he puts the bag over his head. A shiver courses through him, and he lets out a low, displeased groan. “It reeks of... rotting onions. Have you ever washed this? Wait—did you recently buy //meat//? Because... it’s damp in here. Unpleasantly so.”
"Do you want to see the book or not?!"
(if: $galescore is >3)["You're lucky I like you."]
(else:)["//Fine//. Just get the book but make it quick. I'd hate to dirty your putrid shopping bag with my sick..."]
[[Retrieve the book.]]
(set: $baghead to "true")(set: $galescore to it +10)
[["Ugh... What is it about this book?"]] (if: $baghead is "true")[Gale takes off the bag and glares at you. He wipes a mysterious brown goo off his face before placing his hand on the book.]
“You do realize this isn’t actually a cookbook, don’t you?” you inform him.
“Indeed it is not. The original title was //'Wer Auquaz Donoap Di Wer Nao Acht Shio Ui Tsairaaha'//, which translates to 'The Mystic Path of The Wise Upon All is Built.' It’s a grimoire of very old rituals, assembled like a book of recipes. The name was so long, everyone just called it a cookbook.” You watch his expression shifts from awe to intrigue, as the weight of the book settles in.
With a delicate touch, he opens the book and flips through the pages, his excitement palpable. “I'll be honest, I had my doubts about your shop. I was prepared for yet another knock-off. But this is actually written in Armadel’s hand. You can see the signature right here!" His enthusiasm spills over. "Oh, this is... most beautiful.”
He pauses and looks you up and down. "No offense, but you don't look like the type who would seek out a book like this. How were you able to acquire it?”
Boastful Brag:
Humorous Deflection:
Candid Confession:
[[Retrieve the book.]]