You spy a case, with a strange ‘keyhole’ depression that appears to be the size and shape of a coin.
Upon descending the stairs, Alis winces as floorboard creaks beneath her foot. Rolling her eyes, she continues and you can see that she's changed out of the ridiculously tight corset she was in earlier and is now wearing a more comfortable-looking rose-colored nightgown embroidered with floral themes along the hem and cuffs.
"Hmm, what's all this then?" she asks looking over Bit's wares.
Lureene glances over at the blonde and feels a pang of jealousy, but she quickly squashes it. She smiles at the pretty young lady, and asks, "What do you think of this, hun?"
Bit smiles warmly at Alis in greeting...
Lureene, as if in a trance, takes out one of the gold coins she received as a tip and slides it into the slot...
... before staying Lureene's hand, "You better let me do that, Miss. Otherwise, you will set off the Alarm spell." He pushes the coin flush against the depression and runs his hand across the lid, dancing a strange tattoo. The coin seems to merge into the box and the top opens with a loud click.
Bit turns to Mors, whose frown is not lost on the gnome. "Sir. I'm not setting up shop here - merely passing through. If you want me to leave now, I will. I don't stay where I'm not wanted... BUT this young woman may benefit from something I have here. I'd ask that you allow me to at least show her one item, if not your other patrons. The choice is yours."
Bit keeps the lid closed waiting on Mor's decision.
Lureene glances over at the blonde and feels a pang of jealousy, but she quickly squashes it. She smiles at the pretty young lady, and asks, "What do you think of this, hun?"
Eyes bright, Alis take in the shop, and the barmaid's sleek wings. She inhales deeply taking in the scents of the place: musty wares, the oiled wood of the bar, Lureene's perfume, fancy vintages, dried gnoll blood, and the evening's stew.
With a smile, she answers, "This place is just full of surprises! It's much more colorful than the stuffy, straight-laced hotels Miss Nell would see us in. We've been to Cassomir before, but don't recall this establishment. Is this tavern built atop the ashes of the Silver Eel? We heard there was a fire not long ago..."
As she speaks, Alis inspects the instruments upon the cart's table before placing a finger to her lips as she regards the strange black chest.
"Sir. I'm not setting up shop here - merely passing through. If you want me to leave now, I will. I don't stay where I'm not wanted... BUT this young woman may benefit from something I have here. I'd ask that you allow me to at least show her one item, if not your other patrons. The choice is yours."
Mors nods tentative approval, then surreptitiously casts Detect Magic towards the gnome and his strange contraptions once Bitiborium turns away.
Bit keeps the lid closed waiting on Mor's decision.
She looks to the tavern's proprietor and implores, "Oh do say it's alright, we'd love to see what mysteries the good gnome has to share!"
Mors nods tentative approval, then surreptitiously casts Detect Magic towards the gnome and his strange contraptions once Bitiborium turns away.
Lureene looks at her boss, but doesn't say anything. Inside she is hoping against hope this gnome is not some sort of charlatan, and maybe he has something she is looking for.
The gnome doesn't seem to notice Mor's surreptitious spellcasting.
After a dozen seconds of silence, Bit raises a single eyebrow as if to ask "...and your decision is?"
Bit breathes a sigh of relief that Mors has tentatively allowed him to stay. His original good humor returns - tentatively..
To Alis: "I'm sorry, Miss. I don't believe you are in Cassomir here."
To Lureene: "Well, my Lass, it appears I will be able to show you something that may help. I won't tax your employer's patience with my usual banter."
He shoos the ladies politely back on the other side of the counter then turns to open the chest and pull out an awkward item...
With relish, he puts on a strange silvery glove and pulls out the item – a glowing incorporeal human skull trailing vapor as it is moved. He dexterously maneuvers the glove beneath the skull and then lowers both down on the counter, so that the skull sits on the glove on the counter and then extracts his hand.
"Verily, I present to you the Ghost Skull of Majjeff! The Ghost Skull possesses knowledge unmatchable but it will only answer one question each week. Unfortunately, its brilliance is so great that sometimes the answers are all but indecipherable. Still, on occasion, it will speak plainly. Come, let us try to learn from this curious object. 'Oh Great Skull of Majjeff! May we ask you a question this day?'"
Slowly the Skull rises from its resting spot, vapor trailing. It bobbles slightly then turns its eyeless gaze on the gnome and intones, "Yes... and you just asked it." Having answered, the Skull sinks down again until it rests on the glove.
With a howl of fury, Bitiborium attempts to club the incorporeal Skull with his cane – managing only to bang the counter. Muttering curses, he pulls out a small pouch and spreads a liberal dash of powder on his cane. He then smites the Skull something fierce.
"That's enough of that, Majjeff! Answer a REAL question or I'm going to drop you down the latrine!”
It sounds as if the Skull sighs... and then bobble-floats up to a respectable height for working Ghost Skulls. "Alright, you get ONE question."
Bitiborium looks to the ladies for a question, especially Lureene. "The Great Majjeff knows many things from many fields – ask your question. He also sings show tunes on occasion but today is, I think, not one of those times. Kidding aside, child", he leans in to Lureene, "this may provide the insight you seek. The Majjeff is a gifted seer, at times. Ask your question and hope."
Bitiborium looks to the ladies for a question, especially Lureene. "The Great Majjeff knows many things from many fields – ask your question. He also sings show tunes on occasion but today is, I think, not one of those times. Kidding aside, child", he leans in to Lureene, "this may provide the insight you seek. The Majjeff is a gifted seer, at times. Ask your question and hope."
Lureene thinks hard for a moment, trying to decide whether she can believe this talking skull nonsense. But if he was a charlatan, he was pretty good actor though.
"Please, what must I do to find my father?"
At the mention of Lureene's father, Alis chews thoughtfully on her lower lip, and lowers her gaze, a hint of melancholy dimming her spirits.
She looks to the uncanny skull wondering what it will answer...
The skull turns to Lureene, sockets smoking.
"Patience is needed. Your father lives and seeks his daughter - as his daughter seeks him - though not under Golarion's sun nor in the Realm. He left it long ago. He is still blessed by Arvoreen and that is his strength." The Skull pauses briefly, "Two moons I see and a tower struck by lightning... A Harrower will show you the right path. The halves will be made whole in the fullness of time... for you and your father are as a magnet and metal filings - inescapable forces draw you together. Stay the path... That is all I see."
And with that the Majjeff sinks slowly to the counter and speaks no more.
Bit puts his hand back in the glove and places the skull back in the box. Out of the corner of his eye, he looks to Lureene hoping the message carried some hope for her.
He closes the case and looks at the cautious barkeep to see whether he needs to bid a hasty retreat from Limbo.
Not wishing to interrupt the barmaid's contemplation of the prophecy, Alis turns her gaze back to Bit and inquires, "Have you anything else in that black box of yours, master Gnome?"
The young half-elf produces a gold piece from a pouch she had concealed in the sleeve of her nightgown and places it upon the counter.
*POKE*
A grubby (but surprisingly large) goblin finger tentatively pokes the skull as it comes back to rest in the black-lined box.
Biter, after having poked the skull, sits rock-still seeing what will happen.