"Good night Tauriell" Niamh says and disappears into her room and lays down into her sleeping bag letting the bed for Daya. She falls to sleep almost immediately.
"What's that? You're going to bed? You are no longer allowed to call me a lame duck!" Tauriell complains. "Anyone else in for a party?"
"Sorry to disappoint you but I could use some sleep too. There did nothing happen at the Crow but being afraid of some horror creeping up the stairs doesn't help you sleep well." Carl replies.
And Ernard nods to that.
Outside the shop with Lini and Gwen
_________________________________________________
"If it was such a mistake investing here, perhaps you would like to sell your shop?" Jimmy says walking up to the pompous man
"And who are you? Some more of those poor artists?" Alfons Mortimer Grobaras accuses the group.
"Did you hear that? I'm called an artist." Gwenhwyfar says to Jimmy. But checking her pouch she adds "But I don't think I qualify as poor. I'm not sure what you have with you but if we pool our resources I think we can pay the complete price for a run-down shop in a bad neigbourhood right on the spot." It can clearly be heard that she is irritated about the uppity guy.
Alfons Mortimer Grobaras is all ears in an instant "If that's the case I can offer you a special price. For only 600gold it's your's"
He comes closer offering his hand "I'm Alfons Mortimer Grobaras, nice to meet you."
Jimmy takes the man's hand, "I am Jimmy, this is Gwen and that is Lini." He says pointing to everyone in turn
Grobaras offers his hand to Gwenhwyfar and Lini too. "So you're interested in buying a shop? Then this is your lucky day. Forget my ranting from before. This is a wonderful location. I had no problem to find tenants for this shop. So if you want to open a shop yourself this is the perfect spot!"
"Only if you try to earn your money as a landlord here as I tried you're out of luck. The morale to pay rent is not the best here." he explains.
Gwenhwyfar feels insecure faced with this noble guy. But she reminds herself what horrors she has faced without blinking an eye and Jimmy is here now too.
Taking a deep breath she says "Maybe this will be our lucky day. And your price is special indeed. But special in the wrong direction. This thing isn't worth that." She immediately blushes the moment the words are out and she grabs Jimmy's arm to hide behind. But she said it. Even if she fails to look Grobaras in the eyes.
"If it was such a good spot, I am sure those musicians would have been able to pay the rent you are asking." Jimmy says
"Surely you aren't trying to swindle members of the pathfinder society?" Jimmy asks with a friendly smile
"You're calling me a swindler?" the man replies honestly offended.
"I am saying that 600 gold is a bit much to ask for a piece of property in a part of town that you yourself said isn't worth your time. I certainly don't mean to offend such a shrewd businessman, I was simply initiating the bargaining process."
"I am indeed a businessman. And no carpet dealer on a bazar. You buy it for 600gold or not. No bargaining." Grobaras replies still agitated.
"Where can we find you if we decide to take you up on this offer?" Jimmy asks, bearing in mind that he has other options
"Oak Alley in Capital District." he replies offhand, turns and enters his carriage again. Without saying goodbye he orders his coachman "Back home. Hurry."
The coachman obeys, cracks the whip and off they are.
"I don't care if this is the best place, we are not buying from that pompous git." Jimmy says turning to Gwen
Gwenhwyfar starts giggling. "But you're a funny bargainer too." she replies. "You won't try to swindle Pathfinders!" she tries to imitate Jimmy.
"Maybe next time we should bring Abomentolor. He is better at that pretending stuff than we are."
"What can I say. I'm still getting used to how much weight the pathfinder name caries."
"If you buy something, no matter if this or something else, make shure you receive the official document from the Magnimar bureau. Just paying the price and a hand shake is worth nothing without it." Lini advises.
"Well that is important to know."
"So obviously we are not buying a shop now. What do we do now? Visit the other shop Oliver found?" Gwenhwyfar asks.
"I think so. And then we need to get him some better work clothes."
"The other shop was in one of the upper districts. Maybe we should buy him new clothes first?" Gwenwhyfar asks.
"That is probably the best idea." Jimmy says thinking. Turning to the man he says "Where would you suggest we get you some better work clothes?"
"Just around the corner of my shop is a tailor. Nothing too fancy. Just follow me." Lini says ans leads the way.
Jimmy follows Lini to the shop and leads the man inside where they pick out a plain set of work clothes of thick material that will last a good long while. They also find a pair of thick boots for the man. Jimmy pays and waits for the man to change into his new clothes before they make their way to the upper districts
"If you don't mind I'd like to come along to the other shop too." Lini says following.
"We invited you to come. So of course you can come along to the other shop."
Oliver leads the group to a nice shop in the capital district. It is a three story building on an area of about 2000 sqare foot. It's fine masonry with lots of decorations on the facade. The shop deals in furnishings for the upper class in Magnimar.
As the group comes in the elderly man that walks through the shop inspecting his goods and polishing here and there comes over driven by curiosity. "Good evening Lady's and Gentlemen. Can I help you?"
"We hear you are looking to sell your shop." Jimmy says extending his hand, "We are looking for a shop to buy."
"Ah yes. Now I remember you." the man replies pointing to Oliver. "I'm Randolf Burston the third. And you are?"
"I am Jimmy, this is Gwen and Lini. A pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"The pleasure is all mine." he replies offering his hand.
"I was looking for someone to take over my business. You see none of my children is interested in doing so and it is a rather good running business. It would be a shame to simply close it." Randolf Burston explains.
"But the people need to know you to trust you with furnishing their homes. I know all the important people and most of them personally, but I haven't heard of you until now."
"But even if you simply want to buy the building and sell the shop out to do something different I think this one is out of your league. I don't want to offend you, but to save you some time. We're talking about 30000 gold for the building plus the value of the goods if you're interested in them."
"And if we aren't talking about the goods?" Jimmy asks, "But you are right, that is certainly out of our league."
"I have some time. Do you want to tell me about your planned business. We could sit together and have some really good coffee and some cake." Randolf Burston III offers.
At the guest house
______________________
"Please don't lay down here. Take my room instead." Tauriell offers to Carl and Ernard.
"Thank you." Carl replies "But where will you sleep?"
"That would be a great help sir." Jimmy says with a broad smile
"Somewhere else." Tauriell replies without looking. Turning to Abomentolor she asks "What about you? are you up for some party."
Carl and Ernard unpack the clockwork servant and put all the stuff to it's palce in the kitchen. The tapestries they take with them to Tauriell's room and go to sleep.
"Depends on your definition of a party. Our musician is asleep. We are the only two for the party. And the only thing that seems to cause your ambition are the two casks of whiskey." Abometolor deducts from the environment.
"Yes. And that is where the fun starts. We're going to open a bottle of this stuff and try out if it burns better when swallowed or when spit onto a torch. What do you say?" Tauriell suggests.
"You know how to make a gnome happy!" Abomentolor smiles in excitement. "But where do we find a torch now? Almost all of us only use magic light."
"I know where." Tauriell replies, gets up and walks to Niamh's door. "Shhh!" she says putting her finger on her lips. She opens the door, sneaks in
and looks around for Niamh's juggling torches
and comes out again unnoticed. After closing the door she says "See! We're set."
"I'm impressed." Abomentolor states as he takes a bottle of whiskey out of the cask.