The Bent Shelf

Shop · kept by Odran

The Bent Shelf

The shop smells of paper dust, sealing wax, and the faint herbal scent of the owner's tea.

Stock

13 items · 140 gp

Other

9 items · 2 cp to 50 gp

Blank JournalLined paper, plain boards3 gp
PaperA clean sheet of writing paper, kept flat beneath a…2 sp
ParchmentA tougher, slightly uneven sheet suited to letters meant…1 sp
InkBlack writing ink in a stoppered glass bottle, wrapped in…10 gp
Ink PenA trimmed quill with a split nib, useful for ordinary…2 cp
Scroll CaseA capped leather tube with a shoulder loop, scuffed from…1 gp
Blank SpellbookPrizedA thick, clasped book with parchment leaves prepared for…50 gp
Rainproof Field FolioA slim folio of treated leaves between oilskin covers,…8 gp
Bell-Tipped BookmarkA ribbon marker with a little bell, favored by readers…5 sp

Books

2 items · 5 gp to 12 gp

Common BookA sturdy, hand-copied volume with a plain leather cover5 gp
Wayfarer's IndexA foldout regional index of roads, bridges, ferries12 gp

Magics

1 item

Spell ScrollA sealed, single-use spell scroll, stored in a locked…Price varies by spell

Potions

1 item · 50 gp

Potion of HealingHeals 2d4 + 250 gp

About

The shop smells of paper dust, sealing wax, and the faint herbal scent of the owner's tea. Narrow shelves rise nearly to the rafters, with a rolling ladder on brass runners and a long counter that divides customers from the rare-book alcove. The front windows are crowded with hand-lettered notices for new arrivals. A brass bell hangs above the entrance, and a second, quieter bell is rigged beneath the rear counter. The proprietor, Odran, is a patient human scholar with ink-dark fingertips, a habit of correcting quotations from memory, and an insistence that rare books be handled with clean hands. An assistant sorts deliveries at the back table and keeps an eye on the front door.

Stash

4 items to steal

The stash · GM only

The shop's valuables are split between the owner's writing desk and a glass-front cabinet behind the counter. The till is kept separately in a small lockbox. A bell alarm and the assistant's view of the entrance make a hurried theft risky.

Security check: DC 15Dexterity (Thieves' Tools)
If they fail: A bell tied beneath the rear counter rings if the locked cabinet is forced or the ledger drawer is opened without its key. The proprietor calls for help, while the assistant blocks the front door and raises an alarm. If the party is caught, the owner demands restitution and may report the theft to the local watch.
The whole haul: About 125 gp

Till Purse18 gp
Kept: In a shallow lockbox beneath the rear counter.
Mixed coins from the day's sales, wrapped in a cloth purse. The proprietor keeps only modest change on site.
Value: 18 gp, 32 sp, 40 cp
Proprietor's Reading Lens8 gp
Kept: On the owner's desk beside the open catalogue.
A brass reading lens in a worn leather sleeve, engraved with a tiny line of script.
First Printing of the River Census75 gp
Kept: In the locked glass-front cabinet behind the counter.
A signed first printing of a locally prized chronicle, kept wrapped in linen. A reputable collector would pay well, but fencing it could attract attention.
Order Ledger20 gp
Kept: In the proprietor's locked writing desk.
A narrow ledger listing customer orders, outstanding debts, and several discreet commissions for rare texts.
Value: 20 gp to an interested buyer; otherwise useful as leverage