With a hunger that even a platter of honeyed scones couldn't dent, your patron impatiently gasps, "Well? What are you waiting for?" before regaining his composure and assuring you that he has "taken up residence" at the Emperor of Curd and will eagerly await any reports of the occult.


"Would that I were satisfied with mere treasures. They do nothing for me. You'll find what I desire has no place in a jeweler's display case or within a noble's velvet pouch. Neither am I interested in your garden variety undead," he explains, anticipating some of Cass's questions, his narrow nose squinching in distaste.

"While I am a connoisseur of the occult, that does not mean I am solely interested in the effect it has on me. I am equally interested in the effect it has on others."

Shazzam looks over at the bar, where Brant has gone to be closer to the booze.

"The effect of the occult on the seasoned drinker interests me. But so does its effect on a stoical, if avaricious, dwarf."

"Now, about this butler..."

~~~
The items sold thus far do not appeal to your patron.
He's not interested in low-level undead.
He's also not interested in the magical (and non-magical) paintings although a future NPC might be.
He is interested in spectral manifestations.
He's especially interested in items and instruments of the occult and macabre.
He prefers a variety of points of view.
But if you're ever unsure, just go ahead and present item X to him or ask about his interest in y.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:15, Sun 25 Dec 2022.

Brant turns a bleary eye towards Shazzam.
"I think I may have something of interest," he burbles.
"It's a mirror. With a killer reflection. I can go fetch it, if you like. I'm sorry I can't give it to you, though. It's a gift for the mayor."

"Yes, my good man, that's just what I've been talking about. That old noodle of yours has some wrinkles after all."

"Right then," says Brant, struggling to his feet. With Chester's assistance, Brant retrieves the covered mirror from the hotel safe. Brant draws enough of the sack away to show that the object is indeed a mirror.
"Came from a dressing room at the manor. Gaze at your reflection, you'll unleassh some invisible creature that'll try real hard to ruin your day. Yup, that place has got loads of this stuff."
After a moment of thought, Brant snaps his fingers and looks over at Otis.
"Hey, Otis! Bet this fella would get a kick outa Mush! Now where'd that li'l guy get to?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:00, Mon 26 Dec 2022.

"He's right over here, under the table. hey, much, want to go and climb over the nice man's boot?" says Otis as he looks under the table and then points at the boot inquestion.

The new guest at the inn tenderly receives the mirror and scrutinizes it lovingly, a smile stretching his thin lips.

"Yes, there, I can see," he breathes, his fingers tracing the cracks in the mirror in which the poltergeist can be said to dwell.

He addresses Brant, "'An invisible creature' ... in a dressing room? Why do you suppose it was trapped in the mirror?"


Shazzam looks at Otis blankly. "There are things under the table, yes. I wouldn't care to handle any of them."

"Perhaps as a cunning means of being transported out the Manor?"

"Cunning, it was, for you to transport it out of the manor," Shazzam acknowledges, before raising one waggling finger, this one having yet to be sucked clean and thus still glistening with honey, "but a spirit such as this that is bound to both a place and an object would never want to erase those bindings."

"If anything, you have increased its torments," he smiles, reassuringly.