Magic – on a Budget

Arcane Curiosities is a small and humble shop tucked away in a dimly-lit corner of Aranthaes Wynds. Its sign is faded and weathered, and the shop itself is far less imposing than its fabled counterpart Emporium of the Magi.

The walls are lined with shelves made of rough-hewn wood, and the items on display are far less impressive than those found in the Emporium of the Magi.

The owner of the Arcane Curiosities is a wiry, grizzled human named Grigori, who is rumored to have once been a wizard of some skill but fell on hard times. He is often found sitting in a creaky old armchair, surrounded by stacks of dusty old tomes and cracked glass orbs. His staff is sparse, consisting of only a few apprentices who are just learning the arcane arts.

Despite its shabby appearance and lack of impressive items, Arcane Curiosities still manages to attract a certain clientele. Adventurers on a budget and those just starting their magical studies often come to peruse the humble wares on display. Sometimes powerful and forgotten relics can wait hidden on it’s dusty shelves ready to be discovered. Prices here are far more reasonable than those in The Emporium of the Magi, with even the most powerful of enchanted items costing no more than a few hundred gold pieces.

Visitors to Arcane Curiosities should not expect to find the most powerful artifacts or the most knowledgeable staff, but sometimes, somehow, the greatest treasures can be unearthed – or at least that’s what Grigori says to anyone who will listen.

For those on a tight budget or just starting out on their magical journey, Arcane Curiosities is a good place to begin.
 

Minor Magical Items

Glow Pebble
A smooth stone that gives off dim light in a 5-foot radius when rubbed between the fingers.
20 gp
Everwarm Mug
A chipped ceramic mug that keeps any nonmagical drink pleasantly warm for up to 2 hours.
28 gp
Dry Matchbox
A small wooden box enchanted so that its tinder remains dry in ordinary rain and damp.
18 gp
Self-Sweeping Brush
A hand brush that will slowly sweep dust and crumbs from a small surface when placed down and tapped twice.
30 gp
Whisper String
Two small wooden beads joined by 20 feet of cord. A whispered message at one bead can be faintly heard at the other.
45 gp
Warmstone
A palm-sized stone that remains gently warm while held.
35 gp
Coolstone
A smooth blue-grey stone that stays pleasantly cool, useful for drinks, food or overheated travellers.
35 gp
Rain-Repelling Hat Pin
A brass pin that keeps light rain from dripping directly onto the wearer’s face.
25 gp
Ink-Drying Charm
A small brass clip that dries ordinary ink within a few seconds without smudging.
22 gp

Arcane Supplies

Basic Arcane Focus
A simple wand, crystal, rod or carved token suitable for spellcasting.
12 gp
Second-Hand Arcane Focus
Used, scratched and perfectly functional. Grigori refuses to say where most of them came from.
7 gp
Component Pouch
A patched but serviceable pouch stocked with common inexpensive spell components.
22 gp
Spellbook
A plain leather-bound book containing 100 blank pages suitable for arcane notation.
55 gp
Recovered Spellbook
A used spellbook with previous writing removed or crossed through. Usually contains 60–80 usable blank pages.
30 gp
Arcane Ink, 1 vial
Basic magical ink suitable for copying spells and magical notation.
9 gp
Scroll Case
Leather tube lined with waxed cloth to protect parchment from damp.
3 gp

Potions & Alchemical Goods

Potion of Healing
A standard restorative draught of variable colour but reliable effect.
70 gp
Antitoxin
A bitter alchemical preparation granting advantage on saving throws against poison for 1 hour.
60 gp
Wakeleaf Tonic
A sharp herbal stimulant used by students, guards and adventurers who have stayed awake longer than was wise.
12 gp
Smoke Vial
A small glass vial that releases a thick puff of harmless coloured smoke when smashed.
8 gp
Glow Paste
A small pot of alchemical paste that glows faintly for around 6 hours after exposure to light.
10 gp
Stink Flask
A sealed bottle of truly revolting alchemical vapour. Commonly used as a distraction rather than a weapon.
6 gp

Scrolls & Simple Magic

Cantrip Scroll
A single-use scroll containing a common cantrip. Availability changes constantly.
30 gp
1st-Level Spell Scroll
A single-use scroll containing a commonly requested 1st-level spell. Exact spells depend on stock.
90 gp
Unverified Spell Scroll
A cheaper scroll acquired through resale, estate clearance or trade. Grigori believes it contains the spell written on the label.
55 gp
Minor Illusion Token
A small engraved token that can produce one predetermined harmless sound or image when activated.
45 gp
Message Stone
A palm-sized stone capable of holding one short spoken message. Once played, the message is erased.
50 gp

Second-Hand Curios

Used Familiar Bell
A tiny silver bell once used in familiar training. Rings clearly even in strong wind.
12 gp
Cracked Scrying Mirror
A small blackened mirror with no reliable magical function remaining, though it occasionally mists over without cause.
20 gp
Old Wizard’s Reading Lens
A scratched magnifying lens that makes magical ink slightly easier to distinguish from ordinary writing.
18 gp
Blank Charm Tags, Set of 10
Small wooden or bone tags used for marking equipment, spell components or experimental enchantments.
5 gp
Mystery Component Jar
A stoppered glass jar containing assorted leftover arcane components. Contents vary and may or may not be useful.
4 gp

Services

Basic Magical Appraisal
Grigori examines an item and gives his opinion on whether it is magical, mundane or worth taking somewhere more expensive.
15 gp
Simple Identification
A basic attempt to determine the properties of a common magical item. Results are usually reliable, though Grigori makes no guarantees regarding curses.
30 gp
Minor Wand Repair
Replacement grip, cracked casing, loose crystal or other non-enchantment repair.
10–25 gp
Spellbook Cleaning & Rebinding
Repair of damaged covers, bindings and ordinary water or dirt damage without restoring destroyed magical writing.
20 gp

 

Prized Items for Sale

Though the shelves seem dusty and unimpressive, Grigori swears he always has “something special” tucked away. Roll d10 to see what curious treasure he has on special…

  1. A cracked crystal orb that glows faintly at night, said to whisper names in dreams. 50 gp.
  2. A brass ring etched with shifting runes, granting resistance to minor flames. 120 gp.
  3. A chipped wand of sparks, capable of producing harmless fireworks or startling flashes. 75 gp.
  4. A leather-bound grimoire missing half its pages, the remaining spells oddly potent. 200 gp.
  5. A set of bone dice that always land on lucky numbers — until they don’t. 90 gp.
  6. A silver amulet in the shape of an eye, granting brief night vision once per day. 150 gp.
  7. A bottle of ink that writes messages visible only under moonlight. 60 gp.
  8. A pair of worn boots that let the wearer walk silently on stone floors. 180 gp.
  9. A tarnished dagger that never dulls, rumored to once belong to an assassin. 110 gp.
  10. A blackened shard of dragon scale, warm to the touch, that grants the bearer advantage on saving throws against dragon breath once per day. 1,200 gp.
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