Rathole Pawnshop
The Rathole Pawnshop is only a pawn shop in the loosest definition of the term. Using this always moving hoard of illicit goods to pawn your things for money is an option, but more often than not, people are here to buy or sell. And in The Rathole, almost any item with some values can be bargained for regardless of how questionable the origin.
"Well there we go, a customer! Yes yes, come in, I won't bite, hehe... Coming to the Rathole to see the finest wares in town, are we? Or are you here for the gossip?
Please, sit down. Let Mr. Bolton offer you the Rathole's excellent customer service."
Purpose / Function
The Rathole Pawnshop moves between warehouse rooms in the Sewers of Moon Terrace, that initially were meant for maintenance purposes. The reason for this moving in every 2 to 9 weeks is that Rathole works with stolen, regulated and illegal goods, as well as rumors and information.
Entries
On the single door to the entryway, there is a wooden board telling "The Rathole Pawnshop" with jagged letters. The sign is accompanied by a smaller one, which either says "Open" or "Closed," depending is the shop taking customers. The doors on the spaces the shop uses tend to be large, heavy metallic ones, that don't appear inviting to any passerby.
Sensory & Appearance
Stench of the sewers floats in the air, as the space is lighted with some torches or candles. There are all kinds of suspicious sounds echoing further from the sewer network, only barely making out through the door.
There is some strange rattling in the room, barely noticeable if you are not paying attention to it. Something about the atmosphere is a bit unsettling and makes hair rise at the back of your neck.
Denizens
When entering the Rathole, the visitor is going to meet Mr. Bolton himself. Yet those who keep their eyes open do know, that he is never alone in his shop. And his company isn't just rats and other sewer crawlies.
Besides possible clients, there is always at least one of the Mr. Bolton's kenku goons hiding in the shadows. Clinker, Chitter, Buzz, and Hiss are rarely seen, but hide in the back behind a bead curtain.
Clients of Mr. Bolton are colorful punch, though those more fanciful rather send their goons to deal with him than arrive themselves.
Contents & Furnishings
While the shape and size of the shop change according to which of the maintenance rooms is in its usage, certain elements stay always the same. There is a counter, facing towards the door, and makeshift shelves and crates full of products.
Pieces of furniture look rotten, but they hold a galore of precious items. Jewelry, paintings, weapons, rare liquor, pots smelling like drugs, tapestries, clothing, enchanted items, even books with an ominous look on them.
Valuables
The items that Mr. Bolton sells, buys and trades include various interesting pieces. Do note, that Bolton prefers to deal with things that are hard to pinpoint to their exact origin, and does pass the items that are too hot to handle without getting oneself in too deep trouble. Some more common items Bolton deals with include things like:
- Gemstones, cut and polished
- Gemstones, raw
- Jewelry
- Art pieces
- Carpets
- Exotic weapons
- Narcotics
- Rare or illegal magic components
- Pieces and bones of exotic beasts
- Silverware
- Stolen documents
- Hooks
- Full skeletons
- Enchanted items
- Thieves tools
- Questionable decorative items
- Particularly dangerous and/or expensive alcohols
- Used underwear
- Furs
- Expensive fabrics
- Forged paper work
Just to name a few. The collection is ever-evolving and changes drastically on each visit. The owners also sell favors, information, and send forward requests to people customers want to contact but are unable to do by themselves.
Hazards & Traps
The shop has bead curtains and other noise-making elements distributed around and about to make it harder to move in the shop undetected. It would be rather embarrassing if one would manage to steal from a thief, wouldn't it?
Crossing the shopkeeper or his staff doesn't seem like a much of an idea either. They say that despite of his unimpressive look, Mr. Bolton can be quite an impressive brawler and has many tricks in his sleeves.
Rare treasures
Occationally, Rathole Crew surprises their clients with more rare and exquisite items, that can be worth a pretty penny. Some of these rare gems that have been seen previously in the shop include:
- Dragonborn Guard armor
Exclusive to the cityguard of Moon Terrace. - Slippers of Spider Climbing
Worn-out and in need of maintenance but functional. - Very exquisite, dwarven made jewelry
Rumored to be custom made to lady Lara Stoneskull herself, and stolen from her jewelry box. - Death in the Bottle
Highly regulated tome about horrifying poisons to both kill, punish and torture. First edition. - Crystal ball
Few blurry spots on the surface, don't seem to effect the functionality of otherwise high quality product. - Broom of Flying
Has a handle made of bone. No one has dared to buy it, in fear of it being cursed by a hag.
I really like the idea of the shop moving around to escape detection. But I have to ask... Used underwear? Whyever would he even agree to possess such a thing? Ha!
Necromancy is a Wholesome Science.