B18 Betham’s books

Betham’s Books, nestled in the heart of Verbobonc City, serves as a beacon for scholars, mages, and adventurers alike. Owned by Betham the Sage, this establishment is renowned for its vast collection of used and rare tomes, as well as its unique services that cater to a clientele with a thirst for knowledge and arcane wisdom.

History and Lore

Betham’s Books has long been a feature of Verbobonc City, carving out a niche for itself as the premier destination for those in search of lost knowledge and magical insights. Betham, leveraging his expertise as a sage and diviner, has cultivated a store that is as much a sanctuary for the written word as it is a hub for magical and scholarly pursuits.

Services and Goods

• Rare Tomes and Scrolls: Specializing in used and rare books, the shop offers a treasure trove of knowledge spanning various disciplines.
• Copying Service: A standout feature of the store is its gnomish clockwork printer, a large and intricate device that occupies the entire upper loft. This allows Betham to offer a rare copying service, unparalleled anywhere else in Verbobonc.

Community and Location

Betham’s Books is strategically located to serve a wide range of patrons, from scribes and squires to mages seeking arcane texts. Despite the noisy environment created by the clockwork printer, Betham has ingeniously created three small reading rooms endowed with permanent 'Silence' spells, ensuring that patrons can study in peace.

Political Relationships and Concerns

Betham’s apolitical stance has allowed his shop to become a neutral ground for knowledge seekers of all backgrounds. However, his dealings with gnomes, particularly in acquiring the clockwork printer, and employing gnomes to operate it, highlight a subtle but significant engagement with the gnome community, contrasting with the broader political tensions in Verbobonc.

Notable People

Betham, a wrinkled, old gnome Sage of some 163 years sage, is a central figure in the bookshop’s operations. His skills in divination are well-regarded, and he is known for his theatrical readings, which he conducts from his living quarters attached to the shop. This personal touch, combined with his scholarly pursuits, has made Betham a respected figure within the community.

Conclusion

Betham’s Books stands as a monument to the pursuit of knowledge and the arcane arts within Verbobonc. Its unique services, combined with Betham's expertise and the intriguing setup of the shop itself, make it an essential destination for adventurers, scholars, and anyone in between seeking to uncover the secrets of the past or the mysteries of magic.

Costs

Copies of scrolls, magic books, etc can be made here. The spells must still be deciphered, and prepared (see PHB). The time it takes to copy the spell is reduced (only 1 HOUR + 1 HOUR/spell level). The spell user only has to be in attendance for ½ that time (they can pick up the copy later). The Space in the Spell book remains the same (as PHB), but the Cost is tripled: 300gp/page.
Betham always has one copy of every spell (arcane & divine) from 1st – 4 th level (both in book form and on a scroll). The costs for these are Very Expensive (150% of the PHB costs – which covers Betham’s costs to make a new copy for himself). There is also a small chance of other spells being available:

20% chance of 5th level spells (arcane & divine)

15% chance of 6th level spells (arcane only)

10% chance of 7th level spells (arcane only)

5% chance of 8th level spells (arcane only)

Quality

There is also a 15% chance that there may be a book/tome-type item from the ‘miscellaneous magic’ list.

Verbobonc Locations Referenced by Type 

Bethans Books by 3orcs

Batham Sage by Yngve Martinussen

Sage | Wizard Level 12 Gnome

"I may not use my spectacles to see the world, but through these books, I've seen thousands of worlds beyond this one."

Type

Bookstore

Parent Location

B1 - B30 Business Quarter

Owner

Betham

Characters in Location

• Betham

Costs and Quality

• Copying Costs: Betham offers copying of scrolls and magic books at a premium, with costs tripled to 300gp/page due to the specialized nature of the service. This unique offering attracts a diverse clientele to the store.
• Spell Availability: The store boasts at least one copy of every spell (arcane & divine) from 1st to 4th level, with costs set at 150% of the standard, to cover the expenses of creating new copies for the store's inventory.

Chance of Spell availability

• 20%  5th level spells (arcane & divine)
• 15%  6th level spells (arcane only)
• 10%  7th level spells (arcane only)
• 5%   8th level spells (arcane only)