Location The Thumbed Page

[Alexandre Askara]

The Thumbed Page is one of many businesses squeezed into the hectic hustle and bustle of Dry Island Plaza. To most, it's rather like every other building on the square, though clean and very well kept. A wrought iron gate opens up to the entrance of the shop, with its large wooden door and high archway. For curb appeal, several plants have been placed by the doorway on the tidy stone steps. For those who take a look inside the shop's front windows, the professional yet almost homey interior has on several occasions coaxed prospective customers inside, hoping to escape the humid air, cold winter, or an unpleasant rain. Polished, dark wood floors extend throughout the entire store, in both the main room and storage area. The sleek counter that dictates the area to the right is of the same wood, appearing to seamlessly rise from the floor. The walls have matching wainscoting, and what isn't boarded is painted a very tasteful purple. Large rustic beams cross the plain white ceiling, feeding the comfortable atmosphere of the shop. Just as one walks in, on the far left is a floor to ceiling fireplace and hearth, constructed of rough, naturally shaped stones. On colds days a fire blazes, giving the store a warm glow and desirable temperature to banish shivers from the body. People are welcome to come in and sit just to escape the cold, if anything else. A couch and two armchairs are arranged for seating, made of soft, well cushioned leather. Wall sconces with pillar candles are lit around the long shop for light. The other half of the room - with the counter - is where most of the wares are. A bookcase with scrolls, scrollcases, books, and artfully arranged papers, quills, and a few vials of ink are the main focus. Stored in glass cases are the higher quality of the same items, as well as on the shelves dotting the store. The rest of all stock is kept in the storage room in the back - the door to which is behind the counter - inaccessible to all but Cross, the store clerk, and Alexandre Askara, the owner - who hasn't been there during open hours for five years. Inside is also a safe for profits made, bolted to the floor. Cross keeps things running as smoothly as possible. He looms at his post, imposing but oddly enough welcoming, at the same time. Ever willing to answer questions and help customers, he encourages inquiries and conversation with all the eloquence that has been trained into him. He wears a uniform while on duty - a crisp white shirt and black pants with plain black leather boots and a fastened belt, complimenting himself and the shop rather well. There is no doubt to anyone who walks in the door that the man is a two-in-one employee, guard and clerk, what with his barrel of a chest and rippling arms. But he has a pleasant smile waiting for every face he sees each day, and with his rich, deep voice, he banishes most unease rather quickly. There is an upstairs, it being a two story building, but Alexandre does not own that floor. It is empty and locked up tight. The back entrance leads out into the alley behind the line of shops that the Thumbed Page is attached to, and a hitching rail with water trough awaits for the nights that Alexandre deems it necessary to visit. Services provided - those that are legal - are displayed on an additional plaque hanging from the bottom of the shop's sign outside, reading Copying, Proofreading, and Quality Wares. Lesser known services provided are heard through word of mouth, which is, by and large, forgery. That business is conducted elsewhere, and locations to meet vary on Alexandre's mood and the day. Interest in these services are first brought to Cross, who then passes on the message.   Staff Name: Cross Race: Myrian DoB: 475 AV, 37th Day of Winter PoB: Taloba Title: Alexandre Askara's Personal Slave/Shop Clerk Skills: 10 Unarmed Combat, 5 Organization, 5 Body Building, 5 Mathematics, 5 Writing Gnosis: None Additional Info: Cross was born in Taloba, but has no memories of his wild homeland. When he was just a young boy, he was captured and forced into slavery, along with his parents whom he hasn't seen since. By the will of whatever Gods now control his face - for Myri was long forgotten - he ended up in Kenash, and was sold into servitude to the Askara family. Not long after this, he was bestowed upon a very young Alexandre as a personal slave, and by the order of his mother, a bodyguard. He helped raise his fatherless master, with a humble gentleness that was uncommon in Myrians, and took up the unspoken title of his father figure along the way. Not surprisingly, he's called Cross because of the cross-like scars that give him his fierce appearance. They were given to him by a heavy handed slave driver far before his arrival in Kenash, and accent his Askara brand unpleasantly. For several years Alexandre's arrogant upbringing caused Cross much trouble, but over time his master grew to love the Myrian like any son would a good father. Though no one, not even them, would accept the relationship openly, everyone quietly went along with it. Alexandre then taught the hulking Myrian man to read and write, as the years went by and he grew into a cultured gentleman - a far sight from the spoiled child he had once been. Cross also learned simple mathematics, how to run a shop - once Alexandre's opened - and through living at Sweet Home Askara, he became something of a gentleman himself. Very few people know where and what he did before Kenash, and sometimes he can't remember that well either. It blurs together into a jumble of long days, lashings, shackles, and hard work. He has been owned by many a creature - Zith, human, Dhani - even fellow Myrians. But he seems to have found permanent service with Alexandre, such that can barely even be called slavery. Though since his master's accident things have changed, the two are still very close, even if the Alexandre has become volatile and unpredictable. He goes back and forth between shop and home every day, running finished and unfinished works to and fro for his master. Personality wise, Cross is a surprisingly soft spoken man - likely from the years of servitude he has endured. It is drilled into his bones to follow orders and please, contrasting with the normal Myrian stereotype. Despite being so large, he has never raised a violent hand for any other reasons than to protect his master and any others of the Askara family. He goes diligently about his work every day, and tries to please every customer's needs. There is a rule though - put in place by Alexandre for the protection of the Myrian - that if anyone disrespects Cross or treats him any less than that of a respectable man, some kind of revenge should be expected of the angered master, however discreet it may be.   Stock Prices 1 oz. Ink Vial - 4 GM Blank Book - 6 GM Quill - 1 SM Sheet of Paper - 1 GM Sheet of Parchment - 5 SM Parchment Scroll - 2 GM Leather Scrollcase - 3 GM Watertight Scrollcase - 13 GM Please inquire at the counter about the number of items in stock. Willing to special order, depending on the goods.   Quills Hawk (Various) Owl (Various) Swan Crow Eagle (Various)   Services Copying of Books Under 100 Pages - 10 GM Copying of Books Between 200 & 400 Pages - 15 GM Copying of Books Over 400 Pages - 25 GM Copying of Letters and/or Notes - 5 GM Forgery of Signatures - 7 GM Forgery of Any Complete Document - 15 GM Professional Proofreadings - 10 CM Some prices may vary.   Misc. Services Forgery of Signatures - 7 GM Forgery of Any Complete Document - 15 GM Prices may vary drastically depending on the importance of said documents or signatures, and the severity of punishment involved if caught. Those listed here are the standard cost for equally standard work. Credits go to Alexandre Askara for making this location. However, due to absence, Alexandre Askara has had his business seized by the city.