Outside the temple to Narcillicus...
Mark goes into the temple and prays to the Five Gods at one of the available altars.
After a quick prayer, he feels somewhat reaffirmed in his unlife, and that is rather nice, if entirely without a tangible benefit.
On the ground floor of the home of the Artiste...
Scott, drawing his knife for protection, walks into the kitchen to investigate the noise, as that most certainly wasn't the sort of roar he has heard Niklas make. Opening the door, he peers inside.
Oh, it's just Niklas engaged in mortal combat with a bear while holding an unconscious cat. Nothing unusual.
On the top floor of the Artiste's house...
Morton sighs at the world's continual tendency to not make things easy.
"Well, as they say, one should always hope for the best, yes? I'm sure everything will go well on this trip, monsters or no monsters."
"I'm sure it will, too."
"But that is a bridge that will have to be crossed in the future, for now, more tea. If you would excuse me for a moment, kind mage Erin, I will return."
Morton quickly chugs down the rest of his tea, then goes off to brave the kitchen and its suspicious noises. Passing Scott on the way, he walks right past Niklas, who seems to be busy with an ursine friend of his. As a melee begins to develop over by the stove, Morton takes a pitcher and nonchalantly fills it with the remainder of the tea from the pot. As he does this, he briefly wonders whether he should be more bothered about the fact that there's a bear in the kitchen. On one hand, it looks rather filthy and smells of many travesties, not to mention constitutes a serious hygienic and general health risk by being here. On the other hand, the same applies to Niklas as well.
In Brenwicke's Books...
Sigmund considers stabbing this bookseller schmuck in the throat for his refusal to immediately name a price and ask no further questions, but decides that he is better than that. For now, anyway. He hands the book back to the man who is presumably Brenwicke.
"Let's see... Realm of Dreams. That was in the... Sea of Death section, if I remember it right... hold on."
He walks through the bookstore, taking a cursory look at the stock.
"Hm, looks like there are some books missing from the Sea of Death section. Book of maps, Realm of Dreams... hm."
Sigmund, in a motion he has mentally practiced these last few minutes, brings his palm to his face in feigned embarrassment.
"Oh, silly me, I neglected to mention that I had also stol-um, separated certain other books from the rest as well. I was thinking of buying them, but I suppose I won't after all. Here you go."
Brenwicke gives the vampire a suspicious glance, but accepts the books.
"Hm, necromancy... well."
"So, how much for the Realm of Dreams book?"
The bookseller stares at Sigmund intently for a bit, then at the book, deep in thought.
"It's a rare edition, so I'd say... 60 copper coins. Almost a unique volume, you might even say."
Sigmund considers this price. It's hardly cheap, he'd say. Would take most of his money. However, the streets are beginning to fill with people. Not to mention that Sigmund can hear someone approaching the store right now.