A Treasure Trove in Verbobonc

Nestled within the cobblestone streets of the High Quarter in the city of Verbobonc, Segemm's Store of Collectibles emerges as a beacon for connoisseurs of the rare and extraordinary. Owned by the long-established Segemm family, known for their impeccable taste and discerning eye, this store has become the premier destination for those in pursuit of unique treasures.

Approaching the Shop

The Essence of Elegance

Store Atmosphere

• Old-World Wealth: The interior exudes an air of posh old-world wealth, with expensive Keoland rugs underfoot and rare Nyrond artwork adorning the walls.
• Antique Abundance: Every corner of the store is filled with antiques, giving patrons the sense of stepping into a museum or a library.
• Exclusive Experience: The store's atmosphere, combined with its snooty staff and the fear of accidentally damaging priceless items, creates an exclusive shopping experience.

Notable Figures

The Segemm Family

• Rarely Present: The Segemm family, although the driving force behind the store, delegates daily operations to their elite staff, reserving their involvement for transactions over 2,500 gp.
• Secret Dealings: For exceptionally rare finds, family members conduct business in a magically protected secret room in the basement, away from prying eyes and magical surveillance.

Goods and Services

Exclusivity and Rarity

• High-Value Transactions: Segemm's specializes in the purchase and sale of only the rarest and most unique items, with prices typically starting at 500 gp.
• Diverse Collection: The inventory includes magic items, very rare deceased creatures, artifacts, and art, each with a 5% chance of being in stock at any given time.
• Uniqueness Guaranteed: Items sold at Segemm's are usually one-of-a-kind, ensuring that patrons acquire truly exclusive possessions.

Assurance of Quality

• Authenticity Checks: The Segemm family ensures that every item passes through rigorous checks for authenticity, maintaining the highest quality standards.
• Rare Artifacts: Among the offerings are some of the rarest artifacts, secured under the tightest security measures to protect both the items and the store's clientele.

The Store's Impact on Verbobonc

The existence of Segemm's Store of Collectibles within the High Quarter significantly enhances the cultural and economic landscape of Verbobonc. It not only attracts wealthy collectors and enthusiasts from across the region but also contributes to the city's reputation as a center for luxury and exclusivity. The store's selective inventory and the mysterious allure of its secret dealings have woven Segemm's into the fabric of Verbobonc's most intriguing tales.

Security & Complications

• Segemm employs two quiet, competent house guards (Veteran or Guard stat blocks) and occasionally hires an off-duty Vigil Warden for special lots.
• Night-time break-ins will trigger:
• The bell glyph on the counter.
• A nearby Warden patrol (High Quarter response is very fast).
• Segemm’s personal response if he’s home—crossbow from the staircase, shouted warnings, possibly a low-level defensive spell.

If the PCs try to fence obviously stolen noble goods, Segemm will either:

• Decline with a frosty smile, or
• Accept them while quietly sending a note to an interested house or the Wardens, if that creates a better story.

Adventure Hooks

• The Wrong Heirloom: A noble widow claims Segemm sold her “late husband’s” family sword to strangers without her consent. Segemm insists he bought it lawfully—from the widow herself. Which version of the story do the PCs uncover?
• Curio from Nulb: A pitted bronze token, dredged from a river barge, radiates faint evil. Segemm offers a discount if the party takes it away and finds out where it truly came from—and then deals with whoever is shipping such things upriver.
• Ledger of Names: Thieves have stolen Segemm’s private client ledger. It contains coded references to half the Council of Lords. Several factions will pay well to recover, read, or destroy it.
• Gnome Dispute: A gnome from the Free Alliance recognizes a “decorative” gem-work panel in the shop as a stolen clan heirloom from Greenway Valley. Returning it could win powerful gnomish allies… or cross a dangerous noble who arranged its quiet sale.

Boots of False Tracks

Wondrous Item (Light)

Uncommon Yes

While wearing and attuned to these boots:

• You can choose what kind of tracks you leave whenever you move across a surface that would normally show tracks (mud, sand, snow, dust, etc.).
• As a bonus action, you can change the apparent track type to any other you know or to your own true tracks.

Boots of False Tracks by 3orcs

These worn leather boots are stitched with faintly shifting sigils along the soles. When you peer closely at the bottoms, you see overlapping impressions of many different paws, hooves, and feet.

You may choose any of the following creature track types you have seen at least once:

• Humanoid (any Medium or Small race)
  
• Beast (such as wolf, horse, boar, bear, big cat, giant lizard)
  
• Monstrous humanoid (goblin, orc, gnoll, etc.)
  
• “Booted” humanoid (plain boot-prints, with no identifying sole pattern)
  

A creature attempting to track you with Wisdom (Survival) checks is misled by the false tracks and has disadvantage on the check unless it has reason to suspect the tracks are false. If it already knows or discovers the ruse (DM’s discretion), the check is made normally instead.

The boots don’t change your scent, magical auras, or any other clues—only the visible tracks you leave behind.

Cost: 500 gp
Weight: 1 lbs