B28 Scribes and Paper

A small pale green cottage with light yellow trim clings to the edge of the road so tightly that people simply walk across the small porch in front as they make their way back and forth. Planters hanging onto the windowsills hold mums and other bright flowers and the sign proclaiming “Scribes and Paper” over the door is decorated with flowers and vines.

Overview

Scribes and Paper is Verbobonc’s premier source for durable, treated paper and professional scribing services, the work of master craftswoman and widow Alara Reed. B28 Scribes and Paper

Her signature “Alaran paper” is resistant to fire and water, coated with a secret light oil that helps ink bond instead of smearing it. Sheets can be fully immersed in water for hours and endure heat that would ruin common parchment—making them prized for merchant ledgers, spellbooks, contracts, and travel-worn scrolls. B28 Scribes and Paper

Because early experiments filled the lane with harsh odors, Alara moved the papermaking and treatment out to a small millyard outside the city, keeping the shop itself quiet and sweet-smelling while production chugs away beyond the walls.

Street Approach

History and Background

The evolution of Scribes and Paper from a modest local shop to a key player in Verbobonc’s market is a testament to the innovation and resilience of its owner.

• Foundation and Growth: Originally started by Alara Reed’s late husband, the business expanded significantly under her leadership after introducing the revolutionary paper.
• Relocation of Production: Moved the paper production outside the city to address neighborhood concerns about odors from the treatment process.

The Cottage Shop

1. Front Room – The Work & Sales Floor

The main room is both showroom and studio:

• A central desk holds ink-jars, quill stands, sand shakers, and a small lockbox for coin and seals.
• Along the back wall stand bookcases and pigeonhole shelves stacked with bound ledgers, blank journals, and boxed spellbooks, all bearing Alara’s discrete mark.
• A long workbench against the west wall supports cutting tools, leather hides, thin wood boards, and clamps for binding—this is where she assembles her ledgers and books. Neat stacks of treated paper rest on shelves beneath.
• A solid oak door at the rear leads into her private living area; its lock is sturdy and usually engaged.

The room is bright, orderly, and dotted with fresh flowers in vases—a slight defiance against the dry, ink-stained business she practices.

2. Alara’s Living Area

Behind the shop lies a small, dim room that feels almost unused:

• Soft, plush furniture and tall bookcases crowd the walls.
• A small bed in the corner is almost caged by shelves; the stove stands cold, long since given over to storage.
• Heavy curtains keep the room in perpetual dusk, neat but strangely empty, more like a tidy cell than a home.

Since her husband’s death, Alara mainly sleeps here and little else—she takes most meals in nearby taverns, then returns to read and collapse into bed before another long day at the desk.

Goods – Paper

(Alaran Paper & Bound Volumes)

All products bear Alara’s subtle maker’s sigil and share the same treated-paper core.

Alaran Paper (Sheet Goods)
Specially treated paper coated with a secret oil:

• Properties:
• Fire resistance equivalent to +5 vs. mundane flame and minor magical heat.
• Can be fully submerged in water for several hours before ruin.
• Resists insects and normal rot better than common parchment.
• Use: Ideal for scrolls, contracts carried on the road, and maps expected to see hard use.
• Price: About 8 sp per sheet.

Alaran Spellbook / Ledger

Most buyers are merchants, but the book is built to wizardly standards:

• 100 pages of Alaran paper, bound to thin wooden boards and covered in leather.
• Treated to resist insects, water immersion up to roughly eight hours, and ordinary fires (fire resistance +5).
• Sold blank for spells, ledgers, or journals.
• Price: ~25 gp per book (or adjusted by you to match the later pricing sidebar). B28 Scribes and Paper

You can also layer on the expanded price list from the later business write-up (5 gp business ledgers, 3 gp journals, 100 gp premium spellbooks, etc.) to differentiate basic vs. high-end stock.

Goods and Costs

The store offers its unique products and services at premium prices, justified by the superior quality and durability of the goods.

• Spellbooks and Ledgers: Priced higher due to their enhanced durability and protective features.
• Scribing Rates: Competitive within the industry, reflecting the high level of expertise and discretion offered.

Scribing & Specialist Services

Alara and her staff provide expert, discreet scribal work:

• Business Transactions: She or a trusted associate attends meetings as a neutral observer, recording terms, signatures, and witness marks, then affixes her seal—a mark widely respected in Verbobonc’s commercial circles.
• Book Copying: Faithful reproduction of texts, from modern treatises to fragile old manuscripts. Complex or ancient scripts command higher rates. B28 Scribes and Paper
• Historical & Legal Recording: Family trees, guild charters, deeds, and chronicles are painstakingly written on her treated paper for long-term preservation.

The expanded rate card in the business appendix suggests: ~10 sp/page for transactional records, 2–5 gp/page for book copying based on difficulty, and 8 sp/page for historical documents—premium prices justified by the quality and longevity of the work. B28 Scribes and Paper

Customization—embossed covers, unusual bindings, rare inks—is available for nobles, wizards, or anyone with coin and taste.

Relationships and Politics

Alara’s business acumen and personal history have positioned her as a respected figure in both the commercial and social circles of Verbobonc.

• Local Business Ties: Works closely with various merchants and craftsmen, ensuring a steady demand for her products.
• Community Engagement: Known for her impartiality and discretion, Alara has earned trust across diverse sectors, from local artisans to influential politicians.

Personal Motivation and Vision

Driven by a passion for her craft and the legacy of her family, Alara continues to innovate while maintaining the high standards set by her predecessors.

• Innovation in Papermaking: Continues to research and develop new treatments to enhance the quality of her paper.
• Community Contribution: Aims to support the local economy through job creation and by participating in community events.

Secrets & Adventure Hooks

The original notes already seed several excellent hooks; here they are polished for table use. B28 Scribes and Paper

1. The Alaran Formula
   A local wizard, merchant prince, or even foreign agent covets Alara’s secret treatment process. They approach the PCs—overtly or through intermediaries—to steal her notes, kidnap a worker, or spy on the out-of-town papermill. Accepting the job risks turning Alara and a good portion of the merchant class against them; refusing may earn her gratitude and a future discount—or a rival’s enmity.
2. The Missing Scribe
   Alara leaves one morning to witness a major contract-signing and simply never returns. Her staff, panicked and at a loss, beg the PCs to investigate. Did someone silence her to erase a damning record? Did she vanish en route… or follow a clue related to her own past? The trail begins with her last docket of appointments.
3. Map on the Doorstep
   One dawn, Alara finds a mysterious map and a strange note mentioning a distant relative left on her doorstep. Unable to abandon the shop, she offers the map and a modest purse to the party, asking them to uncover who sent it and why. The map may lead to forgotten family holdings, a Temple cache, or a ruin whose secrets someone hopes only she could decode.
4. Proof in the Ledger
   A noble house or guildmaster faces accusations of treason, smuggling, or Temple collaboration. The only proof lies in ledgers written on Alaran paper, now hidden or falsified. Because she remembers every major commission, Alara can point the PCs toward the right book… if they convince her that revealing a client’s secrets serves a higher good.

Alaran Paper

Alara Reed makes this special paper using a special, secret process. Thee paper is coated with a light oil that actually aids ink permanence rather than preventing it. The process of making the paper, and coating it with her special oil, makes it more resistant to water damage and somewhat resistant to fire. Alaran paper has fire resistance +5 and can be immersed completely in water for several hours before being ruined. While it is usually used for business documents, this paper is excellent for scrolls that see a great deal of travel and abuse.(8sp per sheet.)

Alaran Spellbook

Merchants are the main purchasers of these books, using them as ledgers for recording business deals and accounting rather than spells. Each book has 100 pages of Alaran paper bound to thin wood boards covered with leather and is resistant to insects, fire, and water. Each book has fire resistance +5, and can be immersed in water for approximately 8 hours before being permanently damaged. The wood and oil used to make the books helps repel insects making them far less susceptible to insect damage. While the books are more expensive than standard spellbooks, many traveling wizards prefer having the added protection.(25 gp per blank book)

In addition to the above products, Alara provides herself, or one of several equally trustworthy associates as a scribe on demand. She can act as a neutral observer of business dealings, make a record of the transaction, and then affix her seal to it.