B30 Vulin's Gemstones and jewelry

You enter this shop and the world seems to fade away behind you. The quiet is a welcome relief from the noise of the streets, and the comfort of the chairs looks inviting. A tiny bell above the door announces your entry, but the human proprietor ignores you and stares through his glass counter at the polished gems and jewelry, which light up his face. Two counters run parallel in the center of the room, and in each you see various gems stored under glass. Several display cases shine throughout the perfumed shop, glinting amid long racks bearing elegant, expensive-looking jewelry. A middle-aged man sits behind the right-most one, and a younger female is working at the second. He looks up and says,“Greetings, my friends. How many I serve you?” the man says, coming towards you.

Overview & Reputation

Founded by Vulin Verebidon, a pessimistic yet personable gem enthusiast, the shop has grown from a modest counter into one of Verbobonc’s most respected jewelers.

• Quality: Above average – pieces are carefully made and set, sturdy enough for adventurers yet elegant enough for salons.
• Price: Firmly average; Vulin prides himself on fair value rather than gouging nobles. Hagglers earn only an arch eyebrow and a tighter mouth.
• Variety: Good everyday selection of rings, pendants, earrings, signet pieces, and brooches, with a rolling stock of finer commissioned works in the cases.

Much of his best cut stone comes from gnome merchants of the Kron Hills, particularly Clan Jillink of Tulvar , whose silverwork and gem-cutting are legendary—and currently entangled in the growing Merchant Argument that threatens human–gnome trade.

Interior – A Quiet World of Light

Stepping through the door, you enter a cool, muffled space where sound seems to soften against polished wood and velvet.

• Central Counters: Two long glass-topped counters run down the middle of the room, each lined with trays of rings, pendants, earrings, and loose stones sorted by cut and color. Vulin usually claims the rightmost case; an assistant works at the other.
• Wall Displays: Along the walls stand cabinet displays of more elaborate sets—necklace, bracelet, and earrings together—framed by tasteful draperies and small mirrors that catch and multiply each sparkle.
• Lighting & Scent: Lamps are shaded and carefully placed to make gems flash without dazzling the eye. A gentle perfume—floral, with a hint of spice—lingers in the air, masking the faint tang of metal polish.
• Security: The front door’s bell is tuned to a distinctive chime, and the counters are solidly built; it is very clear that anyone reaching over the glass will draw immediate attention. Recent caravan losses have only sharpened Vulin’s caution.

A stair at the rear leads up to a small private workshop and storage loft where unfinished pieces and ledgers are kept under lock and key.

Approaching Vulin’s

History and Evolution

Vulin's Gemstones and Jewelry has established itself as a cornerstone of Verbobonc's luxury goods market, thanks to its longstanding commitment to quality and customer service.

• Establishment: Founded by Vulin, a gem enthusiast and skilled jeweler, the shop has grown from a modest venture into a respected establishment.
• Growth and Reputation: Over the years, Vulin's has built a reputation for offering high-quality jewelry at reasonable prices, attracting a loyal clientele.

Description and Services

The shop's layout is designed to showcase its impressive collection, with every piece displayed to catch the light and captivate the eye.

• Store Layout: Features two central counters with secure glass displays filled with various gems, and several elegant display cases around the shop.
• Jewelry and Gem Offerings: Provides a variety of gemstones and settings, catering to diverse tastes and preferences.

Notable People

Vulin, along with his skilled staff, plays a crucial role in the shop's operations, ensuring each customer receives personalized attention.

Vulin Verebidon – Master Jeweler

A middle-aged Oeridian man with a neatly trimmed moustache, carefully styled hair, and taste for fine but practical doublets. There’s a hint of clumsiness in the way he occasionally bumps his hip into a counter or knocks a polishing cloth to the floor, but his hands become preternaturally steady whenever he lifts a loupe to his eye.

• Personality: Pessimistic, a bit fussy, but warm once business is underway.
• Mannerisms: Frowns at haggling, treats it as an insult to his integrity; softens quickly when customers show genuine appreciation for craftsmanship.
• Motivations: Protect his reputation for fairness, maintain steady trade with gnome suppliers, and keep his shop above the growing fog of politics. The recent lost caravan has left him quietly anxious about stock and profits.

Lilyana – Counter Girl & Junior Jeweler

A young Flan woman with dark hair and a ready smile, usually stationed at the second counter.

• Role: Greets walk-in customers, shows more affordable pieces, handles polishing and minor repairs. She’s learning design from Vulin and already shows an excellent eye for color pairing.
• Personality: Bright, observant, genuinely enjoys helping people find “the right” piece; far more patient than her master with indecisive clients.

You can easily add a guard or runner if you want an extra NPC—Vulin prefers older, trustworthy watchmen rather than flashy muscle.

Goods & Custom Work

General Stock

• Rings, earrings, necklaces, bracelets, brooches, and cloak-pins set with semi-precious stones (garnet, amethyst, topaz, moonstone, jade, etc.).
• Modest but tasteful wedding and betrothal pieces, popular with merchants and lesser nobles.
• Occasional high-end commissions in the front cases—intricate filigree work, signet rings for minor houses, or gnome-cut stones in human settings.

Gem Sources & Gnome Relations

• Many of Vulin’s finest cut stones come from the Jillink clan of Tuvar and other Kron Hills gnome families, routed through caravan lines tied to the Free Alliance of the Kron Hills and Prince Jimm Pithriggen's network.
• The growing Merchant Argument—the engineered dispute between Jillink traders and human merchants like Koloran—has already cost Vulin one caravan and strained his supply of premium stock.

Custom Orders

• Vulin happily mounts customer-supplied gems in house settings, or resets inheritance pieces into modern styles.
• Prices scale with metal, stone, and complexity; he requires a deposit and takes careful notes in his ledger for each commission.

He refuses to work with clearly stolen goods, though his definition of “clear” may leave some wiggle room for a persuasive party.

Politics, Trade & Tension

Vulin stands in the middle of a delicate triangle:

• Gnome Suppliers (Jillink & others): He respects their craft and wants the trade to continue; he privately believes the current disputes are the work of “meddling highborns who never lifted a jeweler’s hammer.”
• Human Merchants (Koloran & Co.): Koloran is a competitor but also a colleague; if business between humans and gnomes collapses, both their shops suffer.
• Lakash Quallad's Manipulations: Vulin has no proof, but he has heard the same rumors the PCs may encounter—that certain nobles and their agents are quietly stoking human–gnome mistrust for political gain and Temple-aligned schemes. NSQ-03: The Merchant Argument

He wants peace because strife is bad for trade, and because he genuinely likes his gnome suppliers—even if they drive a harder bargain than he does.

Adventure Hooks

1. The Missing Case
   After a Jillink caravan goes missing, Vulin discovers that one sealed case of stones marked for his shop has been replaced by clever glass fakes. He hires the party to trace the switch—was it bandits, corrupt caravan guards, or a Jillink cousin in Slikkina’s pocket?
2. Proof in the Setting
   A piece of jewelry recovered from a Temple agent bears gem-cut marks unique to the Jillink clan. Vulin recognizes the work instantly and can trace when and how the stone entered city circulation, pointing the PCs toward the Merchant Argument and its conspirators.
3. The Gnome Boycott
   If NSQ-03: The Merchant Argument event goes badly and the Jillinks pull back from Verbobonc, Vulin’s cases start to look thin. He may approach the PCs to broker a private meeting between himself, Bliss Jillink, and a representative of Prince Jimm, using his shop as neutral ground to salvage the trade relationship—and perhaps expose Lakash’s plot.
4. Cutting Corners
   A rival jeweler begins selling suspiciously cheap “gnome-cut” gems. Vulin suspects fraud or Temple laundering: either the stones are poorly faked, or they were seized from caravans and are now being fenced. He asks the party to investigate, offering either coin, a custom piece, or a discreet appraisal of any curious gems they bring back from their own ventures.

Challenges and Secrets

• Recent Losses: The recent loss of a valuable caravan of goods has put a strain on inventory and could potentially impact the shop's ability to meet customer demand.
• Security Measures: Enhancing security and revisiting logistics strategies to prevent future losses and ensure the continuity of supply.