Mike's Place

Description

Mike's Place - Rare Books and Assorted Supplies

Mike's Place is located in the front of a small apartment building in downtown Gotham. The store is owned and operated by John Black, a known and respected sorcerer within the community, and offers a large selection of basic supplies that any respectable practitioner of the arts is going to need: from specially treated paper and ink, to various candles, herbs, etc. The store also has a collection of occult books. While most are basic reference material, John does keep his rare (and dangerous) tombs locked away in a back room. Trusted customers are allowed to peruse, and sometimes buy, these texts.

Atmosphere

Store hours are from noon to 1 am, though it's been known to open for preferred customers who find themselves in desperate straits. The store has been known to offer courses and seminars for wannabe sorcerers and serious academics, usually limiting topics to philosophy and ethics, but minor spells and cantrips are often taught as well. Many practitioners seeking apprentices will make it a point to attend, and even teach, such seminars in hopes of finding a worthy pupil.

As for Mr. Black, his belief is that it's better for someone to learn of magic in a responsible setting rather than to go off and make some demonic pact in exchange for a love spell that never works anyway.

Story

Notaries

John Black - Not a lot is known about John's past (see Carthephius PC entry). He is well respected in Gotham's sorcerer community, and is held in high regard in certain circles. He's been known to help people in trouble, asking for little in return.

Tommy - Tommy is a college student working evenings at the shop to help pay his way through school. Majoring in folklore and economics (an odd combination, I know), he knows enough about the merchandise to answer most basic questions. Although not a practitioner himself, a customer will find the young lad quite helpful, whether it's deciding between two different cauldrons or simply trying to catch some gossip.

Mike - Mike is a large grey mastiff who has been with John since he came to the city. The dog is quite possibly the laziest creature in Gotham, and can often be found reclining on the floor of the shop (when he isn't getting into trouble).

Mike's been with John for only a short time but the two have become best friends, though the sorcerer would be hard pressed to explain how they met up.

Mike does have one unusual ability: at any given moment he can be found sleeping on the floor in exactly the wrong place, causing a poor visitor to trip and fall on his or her ass, possibly breaking some merchandise in the process (Entropy 1, Correspondence 1, coincidental). It's become an inside joke in the sorcerer community that one will be able to identify the Fisher King by his ability to avoid tripping over the dog.