Otto's Emporium of Oddities

After a breakfast of tea and crumpets, Skelder enters Otto's Emporium of Oddities in Winterhaven. Otto shuffles behind the counter, dusting and rearranging a display of amulets. Skelder browses through the store, until an old gnarled wooden staff catches his eye. He approaches the counter, grins a toothy grin, and speaks (with a raspy British accent).

Skelder: Good day, Otto! Would you be so kind as to hand me that old stick in the corner? I'm looking for a new staff.

Otto: Skelder, what happened to your voice? (Otto reaches for the staff and hands it to him.)

Skelder: Oh, blast and botheration! I took an arrow to the head, then fell off a tower where it went all the way through to the other side, and then an ugly giant ripped it out of my brain. Ever since, my voice changed and I have this bloody accent.

Skelder caresses the staff and asks Otto the price.

Otto: Oh, that old Staff of Ruin? It's only 3,400 gold pieces.

Skelder: Stonking great! I'll take it! Otto, I'm also looking for a new dagger, but everything you had on the shelf was a bit too big for my little green hands.

Otto: Ah, I have something just perfect for you, Skeldy. (Otto enters the back storage area and comes out holding a crude totem carved from bone and wrapped in leather.) Here you go, this just came into the shop last week.

Skelder: Otto, that's prettier than a goblin bonnie lass! I'll take it! How much?

Otto: For you Skeldy, just 3,000 gold pieces.

Skelder: (Shouting) Bollocks! No bloody way! I'll give you 2,000 gold pieces.

Otto: This is a precious Goblin Totem found in the Caverns of Draconis! 2,800 gold pieces!

Skelder: 2,600 gold pieces and no more. Otto, it's all I have left from the Abbey!

Otto: Sold! With the totem and staff, your total is 6,000 gold pieces.

Skelder places his chest on the counter and dumps his shiny new gold out.

Skelder: Here you go, Otto. Cheerio!

A large smile grows on Otto's face as he buries his hands into the pile of gold. Coins fall from his fingertips with an unusual clinking sound. But the smile quickly fades as a quizzical grimace overtakes Otto's face.

Skelder picks up his receipt, skitters to exit the Emporium, and sneaks out the door.

Just as the door closes behind him, Skelder hears the angry screams of Otto.

Otto: My gold! My gold! It's... it's... disappearing! Skelder, what have you done?! Get back here! Skelder! SKELDER!!!