Emblazoned on a large sign above the cash register is the motto: "Always follow the directions. Let the buyer beware."
Artax, the shop keeper, dresses the part: since many of his customers are non-mages looking for small charms, curios and other oddities, he plays the "wizard" look to the hilt, dressing in a blue robe covered with gold moons and stars and a huge pointed hat that is ludicrously tacky by a modern mage's standards.
The Old Man is only too willing to provide reckless customers plenty of rope to hang themselves with, though he won't knowingly let such idiotic clientele walk off with something that's going to get them (or someone else) killed.
While my shop is open to the public, the merchandise I sell is of such a specialized nature that most people actually do treat me as if I know what I'm talking about. Which I do. Those who ignore me or the instructions that come with each and every bit of merchandise I sell do so at their own risk. …
Make Believe
There's also a sign that states "BECAUSE I'M A WIZARD, THAT'S HOW" that Artax will point to when someone (customer or friend in need) asks him a certain range of questions (usually starting with the words "how" or "why").
And if you wonder how it is that I can work in a field where people are overworked, underpaid, and generally overlooked by the very people who depend on their services while still maintaining at least some shred of my sanity, I'll just direct you to look at the sign over the register that says BECAUSE I'M A WIZARD, THAT'S HOW.
Make Believe
And sometimes there's more… pointed.
Daniel gestured at one of the signs in the window, which had CLOSED FOR BUSINESS printed in bright orange letters on a black field. Beneath this, someone had written in silver permanent marker: THIS MEANS YOU, CALLIE!
Making The Cut
There's also quite a number of Nocturna's Lilies (asphodelaceae) around the shop, in nearly every room of the shop. These plants orignally come from an area around The Rift
Areas of the Spells-4-U shop
Shop
The shop is on the main floor, with a door opening onto the street.
Office
His office is in the back of the shop, and he has a set of black battle fatigues in a closet (for those times when he has to step in and help with a magical threat against/within the City).
Warehouse
There is a warehouse behind the office supplies. Along one wall of the warehouse is a secret door that leads into the Sanctuary.
Sanctuary
When opening the secret door, on the inside the door has a heavy wheel-shaped handle that bolts like a bank vault. There is lead, cold-forged iron, and a smidgen of mithril in the walls. This (and various spells) ends up blocking telepathy, scrying, and clarivoyance. This is the entrance to The Sanctuary.
“The Sanctuary was built as a safe haven for young mages who have lost themselves … and sometimes for their victims, as well. Mind control is the most seductive of the magical arts, and both the abused and the abusers often need treatment in places like this before they can be returned to society.”
Making The Cut
The hallway beyond has three doors along its right side and a smooth gray metal wall along its left. At the end of the hall is an open doorway to a small room, which acts as a monitoring station (the room takes in the feed of the video cameras in the other rooms and has some comptuers).
The doors into the "guest" rooms look like steel, but are far too heavy for the thickness due to more lead. They are a comprable to a clean and comfortably-sized hotel suite, each complete with its own restroom, television, closet, cupboards and writing desk – even a tiny refrigerator and a minibar. An old-fashioned corded phone sits on the nightstands. Everything is clean and comfortable – and the beds are softer than most hotel-issue mattresses.
Everything in the isolation room is covered by a persistence enchantment; In case the room is trashed, in a few hours it will all put itself back together again.
Basement
This is where Artax holds his remedial magic/ethics classes for 1st time offenders.
Author's Notes
Sources: Artax, The Muse, Make Believe, Making the Cut
