Maldin and Elenderi's Shop of the Arcane
"Proud retailer for the Chemcheaux No.223 enterprise!" -- A sign found on the wall behind the main counter.
Situated in the Artisan's Quarter of the City of Falcarrah, east of the bustling Low Market, this ominous, windowless, two-story building has no sign proclaiming its name or wares, yet the locals all know what it is nonetheless. Built of blackest basalt blocks, merely walking past this "shop of the arcane" engenders an uneasy feeling in most citizens. The mysterious owners are believed by most to be very powerful mages. They are seldom seen in public, and seem to have no interest in meddling with city affairs.
The shop serves as the premier source for spell components, elixirs, potions, and all sorts of magical items for individuals who cannot or prefer not to deal with the Guild of Wizardry. Maldin's also offers specially treated scroll parchment, blank spell books, and other day-to-day supplies for wizards, sorcerers, alchemists, and other scholars of the arcane. These more mundane items account for most of the store's business. Being a retailer for the wholesaler, Chemcheaux, items of a more interesting nature are available.
The shop will purchase arcane materials which in turn are sometimes re-sold to the public. Business has never been particularly brisk, but the owners don't seem to care. Whatever their purpose in keeping the shop open, it is merely one of the countless mysteries and rumors that swarm around them. Maldin's offers no discounts on any goods, ever due to law. They will pay handsomely for any unique books on arcane or planar subjects, however, and have been known to hire adventurers for special missions to recover such materials.
The heavy bronze front doors swing open with a touch from dawn to dusk, and reveal a very ornate protective circle inlaid into the entryway's floor with incredibly rare materials, and prevents entry by all extraplanar creatures, including special familiars. Powerful magic prevents any form of scrying or dimensional travel into the shop. The shop's front counter is manned by the elderly Elbrak, a seemingly doddering old fool at first glance. He is, however, an infallible appraiser, incredibly sharp, and cunning as a fox when it comes to negotiating prices. There are always highly experienced (and very well equipped) guards present. A glance at the floorplan for the shop shows how the shop's wares are distributed under and behind the main counter, spell components and alchemical supplies filling the back shelves, as well as the location of the writing rooms where patrons can copy scrolls or study tomes without interruption.
What lies beyond the front room can only be guessed at. Some believe there are portals to the planes guarded by wondrous beasts, through which the mysterious mages obtain their wares. Others believe that the two absentee shop owners are a figment of senile old Elbrak's imagination, or serve as his illusionary scarecrows to frighten away potential thieves.
Beyond the scholar behind the counter here is always at least one highly visible, and very well equipped guard. Also within the room there is always at least one very invisible, and equally well equipped guard. More guards occupy a guardroom (next to the main entrance), as well as elsewhere in the complex. Adjacent to the basalt-built shop is the stables, a small warehouse, and a rear building that serves as offices. The main alchemical lab is actually in a dungeon level far below the sewers. A room next to the lab is home to their "pet", a Greater Basilisk, whose petrifying gaze can see into the Astral and Ethereal, protecting the shop from any approach via those paths.