Day 1: As dawn breaks, Fip Goldscale prepares himself for the demanding ritual of the Cartomancer Feat. With precision, he creates a new Simulacrum—a magical duplicate of himself, shimmering faintly with arcane energy. The Simulacrum nods in understanding and immediately casts Wish, channeling immense magical power to conjure a diamond worth 25,000 gold pieces. The flawless gem appears in Fip's palm, catching the light beautifully.   With his first diamond in hand, Fip ventures into the bustling city streets. He spends the day visiting high-end jewelers, antiquity dealers, and arcane brokers, spreading the word that he seeks the Tome of Leadership and Influence. His confidence is palpable as he showcases the gem, earning intrigued glances and whispers among merchants and collectors.   ---   Day 2: The ritual repeats itself in the morning, with Fip once again crafting a Simulacrum. The previous day's duplicate vanishes in a wisp of magic as the new one takes its place. Without hesitation, the new Simulacrum casts Wish, summoning another diamond of extraordinary value.   Fip pockets the second gem and returns to the streets, continuing his search for the elusive tome. He follows up on leads and inquiries from the previous day, meeting with mysterious traders and lore masters. Though no concrete offers come forward yet, the interest in his diamonds grows.   ---   Day 3: The third morning begins like the others, with Fip conjuring a new Simulacrum to replace the last. Once again, Wish is cast, and another pristine diamond joins his growing collection.   Determined, Fip broadens his search to the city's more secretive circles. He visits shadowy taverns, guild halls, and arcane enclaves where rare items are rumored to change hands. Whispers of a possible lead surface—an enigmatic merchant known to deal in legendary tomes might have what he seeks.   ---   Day 4: As the sun rises, Fip summons a new Simulacrum, watching the previous one dissipate like morning mist. The latest duplicate repeats the now-familiar casting of Wish, and yet another diamond materializes.   With four diamonds now in his possession, Fip secures a meeting with the merchant rumored to possess the Tome of Leadership and Influence. The merchant, a stern-faced half-elf draped in silks and adorned with arcane trinkets, reveals the tome. The book radiates latent power, its intricate cover and glowing runes evidence of its authenticity.   The merchant demands a steep price of 200,000 gold pieces. Fip offers two diamonds valued at a total of 50,000 gold coins. After tense negotiations, the merchant and Fip part ways for the day, but Fip won't give up easily.   ---   Day 5: The morning begins like the others, with Fip performing the Cartomancer Feat to conjure a new Simulacrum. The shimmering duplicate appears, ready to follow orders, and casts Wish, creating yet another flawless diamond worth 25,000 gold pieces.   Fip, now with five diamonds in hand, refuses to let the merchant's steep price deter him. He spends the day visiting other collectors, jewelers, and brokers, trying to gather additional information about the merchant. Whispers of the merchant’s notoriously stubborn bargaining tactics and greed reach Fip’s ears. Undeterred, he resolves to return with a stronger offer and a sharper edge in negotiation.   ---   Day 6: At dawn, Fip repeats the ritual, replacing the Simulacrum with a fresh duplicate. The Wish spell is cast, and a six-diamond worth 25,000 gold pieces materializes.   Fip decides to confront the merchant again, this time armed with a clearer strategy and more resources. He brings the six diamonds and sweetens his offer with rare and valuable items: a luck stone, an emerald worth 1,000 gold, and the book *Beyond the Cauldron*. The merchant remains hesitant, still valuing the tome at 200,000 gold pieces. Fip uses his silver tongue and magical charisma to stress the rarity and value of the diamonds and items he offers.   After another lengthy negotiation, the merchant wavers but does not yet agree. Fip senses he is close to a deal and resolves to prepare one final push.   ---   Day 7: On the last morning of his downtime, Fip summons his final Simulacrum and commands it to cast *Wish*, producing his seventh diamond.   Now with seven diamonds and a reinforced resolve, Fip returns to the merchant, determined to finalize the deal. This time, he brings everything he has: all seven diamonds (valued at 175,000 gold pieces), an additional 5,000 gold in coin, a pouch of black pearl powder, and both tuning forks for Gehenna and the Abyss. He emphasizes the total worth of his offer and the opportunity the merchant has to gain valuable, liquid assets for future dealings.   The merchant, after much deliberation, finally agrees to accept the seven diamonds but does not want the other items. Fip secures the Tome of Leadership and Influence at last, knowing he fought hard for this victory. Though the week ends without him having time to read it, Fip is proud of his perseverance and confident that the power within the tome will soon be his.