I'm flodded with work tomorrow, so here it is a bit early. I hope you like it.
Key Phrase: “A fool and his money are soon parted.”
Other Ingredients: A calling card, a crimson feather, “Finders keepers, losers weepers”
Association: The Glittering Brotherhood
NPC: Girble Underschott, 120 years old
Other NPCs:
Unser Stonehold, 175 years old
Easu Issacson, 24 years old
Wendy Hawthorne, 19 years old
The Tale
Girble Underschott strode confidently through the hallways of the Glittering Brotherhood. In a short amount of time the boisterous gnome had made himself quite a name; he was an expert in the art of infiltration, deception, and larceny. He had only been in Mor’s End three weeks before he made contact with the infamous Glittering Brotherhood: they had a job for him to do.
The Merchant Guild, it seemed, had snuck a gem of exceptional quality past the usual spies of the Brotherhood. It was the Burning Sapphire; a gem which had all the characteristics of a sapphire, except for its ruby red color. Unser Stonehold, the Brotherhood’s Director of Acquisitions, did not know what the Merchants were going to do with the gem, but he knew he wanted to see them embarrassed.
Last month Unser asked Girble to relieve the merchants of the possession; it would not be easy, but the gnome was unknown in town, and expendable. It was worth the gnome’s life to Unser to see what kind of protections surrounded the gem. But Girble had pulled off the stunt; the next morning Unser sat in his leatherback chair gazing at a blood-red sapphire resting on his desk; and looking at the upstart gnome who had propped his feet upon Unser’s desk.
Grible opened Unser’s door without knocking, irritating the gruff dwarven Director. “Girble is good,” he thought, “but the lad needs to be housebroked!”
“Eh, boss, what kin I do ye’s fer?” Girble asked as he plopped himself down in the leather chair opposite Unser. “Wurd is dat ye’s gots, eh,… sit-chu-ation… that ye’s needs me to, eh, cleans up. Dat true boss?”
Unser hadn’t gotten used to the gnome’s odd way of talking, and it was quite irritating. He wished Girble would remove his feet from the desk when he said, “Boy, you did us a good job last month, and we dwarves don’t forget when someone does something noteworthy. We do have a problem that we think you can fix; it is regarding the Burning Sapphire…”
“Ye’s meanin te say dat, eh, I’s goin te steal what same gem twice, eh? I’s was tinkin ye’s knew hows to, eh, take care of ye’s stones, boss.”
“It wasn’t the merchants that took it. It was dumb luck. Since we mostly operate in around Lake Enoria, we thought it would be a safe place to store the valuable; we did not want to keep the stone in the guild house for fear that the merchants would steal it back. So we wrapped the stone in a tight canvass bag filled with rocks, and sent it to the bottom of the lake. We dredged the sack up two days ago, and the Burning Sapphire was not there. A rip in the bag gave us hope that it had merely slipped out, but that was not to be. Our divining magics tracked the gem to the eastern wharfs; our men were sent in that direction immediately, but the signal failed before they could reach their target.
“A little snooping around gave us this information: a fisherman by the Easu has the gem. He’d found it in the gullet of one of the fish he caught that day. He carries it around in a cheap locked around his neck; the locket is made of lead, and that is likely what foiled our divinations. He is fiercely protective of the gem. Three of our… agents… visited his house yesterday to relieve him of the gem, but he defended it bravely.
“When told that the gem belonged to a strong local interest, we didn’t mention the Brotherhood, the man harrumphed and said ‘Finders keepers, losers weepers!’ Even if this man is brave enough to face three of our men, he must be simple minded to use a child’s rhyme to vindicate his actions.”
“Ye’s takin on a childish man, so ye’s needs to call Girble. No worry you none dere, boss. I’s gonna gets de stone back fer ye’s. But one ting I’s be needin from ye’s; don’t boder the mark fer too weeks. He’s gonna be edjie fer a while, and I’s wants him relaxin when I show at de door. Ye’s be lettin me know if’n he tries to sell that bonny rock he’s got. Suits ye, does it now, boss?”
“That will be fine, Girble. Remember, we don’t want to harm the poor man, we just want back what’s ours. We will have guards posted to make sure that the merchant guild doesn’t strike first, but they will not interfere with the man’s life. Good hunting, son.”
Girble rose, bowed gravely, flashed his mischievous smile, and strode out.
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Easu gazed at the gemstone he’d found for the fifth time tonight. It was perfect. He would finally be able to ask Wendy to marry him; this gem would buy a new boat, it would pay for Wendy never to have to work. Some days, they could walk down to the Merry Maiden and have a fancy meal as they listened to the proprietress perform. He could buy fancy clothes for the wedding; it was all going to be perfect. Two weeks ago he wouldn’t have thought it possible, but this gem had come from the gods.
A nock at the door.
Easu, still with his mind on the gemstone, placed it back in the locket around his neck and went to see whom it was.
The instant the door opened a bustle of red thrust its way into the small house. “Good evening, good evening, sirrah! Pardon me for the hasty method of entrance to this, your abode, but I must say that too much time is wasted on people’s doorsteps these days.” The blur slowed to reveal a gnome wearing a bright red tunic, a flowing golden embroidered cape, and a wide brimmed hat, with a crimson feather stuck into the band. “Ah! But we must rectify that interesting look on your muddled face! I have not introduced myself, and no doubt you consider it odd to have as a guest in your home a strange personage who refuses to reveal his name! That is something I do not wish at all to do, and as such, present you, sirrah, with this, my card.”
The gnome was gracefully bowing to Easu holding his calling card out. Slowly, as Easu tried to make sense of the situation, he reached for the card, and inspected it. It said: Trevor Bartholomew Plantagenet, and underneath, Wedding Coordinator.
“It is my understanding, which I take as my specialty, understanding things, that is, that you plan on extending your immediate family relations to include a member of the fair sex. I congratulate your wisdom in seeking the infinite happiness that flows only from the joyful union of a man and a woman. It is in the capacity of an advisor that I wish to serve you, and if you will not accept my service in trepidation of an exorbitant fee required to satisfy my material needs, I assure you that my pay will only be that you speak well of me when others ask of your successful union with the gilded woman you intend to make part of your life; reputation, for one newly arrived in Mor’s End, is the most agreeable asset to which a man in my profession can aspire.”
Easu’s face turned from bewildered to a mixture of thanks and astonishment; he indeed had feared that this expert in the field of marriage would require compensation for his services. Easu smiled brightly and began to speak.
“Before you begin your questions, sirrah,” Trevor interrupted, “of which an intelligent man like yourself must have many, I must satisfy myself to one particular from which I cannot budge. I demand from my clients a dedication to the honored female subject of our conversation that transcends the normal; indeed it is almost a religious devotion to the intended bride that must be proven before I apply my wealth of expertise of the matters concerning wedlock to the service of a man wishing them.” Trevor stopped pacing about the room while speaking and looked skeptically into Easu’s eyes. “Show me, sirrah, that your intentions are completely honorable, and you intend to provide the inestimable female with all the comforts that you can afford.” Trevor stood stock still, apprehension at Easu being unable to show proof, and yet hope that he would, painted upon his face.
At a loss for words, Easu hesitated. He wanted to show this lordly gnome that he could provide for his beloved Wendy. The solution, he realized, was hanging on his neck. Easu took from the locket the Burning Sapphire, and a proud smile beamed from his face as he handed it to Trevor.
“Absolutely marvelous.” Trevor stood still examining the stone. After a few minutes, he spun around gleefully and handed it back to Easu. “Any future husband that would give such a treasure to provide for his beloved surely is the kind of man for whom I wish to work!” Easu blushed as he returned the gem to his locket. “Sirrah,” Trevor bowed, “I will put forth all of my power to arrange for you the most glorious union between two loving people that has ever been seen upon this world. Sirrah, you shall be the envy of kings and your wife the envy of women the world over. I shall return to you with good news of my progress. Good evening, sirrah.” And with that, the gnome once again blurred through the door, leaving behind a contented and pleasantly surprised fisherman.
---------------
“Har har har! Ye’s a-should have seen dat maroon juste standin dere while I’s were seyin all dat absurdity with him bein de envy of de Kings. I’s hopin you like big shiny rocks, dere boss, fer if’n ye was, I kin provide someting fer ye’s. Har, har, a fool and he’s wealth soon split weys! ‘Specially if’n I’ve gots a hand in dere.” Girble handed the Burning Sapphire over to Unser Stonehold, his gold tooth seeming to glint with the same mischievousness as his eyes.
“That switch was well done, Girble.” Unser removed the gemstone-inspecting lens from his eye. “I doubt he’ll even notice until he tries to sell the thing. Here’s your commission, you earned it.” With that, Unser gave Girble the 200 promised gold pieces, and opened the door for his laughing rogue.
“I’s be seein ye around dere, boss. Don’t be waitin all too long te call me back up ‘ere. Me ‘ands be gettin itchy from now till den. I’s look forward to de next job ye’s got.” And Girble Underschott was gone from the Director’s office.
Description:
Girble Underschott can make himself to look like anything he pleases, and many times good friends, if he has any true friends, fail to recognize him. The most remarkable aspect of Girble’s appearance is the gold tooth he wears sometimes. People in conversation remember concentrating mostly on his tooth, which he shows often; very little attention was paid to what Girble said, except that it sounded reasonable.
Unser Stonehold, the Director of Acquisitions in the Glittering Brotherhood, is suspicious of everyone he meets, and people see that. It is likely a reaction to dealing with the less virtuous members of the community. A scowl usually adorns his broad face, although he does enjoy laughing at a particularly crafty piece of “acquisition”.
Easu Isaacson is a completely unremarkable person. His clothes are of poor quality, and he wears a tired and unintelligent look upon his face. While tall, he stoops from having to do so while drawing in the fishing nets he works at all day on Lake Enoria.
Wendy Hawthorne is a pretty, if not beautiful, woman. She is a haberdasher working in a shop on the main square. She has blonde hair she likes to wrap in a bonnet. Easu dotes upon her dainty feet.
Plot Hooks:
---1. Easu has been whining at the courts for days attempting to start a search for his gem. He meets the party outside of the mayor’s house and asks them to assist in recovering the stone from Trevor Bartholomew Plantagenet.
---2. Easu has been arrested. The Merchants Guild apprehended him when he tried to sell the gemstone at their guild house. “Only the possessor of the original could have made such a copy, even a worthless copy like this.” Easu’s protests that the gem is real have not availed him. The party is approached by Wendy to help her imprisoned fiancée.
---3. Girble Underschott was commissioned by the Glittering Brotherhood to relieve the party of a valuable item in their possession. He takes them with a complicated confidence scam.
---4. The Merchant Guild knows Easu had the stone. They also believe this “Trevor Bartholomew Plantagenet” now has possession. The party is asked to find the thief and return the stone.
Stat Blocks:
Girble Underschott, Male Gnome Rogue 2, CR 2; Age 120; Size Small; Type Humaniod; HD 2d6+2, HP 10; Init +1; Speed 20; AC 11 (flatfooted 10, touch 11); BAB +1, Attack MW Rapier –1 (1d6-2)
SA: Sneak attack +1d6; SQ: Spells, Lowlight vision, Evasion; AL CN; SV: Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +0; STR 6, DEX 12, CON 13, INT 15, WIS 11, CHA 19
Skills and Feats: Appraise +9, Bluff +22, Diplomacy +13, Disguise +13, Listen +2, Spot +0, Search +2, Sense Motive +9, Forgery +7, Gather Information +9, Innuendo +7, Intimidate +11, Pick Pocket +8; Skill Focus (Bluff)
Possessions:
Tooth of Deception: This magical “false tooth” provides a +10 bonus on bluff checks.
Disguise Kit: Has 6 remaining uses.
Magnifying Glass: +2 to Appraise checks for fine items.
Masterwork Rapier
Spells: 1/day: Speak with Animals, Dancing Lights, Ghost Sound, Prestidigitation
Unser Stonehold, Male Dwarf Expert 8, CR 4; Age 175; Size Medium; Type Humaniod; HD 8d6+11, HP 38; Init -1; Speed 20; AC 9 (flatfooted 9, touch 9); BAB +6/+1, Attack Morningstar +1: +8/+3 (1d8+2)
SA: None; SQ: Darkvision 60’, Stonecutting, AL N; SV: Fort +3, Ref +1, Will +9; STR 12, DEX 8, CON 13, INT 13, WIS 17, CHA 11
Skills and Feats: Appraise +12, Bluff +11, Diplomacy +15, Forgery +12, Gather Information +11, Innuendo +18, Profession (Gemcutter) +15, Sense Motive +14; Toughness, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Profession: Gemcutter)
Possessions:
Morningstar +1
Easu Issacson, Male Human Commoner 2, CR 1; Age 24; Size Medium; Type Humaniod; HD 2d4+2, HP 6; Init +0; Speed 30; AC 10 (flatfooted 10, touch 10)
SA: None; SQ: None; AL N; SV: Fort +1, Ref +0, Will -2; STR 13, DEX 10, CON 12, INT 12, WIS 7, CHA 10
Skills and Feats: Profession (Fisherman) +9, Spot +3, Balance +5, Rope Use +5; Endurance, Skill Focus (Profession: Fisherman)
Possessions:
Copy of the Burning Sapphire
Undying love for Wendy
Wendy Hawthorne, Female Human Commoner 1, CR 1/2; Age 19; Size Medium; Type Humaniod; HD 1d4-1, HP 2; Init +1; Speed 30; AC 11 (flatfooted 10, touch 11)
SA: None; SQ: None; AL NG; SV: Fort +, Ref +, Will +; STR 10, DEX 12, CON 9, INT 10, WIS 13, CHA 14
Skills and Feats: Profession (Haberdasher) +4, Sense Motive +5, Diplomacy +6
