A barmaid sat behind the bar at the Traveler's Rest early in the morning, her feet propped up on the polished wooden surface and her eyes closed. Jo Freitag walked into the inn and looked around. Noticing the girl at the bar, Jo shuffled up to her and said, "Where's Thom. My friend left a belt and stockings in her room the other night. I need the key."
"We're closed," said the barmaid without opening her eyes.
A voice came from the back room, "I said you'd be back."
"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get out here, Thom. I need our key," Jo shouted toward the sound of the voice.
"I'm busy," Thom answered.
"I don't give a damn," said Jo, "Get out here."
"I'm in the middle of a game," Thom called.
"I still don't give a damn," said Jo.
"Theresa, get her the key," ordered Thom.
"I'm busy," said Theresa the barmaid, still in her propped-up position at the bar.
"Are you going to ante up or what," squeaked a high-pitched voice from the back.
Jo walked into the back room. "Whatcha doin', playing cards?"
"What's it look like?" snapped Thom, "Come back later, would ya?"
"Hey, could you use another player?" Jo asked.
"It's up to my friends," said Thom.
"Sure, we could use some fresh money," answered a small, tubby, cheerful halfling to Thom's left.
"Fine with me, if it'll shut her up and get the game going again," said a well-dressed man sitting slouched in his chair to Thom's right.
"Great. I'll deal," said Jo as, in the other room, the barmaid went back to sleep.
Charles Renault Dupres IV (Stanley Tiller)
Chaotic Neutral, 1st Level Thief (Swindler)
Human Male, 21 years old
6'1", 155 lbs.
Str 12 Con 13 THAC0 20 Wis 9 Dex 17 Hp 10 Int 14 Cha 16 AC 5
Thief Abilities:
Pick Pockets ....... 30% Find/Remove Traps .. 5% Hide in Shadows .... 35% Climb Walls ........ 60% Open Locks ......... 20% Move Silently ...... 40% Detect Noise ....... 15% Read Languages ..... 10%
Weapon Proficiencies: Long Sword, Short Bow
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Fast Talking, Gaming, Observation, Disquise, Etiquette, Reading/Writing Common,
Languages: Common, Elven, Thieves Cant
Equipment: Leather Armor, Long Sword, Short Bow, 10 Sheaf Arrows, backpack, 2 small pouches, breeches, tunic, stockings, boots (soft, low), hat, rope (hemp), tent (large), thieves picks, aniseed vial, salt, hollow boots, normal deck of cards, marked deck of cards, normal dice, weighted dice
Magic Items: Zilch
Comments:
Charles Renault Dupres IV is the son of a rich nobleman from a town far to the north that no one has ever heard of. He is always impeccably dressed, well-mannered and well-spoken. He left his far away land in search of a bride. He has graced this town with his presence to offer some rich, available woman the opportunity to join him in holy wedlock. "Charles Renault Dupres IV" is also the invention of Stanley Tiller, would-be swindler (shh, don't tell anybody).
Stanley began life as the youngest of the three sons of Earl and Wynona Tiller, a poor farm couple. However, Stanley knew at an early age that he was meant for bigger and better things than farming. Let his two older brothers have the farm if they wanted it, he was leaving. He would wear fine clothes some day and live in a castle. People would admire him.
Thomkin has known Stanley's true background ever since the young thief came in late one night, had too much to drink and spilled his guts. Thom is one of the few people with which Stanley will be himself.
Milo Dunlevy
Chaotic Good (also, Chaotic Hungry), 6th Level Thief
Halfling Male, 28 years old
3', 70 lbs.
Str 14 Con 14 THAC0 18 Wis 9 Dex 17 Hp 38 Int 10 Cha 11 AC 4
Thief Abilities:
Pick Pockets ....... 75% Find/Remove Traps .. 70% Hide in Shadows .... 45% Climb Walls ........ 55% Open Locks ......... 60% Move Silently ...... 55% Detect Noise ....... 40% Read Languages ..... 0%
Weapon Proficiencies: Long Sword, Short Sword, Dagger, Short Bow
Nonweapon Proficiencies: Rope Use, Appraising, Jumping, Reading Lips, Juggling, Set Snares, Tumbling
Languages: Common, Thieves' Cant
Equipment: Short Bow, 10 Sheaf Arrows, Silver Dagger and sheath, Short Sword +1, Long Sword, buckler shield, 40 platinum coins, amethyst and blue jasper ring, 1 emerald, boots (low, soft), cloak, gloves, tunic, breeches, water skin, backpack, 2 small sacks, 50' of silk rope, 2 week of iron rations plus nuts and berries, Thieves' picks, manacles (hand), hat, 2 belt pouches, tinder box, grappling hook, blanket, dark suit, snare cord, man-sized net, reed (hollow), 3 torches, hooded lantern, pony
Magic Items: Short Sword +1, coin with Continual Light cast on it
Comments:
Milo Dunlevy's life as an adventurer began when he was left in charge of the family home while his parents went on a trip. Bored with housesitting, Milo went to one of the local taverns. Stumbling back home after a rousing good time, he found the family home on fire. Too ashamed to wait for his parent's return or even find out what had happened, Milo decided to hit the road.
Milo traveled until the money he'd brought with him ran out, and then joined the militia in a small town. He was sent on a mission for the militia that entailed bringing weapons to a tribe of lizard men in exchange for a special plant that would save the life of the town mayor. Unfortunately, the weapons turned out to be rusted junk that had an illusion cast upon them. Apparently, the mayor's wife, who had sent the group on this mission, really didn't want her husband to survive after all. The lizard men were upset, to say the least, and Milo and his companions bearly excaped death.
Since Milo and his companions hadn't completed their mission, they thought it best not to return home. As they traveled the countryside in search of adventure, they soon discovered that the mayor's death was being blamed on them. They were wanted men. After several narrow excapes from bounty hunters, the group decided to split up. Milo has been traveling with a ranger from the group. For the moment they are staying at the Traveller's Rest, but chances are they will not be able to stay there for long before they will have to move on.
(Kudos to Dean Zarske for part of Milo's background)
(c) 1996 by Erica Woollums