An NPC: Island Scout

 Introduction

In the game I'm running, there are 100 keyed hexes (link to map). We are over 20 sessions in, and the party has explored less than a third (even less if we factor in secrets). This meant that finding specific things in the island would be rather difficult. I wanted to make sure there were alternative ways to overcome such a challenge. Which there are, such as the oracle (future post). And the party is resourceful; I'm sure they could send a hireling out to explore or gather information, but what if there was also a scout that could be hired specifically for this?

This scout could fulfill a few goals: i) gives the players a useful way to spend their treasure; ii) saves the party time by performing concurrent tasks; and iii) provides adventuring hooks. Below is the NPC that I created for this. He is, in fact, the one that helped the party find the manticore they were looking for.

Mortimer (Scout)

Location: Redwood Village [0910] - he may occasionally be found in the small Bison Village [0409].

Description: An old scout with a fish-like head and a limp. Mortimer was once an adventurer who specialized in monster hunting. While high on success, he organized what was going to be his masterwork: hunting a dragon. Rumors of one brought him to Redwood Island where he hired a troop of mercenaries and marauders. Despite their strength in numbers, it fell short of the dragon’s. Most of the troop was quickly annihilated and only a few survived. It was here that Mortimer’s lost his leg, but thanks to powerful healing magic, he regained a usable, stiff leg that is good enough for movement but unfit for dangerous adventuring. Now, he focuses on scouting the island for adventuring clues to sell.

Illustration by Silex Art Studio

Wants: Information, stories, or drawings of novel beasts and monsters. May provide discounts or be persuaded into difficult tasks by friendly adventurers that provide Mortimer with his wants.

Mechanics

Players: Mortimer sells rumors, maps, or artifacts that can lead to greater adventures and treasure. He only sells one at a time and for a high price. Thereafter, he sets out exploring the island with a small team. The process may take days to weeks, but he always returns with a new lead. Below is a table with suggestions:

In addition, Mortimer can explore parts of the island for the PCs. He may set out looking for a specific structure or monster or simply explore a desired hex. His chances of success will depend on the distance, danger, and difficulty of the task. Below is a table with generalized indications:

Judge: Mortimer has an X-in-6 chance of making progress towards a task. Most require 2-3 cumulative successes, or 3 failures for a resolution. A successful resolution provides the requested information, whereas a failed resolution provides incomplete information and would require refinancing the expedition for completion. Re-financed expeditions retain previous successes and failures. At 5 failures, Mortimer fears for his safety and will only continue for an extravagant price (~4x normal rate). At 6 failures, Mortimer dies and does not return from the expedition (note a hex around the general area where Mortimer would have been for the players to discover his remains).

*Note: Probability could (and should) be modified based on situational information. Did the party provide a rough location of where a creature may be found (e.g., in the desert near a field of cacti)? Is there less than reasonable information (e.g., find a statue)? The probability of success should be adjudicated and modified accordingly. In the case of a failed resolution, it is assumed that Mortimer made some progress, and a re-financed state could have a higher probability of success than the original probability.

Why do I want multiple rolls instead of just one? I want to use each roll to get an idea of how the mission progresses and because I keep track of time with an in-game calendar, I can space-out the rolls for other purposes (e.g., sending updates to the party). Thus, I plan to use the ordered results to form a little story of the expedition. Alternating failure and success? Maybe they got lost at first but found leading tracks a few days later. A string of failures? Maybe they were ambushed by a dangerous creature, losing hirelings, and forced to return home empty handed. This approach also helps inform me as to the type of information that Mortimer may have acquired. 

That's all I have for now. Until next time, brave adventurer!