Bestiary: Civilian NPCs (Social Reference Cards)
Non-combat NPCs. These are used for social encounters, shops, quest givers, and roleplay. Each card has what you need at the table: attitude shift triggers, what they know, what they want, and a simple combat profile if things go wrong.
LOUIS VUITTON (Human Leather Artisan) -- Level 3
Heinrich's father. Head of the Vuitton Maison. Professional rival of Mella Iron-Weaver.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Alignment | LN |
| Starting Attitude | Unfriendly (toward Heinrich), Indifferent (toward party) |
| Key Skills | Crafting +12 (Master Leatherworker), Society +8, Diplomacy +7, Mercantile Lore +10 |
Combat Profile: AC 17, HP 36, Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +7. Attacks with Leather-Working Knife +9 (1d6+3 slashing). Not a fighter -- he retreats if attacked.
What He Wants
- Heinrich to come home and take over the Maison
- To break Mella Iron-Weaver's monopoly on guild crafting
- To protect the Vuitton "Secret Stitch" technique (used on the Vane blackmail journal)
What He Knows (for players)
- Mercury's Justice Clue: The Maison records mention a "shifting silver buckle" sold to a noble family just before Maliki's War -- this is Mercury's Justice in disguise.
- The Vuitton Secret Stitch was used on a private journal for a Vane family member -- Louis can identify it by sight.
- He hates Alysande Thorne (leather tariff feud).
Attitude Triggers
| Trigger | Shift |
|---|---|
| Heinrich reconciles or offers respect | +1 step |
| Mentioning the Secret Stitch | +1 step (intrigued) |
| Praising Mella Iron-Weaver's work | -1 step (hostile) |
| Showing genuine interest in leather craft | +1 step |
| Offering to help undermine the Merchant Guild | +1 step |
Craft Services
- Sturdy Vuitton Bracers (2 gp): +1 AC vs Scrappers
- Master-Crafted Leather Armor (40 gp, requires quest)
- Custom leather work for The General (free if Heinrich reconciles)
OLAF "ONE-EAR" (Barkeep of The Rusty Cog) -- Level 2
Knows everyone coming and going from The Rusty Cog. Lost his ear to a malfunctioning construct decades ago.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Alignment | N |
| Starting Attitude | Indifferent (warms up to regulars) |
| Key Skills | Diplomacy +8, Society +7, Deception +7, Rusty Cog Lore +10, Underworld Lore +8 |
Combat Profile: AC 16, HP 24, Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +6. Keeps a club behind the bar: Club +7 (1d6+3 bludgeoning). Not looking for a fight. Has 2 Watch contacts he can summon.
What He Wants
- A quiet life
- To keep his bar profitable
- To avoid being dragged into politics
What He Knows
- Rumors about every notable NPC in the city (use the Rumor Table)
- Who visits the bar and with whom they meet
- Splinter's ghost-sensei target: Olaf has served Haldor Stout for years -- he can warn the party when Haldor visits
- Gossip about the Vane family legacy
Attitude Triggers
| Trigger | Shift |
|---|---|
| Flattery or a good tip | +1 step |
| Drunk/loud behavior | -1 step |
| Threatening patrons | -2 steps (hostile) |
| Asking about Splinter's "ghost" | reveals he's seen other Ratfolk with similar symptoms |
Services (The Rusty Cog)
- Cheap Ale: 2 cp/mug
- Private Room (1 hour): 5 sp (good for meetings)
- Room for the Night: 8 sp (Heinrich can perform for free lodging)
- A Secret: 1-5 gp depending on juiciness
ZORA (Alchemist & Black Market Dealer) -- Level 3
Unlicensed alchemist operating out of a Mid-Level workshop. Sells stabilizers, poisons, and quest-relevant items.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Alignment | CN |
| Starting Attitude | Indifferent |
| Key Skills | Crafting +11 (Expert Alchemist), Society +7, Underworld Lore +9, Occultism +9 |
Combat Profile: AC 18, HP 38, Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +8. Attacks with Alchemist's Fire +11 (2d8 fire + 2 persistent fire + 2 splash) and Dagger +9 (1d4+3 piercing). Fights dirty with alchemical items.
What She Wants
- Rare alchemical reagents
- To stay under the radar of the Mages Guild (unlicensed)
- To unlock the secret of stabilizing soul stones
What She Knows
- Soul-Stone Stabilizer (20 gp): Quiets voices in The General's Heart for 1 hour
- Only a shard of Mercury's Justice can permanently realign a leaking soul stone (Healer's Debt quest)
- Black market contacts for Gnomish Royal Seals and pre-war relics
- The Druid's reputation from the war (she's treated augmented veterans)
Attitude Triggers
| Trigger | Shift |
|---|---|
| Druid is present | +1 step (respects his work) |
| Threatening to report her | -2 steps |
| Offering rare alchemical materials | +2 steps |
| Mentioning Hannibal Traven by name | -1 step (nervous) |
Goods for Sale
- Soul-Stone Stabilizer (20 gp)
- Healing Potion (Minor) (4 gp)
- Alchemist's Fire (3 gp)
- Lethargy Poison (12 gp)
- Rat-Nip Oil (5 gp): +1 Stealth (1 hr) for Ratfolk
- Healing Herbs (1 gp): Stabilizes dying creatures
MA & PA SQUEAK (Splinter's Biological Parents) -- Level 0
Simple junk-haulers from the Undercity slums. Horrified to find their "baby" is a mob goon.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Alignment | NG |
| Starting Attitude | Friendly (toward Splinter specifically), Indifferent (toward party) |
| Key Skills | Crafting +6 (Junk Haulers), Society +4, Survival +6 |
Combat Profile: AC 14, HP 8, Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +4. Not fighters. Will flee.
What They Want
- Their "Surprise Cheese Baby" back
- For Splinter to leave the Cheese Cartel and come home
- The other 39 children (they're overwhelmed but loving)
What They Know
- Stories of Splinter's early childhood
- The location of Silas "The Snout's" Undercity bolt-hole (they've seen Cartel members there)
- They've seen Bippy's crew operating in the slums
Quest Reward
- The Squeak Family Heirloom: A whistle that calls a non-combat rat swarm (useful for scouting or distractions). Free if Splinter reconnects.
SERGEANT RUST (Augmented Veteran) -- Level 2
Dying augmented veteran. His soul stone is leaking necromantic energy. The Druid's Healer's Debt quest giver.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Alignment | LN |
| Starting Attitude | Friendly (toward the Druid) |
| Key Skills | Athletics +9, Warfare Lore +8, Survival +7 |
Combat Profile (while healthy): AC 19, HP 35, Fort +9, Ref +5, Will +7. Mechanical Arm +10 (1d8+5 bludgeoning). Currently: -2 to all actions, HP at 15/35, takes 1d4 negative damage per day.
What He Wants
- Relief from the necromantic corruption killing him
- Justice for the veterans being used as soul stone test subjects
- A peaceful death if he can't be cured
What He Knows
- He was one of The General's soldiers during the war (Dragonborne soul in a construct body)
- The names and locations of 6 other dying veterans
- The augmented community's fear of Thrain Ironfoot (Dwarven prejudice)
- Whispers about a "Soul-Refinery" hidden in the Undercity
Cure Conditions
- DC 22 Medicine (10 min) to stabilize temporarily
- The Druid with a Mercury's Justice shard can permanently cure him
- Without intervention, he dies in 2d6 days
ASTRID (Assassin's Guild Operative) -- Level 4
Blackmailing Mayor Vane. Hired by Alysande Thorne to destabilize Vane.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Alignment | LE |
| Starting Attitude | Hostile (if discovered) |
| Key Skills | Stealth +13, Deception +12, Thievery +12, Assassin Lore +11, Acrobatics +13 |
Combat Profile: AC 22, HP 60, Fort +9, Ref +14, Will +10. Rapier +13 (deadly d8, 1d6+5 piercing + poison). Sneak Attack +2d6. Poison: Deathcap Powder (DC 20 Fort, stage 1 2d6 poison, stage 2 3d6 poison + enfeebled 1).
What She Wants
- To complete her contract (destabilize Vane)
- To avoid direct confrontation
- To preserve her cover identity in the High District
What She Knows
- Alysande Thorne hired her directly (proof available in her safehouse)
- She has a Vuitton-crafted journal with the "Secret Stitch" -- proof of the Vane family's Mercury Pact betrayal
- Drop locations and contact methods for the Assassin's Guild
Tactics
- Prefers assassination to open combat
- Uses Deception to impersonate High District staff
- Always has an escape route pre-planned
- If combat starts, she uses smoke bombs and flees on round 3
SKITTER (Ratfolk River Boss) -- Level 3
Controls the river tolls. Harassed by Maliki's water constructs.
| Stat | Value |
|---|---|
| Alignment | N |
| Starting Attitude | Indifferent (bribeable) |
| Key Skills | Sailing Lore +10, Athletics +9, Intimidation +9, Society +7, Stealth +9 |
Combat Profile: AC 20, HP 45, Fort +8, Ref +11, Will +7. Hook-Knife +11 (agile, finesse, 1d6+4 slashing + 1d6 persistent bleed). Hand Crossbow +11 (1d6+2 piercing).
What He Wants
- The Scrap-Squids to stop sinking his barges
- Safe passage for his illegal cargo (including Gnomish Royal Silk for Louis Vuitton)
- To maintain his river toll monopoly
What He Knows
- The Scrap-Squids follow a "Recall Signal" from the Gear Icon
- Fred the Goblin has the only map of the Gear Icon sub-basement
- His barges secretly transport contraband hearts -- players may be forced to choose a side when the Watch boards
Rewards
- River Pass: Free river transport for the party
- Water-Breathe Ring (50 gp value, gift)
- Information about Bippy's operations (Skitter hates Bippy)
MA GOLDFINGER NOTE
Naming confusion: Some sources list "Mella Goldfinger" and others list "Brom Goldfinger" as the Engineers Guild representative, with "Mella Iron-Weaver" as the Crafting Guild. We're using: - Mella Goldfinger -- Gnome, Engineers Guild, labor fraud victim (the one the party has interacted with) - Brom Goldfinger -- Dwarf, alternate Engineers Guild head (use if you prefer Dwarven heritage) - Mella Iron-Weaver -- Dwarf, Crafting Guild
Pick one to use and discard the other, or merge them. The current session notes use Mella Goldfinger (Gnome, Engineers) as the active NPC.
QUICK REFERENCE: SHOP LOCATIONS
| Vendor | Location | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| Louis Vuitton | High District (Vuitton Maison) | Leather goods, Secret Stitch journals |
| Olaf "One-Ear" | Mid-Levels (The Rusty Cog) | Gossip, rooms, cheap ale |
| Zora | Mid-Levels (hidden workshop) | Alchemy, black market, stabilizers |
| Brom Goldfinger | High Palace (Engineers Guild) | Void-Iron Polish, mechanical repairs |
| Mella Iron-Weaver | High Palace (Crafting Guild) | Master crafting (quest-gated) |
| Black Market | Undercity (variable) | Gnomish Royal Seals, forbidden relics |
| Fred | Mid-Levels (fish stalls) | Cavern-Blind Trout, Gear Icon info |
| Kragga | Mid-Levels | Heavy Lead Plating |