Another Dragonsfoot challenge, this was to create an "odd couple"; a pair of NPCs that could be used together. These actually came from some Hackmaster pregens I wrote for a Con... Nevyn was a Gnome Rogue with the Needy Flaw, while Flint was a halfling thief who had Pocking, an usually low intelligence, and an unusually high skill in Fire Building (several good penetrations on his rolls).
Nevyn Gilderstomp and the halfling known as Flint are a match made in therapy.
Flint is... damaged. While Nevyn isn't quite sure if it's injury or nature, Flint is a profoundly simple person, with a knack for legerdermain and a passion for setting fires. In idle moments, if not constrained, he'll scrape a piece of flint along a blade, watching the shower of sparks. If not given something to do for some time, he sets small fires, just to watch them burn. Most of his fires are small and personal... a few lit twigs, fed with leaves. But Flint seldom takes precautions, and so those small fires can rage out of control. His Ring of Sparks will frequently protect him from real harm (as he'll instinctively smother the fire with Affect Normal Fires), but too many fires in a day and the ring may be exhausted... and anger or fear sometimes causes the fire to explode into pyrotechnics. Flint LOVES Nevyn. Nevyn is funny and sings and doesn't yell at him. Nevyn tells funny stories and doesn't try to stop Flint from making the glowing lights.
Nevyn is an insecure wreck. He constantly worries about what others think of him, and absolutely HATES conflict, seeking to flee at raised voices. Despite his high charisma, he is obsequious and unctuous, trying to make sure everyone likes him by being servile and inoffensive. He LIKES Flint, because Flint likes him without reserve. Flint does what he says, and never questions it. Flint laughs at his jokes, even if Nevyn isn't sure they're funny. Flint claps when he sings or plays or dances, even if Nevyn isn't sure that they sound right. Flint is the friend he always wanted, because Flint doesn't make him feel worried about what he's done. Nevyn doesn't know about Flint's ring... he's seen it, of course, but he doesn't realize it's magical, nor the source of their good fortune with Flint's "little fires."
Campaign Use: Flint and Nevyn might come together as hirelings, or be members of a local guild that the players need to interact with; Flint is a highly effective arsonist, especially if Nevyn goads him into it... and Nevyn can be goaded into pretty much anything with the hint that you're going to raise your voice.
Nevyn Gilderstomp
3rd level CN Rock Gnome Bard
Str 7
Dex 13
Con 8
Int 13
Wis 7
Cha 17
HP: 8 AC: 8 (Bracers of defense)
CW: 55 (65) DN: 40 PP: 20 (25) RL: 25 (Values in parentheses are with no-armor bonus)
Spells: 2 first level/day. Friends, Hypnotism, Spook, Read Magic
WP: Dagger, short sword NWP: Singing, Dancing, Local History, Read/Write Gnomish, R/W Common, R/W Elven, Speak Gnomish, Common, Elven, Dwarvish, Goblin
Notable equipment: Bracers of Defense AC 8
Appearance: Nevyn is a fairly typical looking rock gnome, with the white hair, blue eyes, and dark skin of his people. However, those eyes always have a slight note of panic about them, and his smile always slightly pushes the line into desperate. He has a habit of wringing his hands while talking to people, but is very skilled at figuring out what people want him to be and how they want him to say what they want him to say. Nevyn is fairly protective of Flint, and will try to make sure he's taken care of.
"Flint"
3rd level TN Halfling Thief
Str 12
Dex 16
Con 13
Int 4
Wis 12
Cha 8
HP: 10 AC: 6 (Dex and armor)
PP: 35 OL: 40 FRT: 35 MS: 35 HS: 35 DN: 35 CW: 60
WP: Dagger, Sling NWP: Fire-building (14), Speak Common, Gnomish
Notable equipment: Ring of Sparks (Can cast Pyrotechnics and Affect Normal Fires; 10th level, but only 4 levels of spells a day)
Appearance: Flint's brown hair fringes a ruddy face scattered with what look like pockmarks. On closer examination, these are small burns; from where drafts blew sparks and embers into his face. If there is a fire nearby, Flint will always be looking towards it, rapt and rarely blinking; if his attention is drawn elsewhere for a moment, it will slowly drift back to the fire. He doesn't speak often; people get frustrated with his slow speech, and Nevyn will often interrupt him and say what he was really thinking, anyway, so he just lets Nevyn talk.
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