Hired Help

Time for another Dungeon Delve wandering monster of the apron kind?! Yep, a dungeon still has NPCs with jobs to do, and sometimes, the group picks a resting spot that isn’t exactly copacetic with the staff.

We needed to pick a DnD miniature that looks like the average cup of joe and is just trying to make it through his work day. And when it comes to NPCs, Brite Minis is one of our absolute favorite picks. Their supportless STLs print like a dream, and they just have an insane variety of non-player characters to choose from in their ever-growing archive (which you get immediate access to once you join their Patreon).

DM Ben picked this Innkeeper mini because it was like this portly fella was made for our wandering scenario. He’s got all the finer details: an apron, a handtowel over his shoulder, hands on hips, etc. He’s absolutely perfect!

So, let’s set the scenario here. Our uninvited NPC will be the dungeon’s resident meal prepper for the masses. It turns out he’s run out of potatoes for this evening’s surprise stew, and the party has just so happened to pick the very place where he keeps a few crates of spuds.

As the party rests, the on-watch player will hear a loud whistle coming closer to their door. At first, there will be an attempt to open the door followed by a louder, hastily knock. “Guys, come on. Will ya open up already? I’m out of potatoes again, and I need to finish tonight’s stew, or the Captain is gonna give me an earful!”

What will the party do?!

• Ignore & hope he goes away (Stealth).
• Pretend the room is occupied (Persuasion).
• Order him away (Deception).
• Let him in and grapple him!
• Open the door and knock him out!

See? All sorts of hijinx could transpire here!

If the party engages with him, DM Ben will have a few tidbits at the ready:

• Name: Terra Misu
• Profession: Hired Cook
• Stats: AC 11, HP 20, +2/1d8 (meat cleaver)
• Barter 1: offer the location of a secret door.
• Barter 2: tell the group where a nearby trap is.
• Barter 3: provide the location of a treasure pile.

Our hired cook will naturally feature a French accent and will want to avoid violence at all costs. If they don’t let him go, he’ll even offer to have himself tied up. If they do let him go, he will nark on the party and get guards down to this area ASAP. However, the party could also bribe him which could convince him not to squeal.

Our Dungeon Delve Wandering Monster table combines combat and non-combat events. The goal is disruption, and bumping into the hired help is a fun, unique way to disrupt an attempt at long rest. We gotta keep those players guessing as to what happens next, right?!

Until next time!