Important NPC’s

Mephibosheth – NG Human Rogue 5/Wizard 5

Mephibosheth is a middle-aged human who appears spry and energetic. He has a happy, honest face, an easy laugh that seems to rumble up from his belly. He commonly wears a simple white shirt woven of rough-spun linen and sturdy brown trousers, over which he wears a gray apron. His hair is brown but with hints of grey above his ears and cropped fairly short, and his eyes are a mottled mix of green and grey. When he rises form his accustomed stool, you see that he walks with a limp and leans heavily on a worn cane carved with a similar motif to the doors and windows. He tends to go on about any random subject that comes up, but is especially interested in foods from around the globe and in the politics and economics of the city. You sense that, underneath his charming exterior is a shrewd and calculating mind. He is also quite manipulative, a trait left over from his years as a slaver. While his manipulation has decreased in recent years and is of a much more benign nature, old habits die hard. He’s always looking for ways to make amends for his past cruelty.

Abilities – Str 10, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 18, Wis 16, Cha 14
Notable Skills – Profession (cook) +13, Profession (Business) +13, Bluff + 15, Gather Information +10, Diplomacy +15, Knowledge (Arcana) +17, Knowledge (Local) +12, Spellcraft +17, Sense Motive +13
Common Spells Prepared – Prestidigitation, Mage Hand, Unseen Servant, Locate Object, Flaming Sphere, Continual Flame

Pravi – NG Human Bard 10

Pravi also appears middle-aged, though slightly younger than Mephibosheth. She has blond hair which she keeps about shoulder-length and light blue eyes. She wears comfortable trousers and shirts similar in make to Mephibosheth’s, though often of brighter colors than his. She can often be heard singing slightly inane songs under her breath with lyrics like, “I like jelly beans, yes I do/I like jelly beans, how ‘bout you?” She delights in children of all ages and often becomes distracted when one runs about her feet. Pravi’s level-headedness, openness, and her simple kindness and enthusiasm prove an important balancing factor for Mephibosheth’s manipulative nature and practiced deceptiveness.

Abilities – Str 8, Dex 14, Con 10, Int, 15, Wis 13, Cha 18
Notable Skills – Bluff +13, Diplomacy +13, Knowledge (Local) +10, Knowledge (Nature) +10, Perform (Oratory) +13, Perform (Stringed Instruments) +13, Use Magic Device +13, Sense Motive +9
Spells Known – Light, Mage Hand, Lullaby, Mending, Prestidigitation, Read Magic, Cure Light Wounds, Charm Person, Sleep, Unseen Servant, Calm Emotions, Eagle’s Splendor, Enthrall, Tongues, Cure Serious Wounds, Charm Monster, Glibness, Daylight, Neutralize Poison, Dimension Door

Rasoya – NG Half-Elf Expert 5/Cleric 5

Rasoya is more taciturn than either Mephibosheth or Pravi, but appears to delight in their work every bit as much as his friends. He has black hair and gray eyes and a face that was once angular but has been padded by years of fine eating (most often, food of his own creation). He wears plain brown clothes (which he claims don’t show soup stains as much) and a white apron. He is intensely interested in all things related to cooking, and is always looking for new recipes.

Abilities – Str 10, Dex 14, Con 12, Int 14, Wis 18, Cha 12
Notable Skills – Profession (Cook) +13, Knowledge (Arcana) +13, Spellcraft +13, Knowledge (Nature) +13
Common Spells Prepared – Create Water, Detect Magic, Detect Poison (x2), Purify Food and Drink, Sanctuary (x2), Comprehend Languages, Calm Emotions (x2), Create Food and Water

Dasara – NG Whisper Gnome Rogue 10

Dasara, the adventurer-turned-merchant whose machinations resulted in Mephibosheth’s downfall, has since become a good friend and major patron of Mephibosheth. It was Dasara who provided the business opportunities that allowed Mephibosheth to accumulate the starting capital for the Mess Hall, and Dasara’s businesses continue to be major contributors. Dasara likes to remain involved in the day-to-day of his businesses (often falling back on old adventuring skills when necessary) and can often be seen stopping by the Mess Hall on his lunch breaks for a bite to eat and a swallow of Lucidity Liqueur. He has become extremely well-connected and can often be turned to for information on goings-on throughout the city. He even likes to stay connected to the criminal underworld (though he himself stays away from that sort of business), just to be sure that he has all aspects of his businesses under control.

Abilities – Str 10, Dex 14, Con 10, Int 18, Wis 14, Cha 14
Notable Skills – Diplomacy +15, Gather Information +15, Sense Motive +15, Bluff +15, Slight of Hand +15, Knowledge (Local) +17, Profession (Business) +13, Hide +15, Move Silently +15, Forgery +13, Disguise +15, Appraise +10

Adventure Hooks
1. Rasoya and Mephibosheth need some rare ingredients for a new recipe/magic item and hire out the PC’s to go and find it for them.
2. Mephibosheth and Pravi have noticed that someone has been stealing from the donation box and ask the PC’s to find out who it was.
3. A powerful merchant faction has become angry at Mephibosheth for undercutting their prices on culinary items. They have decided to take it out on Mephibosheth and Pravi personally. The PC’s must protect Mephibosheth and Pravi.
4. A man claiming to be Mephibosheth’s long-lost brother has arrived in the city intent on reviving the slaving business, starting by recapturing Dasara. Dasara, fearing for his life, has come to Mephibosheth looking for help.
5. Something inhuman has apparently been raiding the supply rooms at the Mess Hall through the city sewers. Mephibosheth hires the PC’s to stop it.
6. Mephibosheth and company want more business and hire the PC’s to drum some up for them (a test of the players creative advertising skills).
7. Any number of patrons of the Mess Hall may have jobs for the PC’s, from helping deal with rival crime factions to looking for long-lost family heirlooms, to bodyguard duty, to mere pleas for help from the down-trodden.
8. A conflict between local drow and elf gangs threatens to spill over into the Mess Hall. Already there have been a few scuffles put down by the City Guard. The PC's are asked to try and resolve the dispute.
9. One of Mephibosheth and Rasoya's magical experiments has gone horribly wrong (perhaps resulting in a Living Spell or some sort of food-related construct), and the resulting terrifying creature has escaped into the city. The PC's need to track it down and eliminate it.
10. While doing the books one night, Mephibosheth realizes that the Mess Hall is dangerously low on funds. Mephibosheth asks the PC's to drum up some more support for the Mess Hall.
11. During his political machinations on behalf of the poor, Mephibosheth has made quite a few enemies. One of them has framed Mephibosheth of a heinous crime, and Mephibosheth hires the PC’s to find out the truth of the matter.
12. While staying in the dormitory, the PC’s overhear a plot to undermine the current rulers of the city, but are unable to determine what exactly they heard. Further investigations reveal…
13. Some former slaves are set free, intent on vengeance. Mephibosheth asks the PC’s for protection.
14. Someone has begun kidnapping families from the poor district, and Mephibosheth is an immediate suspect (at least, to the few people in the know). The PC’s need to find out the truth of the matter.

Signature Items

Mephibosheth’s Culinary Enhancements
Patrons of Mephibosheth’s Mess Hall have the option of selecting up to two special enhancements from the following menu:
1. Curative Curry – Acts as a Cure Minor Wounds spell (CL 1) and gives the dish an exotic, spicy flavor
2. Workman’s Worcestershire – Grants the consumer a +1 alchemical bonus to strength checks and strength-based skill checks for 10 minutes and gives the dish a tomato-y flavor
3. Tumbler’s Turmeric – Grants the consumer a +1 alchemical bonus to dexterity checks and dexiterity-based skill checks for 10 minutes and gives the dish a distinct flavor of (you guessed it) turmeric.
4. Pepper of Perseverance - Grants the consumer a +1 alchemical bonus to constitution checks and constitution-based skill checks for 10 minutes and brings out the spicy flavors of the dish.
5. Panacea Parsley – Grants the consumer a +1 alchemical bonus on Fortitude Saves against diseases for the next day.
6. Cloves of Clear-headedness – Grant the consumer a +1 alchemical bonus on Will Saves against spells with the Charm descriptor for the next day.
7. Garlic of Greatness - Grants the consumer a +1 alchemical bonus on charisma checks and charisma-based skill checks for 10 minutes and gives the dish a mild Italian flavor.
8. Lucidity Liqueur - Grants the consumer a +1 alchemical bonus on intelligence checks and intelligence-based skill checks for 10 minutes and tastes a bit like brandy.

“Mephibosheth’s Mess Hall: Because Free Food is Great No Matter How Rich You Are!” Badge
In a not-so-subtle nod to the students who frequent Mephibosheth’s establishment, patrons who donate to the Mess Hall are given a small badge inscribed with the above slogan as proof of their donation. The subtleties of the design change periodically. People who present this badge are granted a 5% discount at any store run by Dasara’s family. Patrons of the Mess Hall proudly wear their badges, and some have established collections of the different designs.