Dougal DuKree
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Author: Stephen Kenson
Homepage: http://members.aol.com/talonmail
System: d20 Dungeons and Dragons
Type: NPC
Category: Fantasy
Requirements:

Graphic: Picture

Background:

Dougal DuKree is one of the most well-trav-eled merchants in the world — just ask him and he’ll tell you. He’ll also gladly sell you well-water (telling you it came from the Sacred Spring of the Sule), or a pretty rock reputed to have come from an ancient ruin and filled with strange magic (whose secrets no one has learned the secrets of just yet… you may be the first!). Dougal has a million scams, each slightly different from the one before, but each intended to part a fool from his money, with the money continuing to travel along with Dougal. (“Money makes a far better traveling companion than most of the people I know,” he says.)

Dougal’s never malicious about earning his living. He’s certainly not a violent man, although he defends himself when he must. He prefers to avoid confrontation, using some clever illusions and a little trickery to give him time to slip away. And he’s had to avoid the truth of his schemes comes out (such asthe fake hair-restoring tonic he sold to the mayor of a particular town).

Stats:

Dougal DuKree, male gnome Rog2/Wiz1: CR 3; Small Humanoid (3 ft. tall); HD 2d6+4 (rogue) + 1d4+2 (wizard); hp 16; Init +3 (+3 Dex); Spd 20 ft.; AC 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, ring of protection +1); Atk +0 melee (light mace, 1d6- 1), +5 ranged (1d4, sling); SA sneak-attack +1d6, spells, spell-like abilities; SQ gnome traits, evasion; AL CN; SV Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +1; Str 8, Dex 16, Con 15, Int 14, Wis 9, Cha 12.

Skills:Appraise +8, Bluff +7, Concentra-tion +6, Disguise +7, Forgery +8, Hide +13, Listen +7, Move Silently +9, Open Locks +9, Search +8

Feats:Dodge, Spell Mastery ( change self, expeditious retreat) .

Special Attacks:Spell-Like Abilities: As a gnome, Dougal can cast dancing lights, ghost sound, and prestidigitationeach once per day as a 1st-level caster. He can also use speak with animals once per day as a 1st-level caster to converse with any burrowing animal.

Special Qualities: Evasion: Take no damage on a successful Reflex save; Gnome Traits: +4 dodge bonus to AC vs. giants, low-light vision, +2 racial bonus to saves vs. Illu-sion magic, +1 attack bonus vs. kobolds and goblinoids, +2 racial bonus to Alchemy and Listen skill checks.

Possessions:light mace, sling, pouch of 20 sling bullets, ring of protection +1, spell com-ponent pouch, cloak, wide-brimmed hat, 50 gp and an opal worth 200 gp.

School Specialization:Illusion (prohib-ited school—Enchantment)

Spells Prepared (4/3):0—ghost sound, light, open/close, mage hand; 1st— change self, expeditious retreat, minor illusion.

Spellbook :All cantrips plus change self, expeditious retreat, minor illusion, Nystul’s magic aura.

Adventure Seeds:

Dougal is a con man and mountebank. Char-acters may encounter him along the road or in a town, where he’ll most likely try to sell them some worthless junk, claiming it has special properties (and using his spells to back up his claims). He may sell characters useless imita-tions of tanglefoot bags, thunderstones, and similar items that only become obvious as fakes when they fail to work. And he’ll always disappear just ahead of the angry mob of his “dissatisfied customers,” turning up again later somewhere else.

Well-meaning characters might end up saving Dougal from his angry victims. Imag-ine finding a harmless-looking gnome pur-sued by angry folk. Dougal is more than will-ing to spin whatever lie it takes to get him out of trouble and may tell the party that he’s being wrongfully accused to garner their aid.