The Old Chancer's House

(Thank you to Mergo-Kan)

He sits in his house, moving out to his porch when it's too hot inside. The town youths cut up his firewood, and the taxman from the city leaves him alone. The aldermen say he showed them a sword that glowed when he burped onto it, and his neighbors swear there's a stuffed dog head that hangs over his fireplace, squawking songs when the smoke runs through it.

No one says he is a wizard.

Penko Gelev

Old Pavel will say that he was simply a thief, "but no more than a cutpurse." He carried torches for a fellowship of treasure-hunters, and never run off or got into any shouting matches. They taught him to climb sheer surfaces, to smell trouble, and (with a lot of luck) to even pick a lock. He half-remembers dungeon signs and dungeon songs, but there is one principle that he will never forget.

"Do not risk your life to spare a little hassle."

Among connoisseurs, he will trot out his old tools for sale. [DMs, this is why you bother to put this guy in your games. Some players need to be prompted to be creative.]

1. Retractable ten-foot pole, hooked
2. Shield hook, for lantern
3. Sleeping Warden, a plank with a tray for bells atop it. Leaned against a door so when the door is opened the bells spill out, serving as an alarm.
4. Cave Horse, a wheeled pole, with a spot for a lantern on one end and another pole tied to the other end. Used to probe for traps up to 20' out, and triggers pressure pads.
5. Attestation Board, a sign written in many subterranean languages saying "We have killed many enemies but seek loyal friends. Do not try to harm us. You will be rewarded." At the bottom of the sign is a small bell which can be rung.
6. Chaperone, a series of boards and wheels that assembles into a rolling wall 9.5' wide, with struts to reinforce it and windows to see through.
7. Wise Chaperone, a chaperone with slats for spears and metal grills to see through, more rugged wheels for uneven floors, and damp scrub on the front to thwart fire.
8. Blast Pinch, a small metal hemisphere that tapers to a leather "pinch," which can be used to hold a key, insert it into a lock, and turn it without directly exposing the user to any trap in the lock itself.
9. Pinch Swallower, a small bellows with a narrow mouth that kinks at a right angle, built to be inserted under a blast pinch or other tight seam, and to suck in any gaseous matter that might have been released.
10. Lock Plug, a key rake with a thin metal plate on the head, coated on the lock-facing side with wax, and a long handle. Intended to trigger any trap mechanisms that may be built into the lock to thwart picking, without exposing a hand to any pins, blades, or gouts of fluid. Since a poisoned needle mechanism may be subtle, the wax face is to be inspected after use for any needle marks or discoloration.