Purveyor of Shiny Things: The Flamboyant Gnome, Gideon Gold

↓

Hey folks,

This week we’re taking a closer look at my favorite NPC from the latest drop on our blog (link below).

Gideon “The Magpie” Gold.

We'll learn how to best roleplay Gideon, as well as the wondrous item he's used to bolster his career as a pickpocket.

Thieves Guild

Over the several weeks, I’m going to be making regular installments of NPCs, guides, and other resources all based around creating and running a thieves guild within your campaign.

I’ve created a template guild called “The Syndicate” that all of the NPCs and other resources are based upon.

Gideon is one such NPC.

Gideon's Background

Gideon is a flamboyant gnome who loves shiny things. He made his bones as a pickpocket, and is now a well established member of the Syndicate. He’s a master of sleight of hand and can pick a pocket without anyone even noticing. Gideon is also an expert at identifying valuable items and has a knack for finding the most valuable treasures in the city.

Stat Block

You can find Gideon’s stat-block in the links section at the end of the newsletter, along with 4 other Syndicate NPCs.

Roleplaying Gideon

In Public

Gideon is a performer at heart. He walks with a confident swagger, as if always on stage. His movements are exaggerated yet graceful, drawing the attention of those around him. His voice is melodic, a soothing lullaby that could put even the most guarded person at ease. He often punctuates his words with flourishes of his hands, making every interaction feel like a grand spectacle. When he smiles, it’s both charming and slightly unsettling, the grin of a trickster who’s always one step ahead.

Common Phrases

1. Introduction phrases: When meeting someone new, Gideon might flash a bright smile and say, "Charmed, I'm sure!" or "What a radiant meeting!" or "Your coin purse looks heavy, need a hand?" when trying to introduce himself humorously to new acquaintances.
2. Flattery or Affection: He enjoys playing with language, calling a tall and broad warrior "Tower", a wizard "Fireworks", or a rogue "Shadow". He might tease a grumpy dwarf by calling them "Sunshine", or a taciturn elf "Chatterbox".
3. Surprise or Excitement: In moments of surprise, Gideon might say, "Well, twist my beard and call me an orc!" or "By the jingling of my coin purse!" For sheer excitement, he could express, "As sparkling as a sapphire sunrise!"
4. During Negotiation or Persuasion: Gideon would use his charm to convince others, with phrases such as, "Just a tiny investment for a glittering future, wouldn’t you agree?" or "Let's not bicker over coins, friend, let's make fortunes!"
5. Challenging or Taunting Opponents: Gideon might provoke his enemies with taunts like, "Think you can snatch the sparkle from a magpie?", "I've seen statues dodge better than you", or "Ever thought of a career change? Because this... this isn't your thing."
6. When Succeeding in His Actions: He would express his delight with phrases such as "Like plucking a diamond from a goat's mouth!" or "Shinier than a dragon's hoard on a sunny day"

Likes and Dislikes

Gideon has a love for all things shiny. He’s drawn to gold and jewels, but he’s also captivated by shiny baubles, polished metal, and even the twinkling stars in the night sky. He loves the thrill of the heist, the challenge of outsmarting his targets, and the rush of getting away with it. He’s also a fan of flamboyant clothes, good music, and a well-told tale. He dislikes law enforcers, uptight individuals, and anyone who tries to take his hard-earned treasure. He’s also not a fan of brute force, preferring cunning and cleverness over raw strength.

Things That Push Him Over the Edge

While Gideon is generally good-natured and composed, certain things can cause him to lose his cool. He despises being accused of stealing without proof, being outsmarted, or having his reputation called into question. He’s also fiercely protective of his collected treasures and can become irate if they’re threatened.

Gideon's Secret

Gideon’s persona thrives on his unwavering reputation as a gifted pickpocket. However, unbeknown to many, there’s a clandestine ingredient to his success - an enchanted accessory known as the Purse of Plunder.

Gideon came into possession of the Purse of Plunder quite by accident. During a routine pick-pocketing expedition in a bustling marketplace, he unknowingly lifted the purse from a distracted wizard. Fascinated by its unassuming appearance, Gideon decided to keep it for himself, only to discover its extraordinary capabilities when his handfuls of pebbles and scrap metal transformed into dazzling gemstones and gold coins.

From that day forward, the Purse of Plunder became his secret weapon. On the unfortunate days where he failed to acquire valuable loot or his targets were disappointingly empty-handed, Gideon simply filled his purse with mundane items, awakening the next day to find them replaced with glittering treasures. It was as if he could never lose; even on his worst days, Gideon was still in possession of objects most can only dream of obtaining.

However, Gideon’s show-off nature hides a deeply rooted paranoia. The gnome is constantly anxious that his secret will be discovered, that his colleagues and rivals will unmask his reliance on the magical purse and denounce him as a fraud. He fears the world will forget his real skills, his artistry in theft and his knack for recognizing truly valuable treasures, overshadowed by the power of the Purse of Plunder.

Thus, he ensures the purse is hidden away, its existence known only to him. He is cautious never to rely too heavily on its magic, still proving his worth through daring heists and masterful pick-pocketing. The Purse of Plunder merely serves as his security, a backup plan to ensure that even on his bad days, Gideon ‘The Magpie’ Gold still shines brightly in the underworld.

Purse of Plunder

Wondrous item, very rare (requires attunement by a bard)

Superficially resembling an ordinary coin purse, this magical item is instead a miniature pocket dimension linked to Gideon’s own kleptomaniac impulses. The purse has the capacity to hold up to 1 cubic foot of non-living material.

Once a day, after sundown, the purse can transform mundane items into valuable treasures. The user can place up to 5 lbs of non-valuable, inorganic material inside the purse (for instance, pebbles, wood chips, or pieces of scrap metal), and then close it. The next time it is opened, the mundane items have transformed into a variety of precious items such as gems, jewelry, or gold coins. The combined value of the transmuted items will be around 100 gold pieces.

The user can also try to store a particularly valuable or magic item in the purse, but with a risk. Whenever such an item is placed in the purse, the user must make a DC 15 Charisma (Performance) check. On a success, the item is safely stored. On a failure, the purse “rejects” the item, and it disappears, to appear in a random location in the city within 24 hours.

If the purse is pierced or torn, it loses its magic, and anything contained within it spills out. The purse cannot be repaired, even with magic such as mending.

LINKS

You can find Gideon's stat-block and other details here.

TileForge | Pickpockets, Fences, and Other Nefarious Characters (Thieves Guild NPCs #1)

​ Need maps for your online sessions?​ ​ TileForge is an easy to use, free online map builder built by DMs (us). ​ Sign Up

​Unsubscribe · Preferences​