HONOUR AMONGST ROGUES
Honour Amongst Rogues
One application of Burglar’s Bane covers one square foot and, as it is translucent, requires a Spot check (DC 30) to notice. Anyone handling a dusted object will automatically get the powder on his hands, where it will remain, ingrained in the skin, for 1d3 days. If water is applied to the powder, it will turn rosy-red in colour, causing a thief to be literally caught red-handed. Necessity being the mother of invention, Thief’s Soap has also been created by alchemists, though it is much rarer, often illegal and very expensive. Using Thief’s Soap will remove any trace of Burglar’s Bane, either from an object or a rogue’s hands.
W
hile most rogues rely on their wits and agility to escape most dangerous situations, the right tool at the right time can make the difference between life and death. Many of the typical rogue skills, such as Climb, Disable Device, and Open Lock, benefit from the use of highly specialised devices. Even simple items such as a coil of rope or a set of pitons can help a rogue successfully use his skills.
Burglar’s Bane: 55 gp, 1 lb. Thief’s Soap: 295 gp, 0 lb.
Caltrops, SpringLoaded
The ‘mundane’ equipment used by rogues is often anything but. Rogues like to use tools and items that enhance their skills and provide them with an unexpected edge in their adventures. Thus, many items favoured by them are complicated gadgets that often resemble magical items in their use and capabilities.
These mechanical devices are no larger than normal caltrops, but the spring mounted inside them can force a hooked blade that not only pierces the foot but anchors the caltrop into the unfortunate person who steps on one. These items have the same statistics as normal caltrops, but their anchoring ability means that once a target is damaged by them, they must take a full round action to remove them or they have a maximum movement speed of 5 feet per round and take an additional point of damage every round that they move without pulling out the caltrop. Caltrops that are collected back up after use can be deployed again, but it takes 10 minutes to gather a scattered group of spring-loaded caltrops without taking damage.
Assassin’s Goblet
This metal goblet, white in colour and bejewelled with ten small red gemstones, stands about 8 inches high. The inside of the goblet is bright red in colour. Assassins use goblets like this to kill their targets with a poison that is coated on the inner surface. The poison lies dormant until wine is added, at which point it is immediately activated and becomes deadly – other liquids will not trigger this effect. Once used the poison must be re-administered to the goblet, at a cost of 180 gp. The gemstones are rubies while the poison itself is quite deadly (DC 15, 1d12 hp initial damage, 2d6 temporary Con secondary damage).
Caltrops, Spring Loaded: 150 gp per bag, 2 lb.
Frybombs
Another gnomish innovation, these tiny glass spheres have a send glass sphere inside them separating two compounds that react explosively and pyrotechnically with each other when they come into contact. A frybomb can be thrown as per a grenade like object or left to be stepped on in refuse or other obscurement. A character can make a Hide check to plant a frybomb; this skill check result will be opposed by a Spot roll from anyone who comes into contact with the bomb’s location. If a frybomb is broken either by contact or being hurled, it does 3d6 fire damage in its 5 foot area of detonation and 1d6 to all surrounding 5 foot areas. Unlike alchemist’s fire, frybombs do
Assassin’s Goblet: 965 gp, 1 lb.
Burglar’s Bane
Burglar’s Bane is an very fine odourless and colourless powder that is used to lightly ‘dust’ valuable objects that may be the target of thieves.
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