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Karn the Merchant

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It's called both-end ipecac. It'll clean you right out! And no, there's no refunds on the merchandise.
—Karn the Merchant

Karn the Merchant is a loathsome peddler of wares and poultices whose shrewdness is the only thing that keeps him one step ahead of ruination. He operates on the edges of decency, selling questionable goods to desperate people, yet always manages to avoid crossing the line into outright villainy. Karn loves to swoop into other people's messes, because it's only in the turmoil of others that his profits see growth.

Karn is an obese, bald man with darting eyes that miss nothing. His patchwork robes, adorned with countless hidden pockets and pouches, jingle faintly with the sound of coin and trinkets. Whether he's hawking a miracle cure or an ancient relic of dubious authenticity, Karn always maintains an air of confidence that his customers rarely question until it’s too late.

Though Karn presents himself as a harmless trader, his knowledge of backchannels, smuggling routes, and the movements of key players in the realm makes him a valuable—and dangerous—ally. He has no loyalty beyond profit, but he knows better than to bite the hand that feeds him.

Adventure Hook

Karn is a traveling merchant who can pop up repeatedly during a campaign. The trick to keeping him alive is to always make killing him more expensive for the party.

A village blames Karn for selling tainted poultices that caused widespread illness. Karn insists he was duped by his supplier and begs the party for help clearing his name. The investigation leads to evidence that a Mora seer whose was duped by Karn’s supplier, and as a result the goods have been cursed. The party must now track down the supplier and force him to atone to the seer in order to undo the curse.

What conditions must be met to lift the Mora’s curse, and how does Karn’s involvement complicate negotiations?
How will the party find Karn’s supplier and convince him to atone for his misdeeds?
How does Karn manage to escape punishment after the party cleans up his mess?

Tags: NPCs Villains

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Karn the Merchant

Karn the Merchant

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The Red Compact

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