"Now, pray tell, what is it that makes this world turn? Why of course money and power, but what is it, that drives an individual to attain these desirables?
Pleasure.
It is a sentient being's ever-lasting quest of hedonism, to experience greater and greater pleasure. So I posit, that one who deals in pleasure, one who alters another's perception and experience of pleasure, is one who rules. I may not wear a crown; or wield unfathomable magic, or have peerless skill with a weapon- but I produce what all of them crave. Be they great, or be they wretches. Be they powerful, or be they nothing. I deal in rapture for the wealthy and powerful; and provide relief for the weak and poor.
For it is not any king or god that they turn to when they are in their greatest need. It is me." - Crime Boss, Sylvane Lastraza
A lucrative and socially thriving profession, the humble drug peddler sells both synthetic and natural addictive substances to their 'captive' audiences. Perhaps you're a facilitator of the noble and wealthy's most depraved habits- dealing in a pleasure like no other. Or perhaps you prey upon the weakest of society, promising them that your product will serve as a much needed respite in a life otherwise categorised by squalor and unending labour.
You may simply serve as a peddler of these substances or the most enterprising of these individuals; may develop, experiment and create their own substances and demand. Powders, Liquids, Pills, Pastes, Injectables or even those that can be smoked; drugs come in all manners of forms and with all manners of effects- hallucinogenic trips, lethargy, stimulation, pain-relief, sexual arousal and finally a release of inhibitions. So no matter how discerning your clientele, you'll be sure to provide them with the substance best suited to their needs.
Whether you simply peddle to accrue wealth, to greater your biological and chemical understanding or to simply exercise your power over society, peddlers come in all shapes, sizes, and walks of life- and in turn are shaped by all manner of goals, dreams and desires. Are you an unassuming apothecary whose greed got the better of him? Or perhaps, the heir to an illustrious crime family whose legacy you intend to make even greater?
Both your origins and your future path are yours to decide
"Ooh, I tell you what buddy that does not look great, quite a deep gash you've got there! And your telling me the apothecaries tended to the wound but given you nothing for the pain, well I never. Soulless bastards those lot, will bleed you dry even before you wound will! Well its a good thing I came when I did, I've got just the thing for you! One dose of this a day and you won't even remember that you're wounded- pain relief and even a little pick-me up guaranteed! I tell ya its heaven-sent this stuff, and all natural too- just don't ask me for my trade secrets a fella's gotta make a living after all!"- Scoundrel and Drug Peddler, Grack the Goblin
- Skill Proficiencies: Persuasion, Medicine
- Tool Proficiencies: [Tooltip Not Found]
- Languages: One of your choice.
- Equipment: A set of commoner’s clothes, a book of research notes/accounting book, an ink pen, a bottle of squid ink, a vial of acid (derived from digestive juices), a vial of brightly coloured powder, a vial of dried herbs, a vial of pufferfish poison, a glass bottle of unidentified slime, and a belt pouch containing 10 gp
As a Drug Peddler, you may decide to offer your services as a member of a specific crime family or criminal organisation. Whether you're actively attempting to rise through the ranks of this family/organisation or whether you are simply using their connections and resources to your own benefit, is entirely up to you.
| d6 | Criminal Connections |
|---|---|
| 1 | You are a biological or adopted family member of an illustrious and notorious crime family |
| 2 | You are an independent drug peddler and producer- hoping to leave your name in the annals of history, as one of the most prolific peddlers to ever exist |
| 3 | You are one drug peddler amongst many within an expansive criminal organisation. |
| 4 | You are a scientist, deceiving your clients by selling them substances under the guise of recreational drugs or medicine, in order to experiment with their particular effects on their biology and body chemistry. |
| 5 | You are a member of a governing body, tasked with developing and distributing a specific substance amongst the populace. |
| 6 | You are an independent peddler, whose goals and reasons are known only to yourself or those you choose to inform. |
Whenever you enter a new town or city, by simply spending a day in the city and by engaging in casual conversation with the towns or city folk, you are able to easily identify both areas and specific clientele which would be interested in your specific wares. Individuals who have become 'addicted' (This is up to your DM's discretion) to your created/peddled substances will be susceptible to all manner of negative effects decided by the DM. For instance, levels of exhaustions, disadvantages in all physical rolls, lowered heath and so on and so forth. Additionally, all Wisdom rolls that these characters must make are made at a disadvantage and furthermore, all persuasion and deception rolls made by yourself against this character are made at an advantage, if you reveal to them your access to their beloved substance.
In addition, due to your experiments and study into chemicals and their effects on the biology of other sentient creatures- you have an advantage in identifying chemical and biological substances you come across- whether this be blood, slime, poison, pollen, detritus or even saliva. A few hours or minutes, consorting with your compendiums and you are often able to surmise its origins and its specific effects.
Suggested Characteristics
Drug Peddlers are often not only scientifically inclined but also remarkably skilled conservationists and merchants. Skills that are required to not only develop their product, but to sell it to a wide variety of people and to create an ever-increasing demand that will continue to fatten their coffers. So long as they remain undetected by those that enforce the law that is.
| d8 | Personality Trait |
|---|---|
| 1 | I want to amass as much wealth as possible, financial success and great riches are my ultimate goal |
| 2 | Life is fundamentally boring, what I produce and sell is the greatest fix to mundanity! |
| 3 | I’m eager to explain my drug development process and its specific effects on different species to any who will listen. |
| 4 | I fastidiously take notes and keep track of my subjects and my sales. |
| 5 | I enjoy the feeling of power I hold over my clients who crave what only I can provide. |
| 6 | Life should be enjoyed and lived to the fullest, I will always try anything at least once! |
| 7 | I will do all that I can to realise my ambitions, whether this be to gain notoriety or to raise my rank and standing within my criminal family/organisation. |
| 8 | I am able to speak in a favourable manner to anyone, be they snobbish nobility or the poorest of scum |
| d6 | Ideal |
|---|---|
| 1 | Responsibility. My criminal family/organisation is all that matters to me. (Any) |
| 2 | Hedonism. All sentient life is spent pursuing pleasure or avoiding pain, I'm simply here to hasten that goal and to make it more accessible to all! (Good) |
| 3 | Knowledge. I wish to further my knowledge regarding biochemistry and my knowledge of commerce and social interaction (Neutral) |
| 4 | Recreational. I'm here for a good time not a long time- whatever can be done to improve my own and others experience of life, should be done! (Chaotic) |
| 5 | Expeditious. I supply a product that is in high demand, I am simply in this profession to amass wealth or attain greater standing (Lawful) |
| 6 | Supremacy. I must hold power, influence- whether this be through respect or fear, is of no concern to me, as long as I acquire it. (Evil) |
| d6 | Bond |
|---|---|
| 1 | The leader of my criminal family/organisation- is like/is a parent to me, and I will do all that I can to please them and receive their approval. |
| 2 | The customer is always right. I will listen to my clients and take their suggestions and demands on board. |
| 3 | A rival drug peddler, once swindled me of my entire stash- I will find a way to get even. |
| 4 | I admire my alchemical teacher, even if I used my knowledge in a manner that they would not approve of. |
| 5 | I simply want to befriend and join in revelry with all I meet, my profession aids me in doing this. |
| 6 | I fell into this line of work, in order to appease a debt or to save a loved one that has fallen into the clutches of a criminal organisation or governing entity. |
| d6 | Flaw |
|---|---|
| 1 | I have developed quite a habit for the substances that I create or sell. |
| 2 | I’m more interested in reviewing the effects of my substances on others than achieving financial success. This is often to my own detriment, as I am unable to fund the creation of further substances or my true intent is discovered. |
| 3 | In every social situation I find myself in, I try to push my product. |
| 4 | I’m supremely confident in the substances I develop, and act aggressively, even violently, to those who criticise them |
| 5 | I’ll take any risk in order to locate continuously more exotic ingredients, so that I can create a variety of new and improved substances. |
| 6 | I have a tendency to substitute certain ingredients in my substances with cheaper alternatives, this has been known on occasion to have disastrous effects. |
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