Curio Shop
Curio shops. Flea markets. Pawnbrokers. Adventurers normally find treasure deep in a dungeon guarded by terrible monsters. Sometimes, though, the characters find treasure where they least expect it—and sometimes, it hardly costs them anything at all!
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Odds & Ends
This small dusty bottle is half full of fine grey dust. Buried in the dust are three finger bones—probably from an individual roughly the size of an adult human male.
A worn leather backpack lies at the back of a shelf. The pack seems heavier than it should do. A careful investigation reveals a hidden compartment containing a small notebook. Much of the notebook contains doodles, random sketches and so on. At the back of the book a loose piece of ripped, aged parchment has a lavishly illustrated map that seems to depict the location of a buried treasure. Sadly, the map is incomplete.
A small stuffed lizard lies on its back amid other odds and ends. The lizard is missing one eye, but its scales are of a faded blue hue; hinting at (perhaps) some strange or magical ancestry.
These very long bright red boot laces are tied in a confused jumble of a knot. If someone takes the time to unravel the knot, they find a perfectly smooth white pebble at its heart.
A single blue and yellow-feather fletched arrow rests in a narrow quiver designed to hold no more than six missiles. The quiver has a drawstring at its mouth which can be tightened to stop arrows from falling out while the wearer is engaged in acrobatics, climbing and so on.
Only the front half of this horse has been carved from the block of wood from which it emerges. The carving is crude and it is more than possible the carver was only vaguely aware of a horse’s anatomy.
Hanging from a fragment of a thin silver chain, this mouldy rabbit foot has a patch where the fur has been rubbed away.
This crudely drawn plan of an unnamed tavern has several arrows pointing to various windows on the first floor. Similarly, one of the bedchambers on that floor has been circled emphatically.
Junk & Dross
Spilling from a cracked and suspiciously stained leather folder this sheaf of song sheets records a score or so bawdy drinking songs—or they would do if they hadn’t suffered extensive water (or possibly beer) damage.
This pewter drinking stein has a wide crack in its base; consequently, liquid quickly leaks out rendering it useless as a drinking vessel.
This slightly charred 1,000 gp letter of credit lacks the crucial section setting out who undertakes to extend the aforementioned credit.
Bent and twisted, this iron brooch forged in the shape of a (now squashed) pinecone has lost its pin.
This small drum has a rip in its cover.
The jagged fragment of a leather armband etched with the remains of a heraldic symbol—a lion rampant clutching a battle-axe—lies at the back of a shelf.
Containing slightly wet and matted multi-coloured chalk dust this pouch may have once belonged to a wizard.
A pair of blunt oversized brass scissors—perhaps good for shearing sheep if sharpened.
Baubles & Curiosities
Once a magical item akin to a scroll this shattered leg bone has faint etching recording a fragment of a powerful necromantic spell. No magic remains in the “scroll”, but a wizard may find it interesting anyway.
Slender and riven with minute cracks, this vase decorated with swirling wave patterns stands in splendid isolation atop a high shelf.
Depicting a rearing warhorse clad in chain barding this iron figurine is missing its rider.
Dust covers these four beaten copper dinner plates tied together with faded yellow string.
Perhaps sized for a child, this tiny brass ring is engraved with musical notes.
With a hood edged in luxurious white fur (from a polar bear), this blue cloak would be valuable were it not for the jagged rent in its back.
Exquisitely made, but worthless—assumable—as a weapon this miniature crystal dagger is translucent and catches the light in beguiling ways.
This tarnished silver choker is sized for a slender neck. It was set with three stones, but they have fallen out leaving only the empty mounts. Close examination of the inside of the chocker reveals the inscription, “Never Forget, You Are Mine.”
Credit
This is a short system-neutral extract from 20 Things #25: Curio Shop & Pawnbrokers by Creighton Broadhurst.
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