Information has value, and the loremonger is that information’s keeper. A companys loremonger studies and records all lore relevant to its operation, including tracking the economic, technical, and arcane methods by which the company can be improved. A loremonger records the deeds and history of the company, including the names of places visited and people met during missions. Those records are then sent to Head Office to ensure brand integrity and flow of information.
As a loremonger, you are a studious individual, usually with an interest in history or technical subjects. You might revel in your role, working as a central figure in your company as you use your knowledge to promote it. Or you might operate from the shadows, resembling a clever spymaster and allowing others to be the companys public face. You help advance your company by discovering secrets, tracking important lore gained during the characters’ travels, and reporting on competitors’ goals and methods.
Proficiencies and Starting Equipment
As a rank 1 loremonger, you gain one of the following proficiencies of your choice: artisan’s tools (choose type), navigator’s tools, vehicles (land), or vehicles (water).
Head office also grants you the use of an appropriate tool kit if you chose a tool proficiency, as well as ink and an ink pen.
Whisper Jar
Also at rank 1, you are the beneficiary of a whisper jar — a common magic item resembling an ether-filled jar with a long tap hose. The jar is used to record others’ stories and your own observations, like a verbal notebook with unlimited space. The whisper jar records as fast as a creature can speak into it, and whispers back words at the same pace they were recorded. Activating the playback of a particular recording is an action.
Need to Know
At rank 2, your insight grants you preternatural knowledge of the creatures around you. As an action, select one humanoid you can see and make a DC 15 Intelligence (Investigation) check. On a success, you learn the following information: the creature’s name, up to three aliases it has used within the past month, its primary profession, and its skill proficiencies. Once you use this feature, you can’t use it again until you finish a long rest. You can use this feature only once on any creature.
Whispered Encyclopedia
At rank 2, your whisper jar becomes an uncommon magic item that can tap into the broader lore and knowledge of Phandalin and District Shipping Company. As a bonus action, you ask the jar for information on a specific subject and make a DC 15 Intelligence (History) check. On a success, the jar plays back a recording on that subject, made somewhere, sometime by the previous owner of the jar. This property of the whisper jar can’t be used again until the next dawn.
Whispered Warnings
At rank 3, your whisper jar gains additional power and becomes a rare magic item. As an action, you can cause the jar to function as a wand of enemy detection, whereupon it whispers the direction to foes within range. This property of the whisper jar can’t be used again until the next dawn.
Efficient Upgrades
At rank 4, your knowledge of the company lore and development yields further dividends. Your headquarters gains one weapon feature and one cosmetic feature over and above those gained normally through company advancement. Speak to the DM.
Whispered Arcana
Also at rank 4, your whisper jar gains access to even more magic. By whispering the name of one of the following spells into the jar as an action, you can cast that spell from the jar: detect evil and good, detect magic, detect poison and disease, find traps, identify, or locate animals or plants. This property of the whisper jar can’t be used again until the next dawn.
