Services

Adventurers can pay nonplayer characters to assist them or act on their behalf in a variety o f circumstances. Most such hirelings have fairly ordinary skills, while others are masters o f a craft or art, and a few are experts with specialized adventuring skills. Some o f the most basic types o f hirelings appear on the Services table. Other common hirelings include any o f the w ide variety o f people who inhabit a typical town or city, when the adventurers pay them to perform a specific task. For example, a wizard might pay a carpenter to construct an elaborate chest (and its miniature replica) for use in the Leomund’s secret chest spell. A fighter might commission a blacksmith to forge a special sword. A bard might pay a tailor to make exquisite clothing for an upcoming performance in front o f the duke. Other hirelings provide more expert or dangerous services. Mercenary soldiers paid to help the adventurers take on a hobgoblin army are hirelings, as are sages hired to research ancient or esoteric lore. If a high-level adventurer establishes a stronghold o f some kind, he or she might hire a whole staff of servants and agents to run the place, from a castellan or steward to menial laborers to keep the stables clean. These hirelings often enjoy a long-term contract that includes a place to live within the stronghold as part o f the offered compensation.