Dick Rentsch

Dick Rentsch, the towering and strategically minded owner of the Waterside Hostel in Nulb, stands as a central figure in the local community. His establishment is vital to the village's day-to-day life, serving as a crossroads for travelers, locals, and those with shadier business.

• Role: Owner and operator of the Waterside Hostel.
• Significance: Acts as a crucial node in Nulb's social and economic networks.
• Reputation: Known for his commanding presence and deep involvement in local affairs.

Physical Description

A rugged visage defined by years of hardship and battle, Dick's physical appearance is both imposing and indicative of his life's storied events. His build and demeanor reflect his past as a fighter, commanding respect and caution from those he interacts with.

• Appearance: Broad and muscular build, with a notable scar and closely cropped hair.
• Attire: Typically seen in worn studded leather armor, signaling his readiness for physical confrontations.
• Demeanor: Carries himself with the confidence and authority of a seasoned fighter.

Dick's Background

Dick's history is marked by violence and strategic survival. His experiences at The Battle of Emridy Meadows have profoundly shaped his worldview, driving him to seek a semblance of control in the chaotic environment of Nulb.

• Military Past: Veteran of the Battle of Emridy Meadows, with deep scars and memories from the conflict.
• Settlement in Nulb: Chose Nulb for its strategic position and potential for a new beginning, despite its notorious reputation.
• Transition to Hospitality: Leveraged his combative skills into running a hostel, providing him with a stable base and influence.

Motivation and Personality

Dick's motivations are driven by a blend of profit, stability, and a complex sense of loyalty. His personality is a mixture of charm and ruthlessness, making him a formidable yet essential ally or adversary.

• Primary Motivations: Stability for his business and control over local politics for personal security.
• Approach to Conflict: Prefers manipulation and strategic alliances over outright violence, though he is not above using force when necessary.
• Complex Loyalty: Loyal to those who benefit his interests but pragmatic in his associations, always prepared to shift allegiances for greater advantage.

Political Relationships

Navigating the treacherous waters of Nulb's politics, Dick maintains a delicate balance of alliances and rivalries, making him a key figure in the village's governance and underground dealings.

• Relation with Lady Lmag: A relationship with Lady Lmag built on mutual respect and necessity, fraught with underlying tensions.
• Influence on Local Politics: Uses his establishment and connections to sway local decisions and maintain a semblance of order.
• Community Impact: Viewed by many as a stabilizing force, albeit one with his own agenda.

Tavern Staff of the Waterside Hostel

Professional and Personal Relationships

Dala (Lover and Serving Wench)

• Professional Dynamics: Dala serves under Dick as one of the serving wenches at the Waterside Hostel. She is efficient and stealthy, often assisting Dick in maintaining order and overseeing covert activities within the tavern.
• Personal Relationship: Beyond their professional ties, Dala is also Dick's lover. Their relationship is complex, blending deep affection with a shared penchant for intrigue and manipulation. This bond makes them a formidable pair within the hostel's hierarchy.
• Shared Secrets: Both are privy to the inner workings of various clandestine operations at the hostel.
• Mutual Support: They cover for each other's activities, ensuring a smooth operation and a united front against external threats.

Wat (Bartender)

• Professional Dynamics: As the bartender, Wat reports directly to Dick. His role is critical in managing the tavern's daily operations, especially during the rowdier nighttime hours.
• Wat and Dick Rentsch both manage the Waterside Hostel in Nulb, but their professional partnership masks a complex and secretive rivalry. Each is unaware of the other's true allegiances within the conflicting factions, which adds a layer of tension and potential betrayal to their interactions.

  Key Points on Relationship Dynamics

  • Shared Business Interests: Publicly, Wat and Dick co-manage the Waterside Hostel, handling different aspects of the business. Wat focuses on the bar and customer interactions, while Dick takes care of administrative duties and the overall maintenance of the Hostel.
  • Mutual Suspicion: There's an underlying layer of suspicion in their interactions. Each is cautious, knowing the other has connections and influences that aren't fully disclosed. This cautiousness often manifests in their indirect approaches to handling hostel affairs and guest interactions.
  • Unspoken Tension: Both are seasoned enough to sense that the other is not entirely forthcoming about their outside affiliations. This results in a tense atmosphere whenever Temple politics become relevant or when Temple associates visit the hostel.
  • Potential Conflict: The precarious balance of their relationship means any revelation of their true loyalties could lead to a severe conflict or even an attempt on each other's lives, especially if one discovers the other's true affiliation first.
  Secret Rivalry
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  Privately, each is involved in espionage and recruitment for different factions of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Wat is aligned with the Fire Temple, whereas Dick is a part of the Earth Temple faction. This secret rivalry puts them at odds without their knowledge.
  
  

  Pearl (Serving Wench and Wat’s Lover)

• Professional Dynamics: Pearl, like Dala, is one of the serving wenches. Her interaction with Dick is professional, focusing on her duties within the tavern.
• Personal Relationship: Although there is no direct personal relationship between Dick and Pearl, her relationship with Wat indirectly connects her to Dick, maintaining a professional respect and acknowledgment of her role in the tavern's ecosystem.
• Indirect Influence: Through Wat, Dick maintains a degree of influence over Pearl’s duties and responsibilities.
• Operational Cohesion: Pearl's role complements the tavern's environment, contributing to the overall effectiveness of Dick’s management.

Manservants (Veterans and Security)

• Professional Dynamics: The manservants are essentially the muscle of the tavern, handling security and any physical confrontations that arise. They report to Dick but operate with a significant degree of autonomy in handling day-to-day security issues.
• Personal Relationship: Dick’s relationship with the manservants is strictly professional. He values their loyalty and the security they provide to the establishment.
• Respect for Skills: Dick respects the combat skills and experience of the manservants, relying on them to maintain order.
• Security Oversight: He provides strategic guidance on security matters but trusts their judgment in executing their roles effectively.

DM-Only Section: Secret Agendas and Relationships

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Bandit and Pirate Relations

Dick's covert relationships with bandit and pirate groups are a cornerstone of his strategy to control local dynamics and ensure the hostel's prosperity.

• Secret Alliances: Provides safe haven and information in exchange for a share of loot or protection.
• Balancing Power: Keeps various groups in check to prevent any single faction from dominating Nulb.

Connection with the Temple of Elemental Evil

Dick's secret life as a spy for the Temple of Elemental Evil's Earth faction places him in a precarious position, balancing his public persona with covert activities.

• Dual Role: Publicly, a hostel owner; secretly, a gatherer of information and recruiter for the Temple.
• Recruitment Activities: Subtly evaluates and recruits capable individuals under the guise of hiring for hostel work or local contracts.
• Temple Communications: Regularly reports back to Earth Prophet Romag, maintaining a flow of information and receiving directives.

Hidden Treasures and Plans

Dick's ambitions extend beyond mere survival, harboring plans that involve significant financial and political gains.

• Secret Treasure: Holds a key to a hidden chest with valuable contents, which skilled thieves may target.
• Strategic Objectives: Aims to leverage his position and Temple connections to eventually seize greater power within or beyond Nulb.

Dick Rentsch is a multifaceted character whose actions and decisions have ripple effects throughout Nulb. Understanding his motives and maneuvers is crucial for navigating the complex socio-political landscape of the village.

Quest Title: Triple Cross at Waterside Inn

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In the murky depths of Nulb's Waterside Inn, a web of deceit and double-dealings is woven between Dick Rentsch and Wat, both of whom are secretly recruiting for rival factions within the Temple of Elemental Evil. Unbeknownst to each other, their clandestine activities are about to collide, thanks to the manipulative prowess of a group of cunning adventurers.

Objectives

• Discover the Double Agents: Learn about Wat's and Rentsch's secret affiliations through careful observation and eavesdropping in the tavern.
• Stir Confusion: Use roleplaying skills to sow distrust between Wat and Rentsch by misinforming them about each other's true allegiances.
• Watch the Fallout: Observe the consequences of your actions as mistrust leads to a confrontation between Wat and Rentsch.
• Resolve the Conflict: Decide whether to intervene in their conflict, choose a side, or let them take each other out, affecting the power dynamics within the Temple.

Key Steps

• Gather Information: Spend time in the Waterside Inn, interacting with staff and patrons to pick up on subtle cues and gather intel on Wat and Rentsch.
• Initiate Misdirection: Approach Wat discreetly, suggesting that Rentsch has been leaking information to the council in Hommlet. Use your roleplaying skills and CHA to convince him.
• Deepen the Deception: Confront Rentsch with a fabricated story about Wat being an agent of Furyondy, watching his reaction and further stirring the pot.
• Seal the Deal: Return to Wat, implying that Rentsch is onto him, escalating Wat's paranoia and prompting him to take drastic action.
• Observe the Outcome: Watch as Wat and Rentsch's actions lead to a potentially violent fallout, influencing future quests and alignments with the Temple.

Rewards

• Experience Points: Based on successful.
• Loot: Potential access to secret stashes or items owned by Wat and Rentsch, depending on how the quest resolves.
• Alignment Shifts: Depending on actions and choices, alignment shifts towards good or evil.
• Reputation: Changes in reputation within Nulb, affecting interactions with other NPCs and future quests.

DM Tips

• Roleplaying Wat and Rentsch: Emphasize their paranoia and ambition, making their reactions to the adventurers' manipulations plausible.
• Player Choices: Allow players multiple approaches to resolve the conflict, including siding with one, both, or neither of the agents.
• Consequences: Highlight the broader implications of this quest on the power dynamics within the Temple of Elemental Evil.

Quest Title: Rentsch Makes an Offer

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In the dimly lit backrooms of the Waterside Inn, Dick Rentsch, a known agent of the Earth Temple, presents a dangerous yet lucrative opportunity to the adventurers. If the party can prove their mettle by ambushing a pack of gnolls allied with the Fire Temple, they may earn a place within the ranks of the Earth Temple's forces.

Objectives

• Accept Rentsch's Offer: Engage with Dick Rentsch to hear out his proposal.
• Plan the Ambush: Strategically plan and execute an ambush on a gnoll pack en route to the Fire Temple.
• Meet with Romag: Survive the encounter and meet Romag, the high priest of the Earth Temple, to demonstrate their capabilities and loyalty.
• Gain Entry into the Temple: Use the successful ambush as leverage to secure guided access into the Temple of Elemental Evil, potentially infiltrating the Earth Temple.

Key Steps

• Initial Meeting: Approach Dick Rentsch at the Waterside Inn, who, sensing potential in the party, offers them a task on behalf of Romag.
• Prepare for the Ambush: Gather intelligence on the gnoll pack's route and plan an effective ambush strategy. Equip and position the party to maximize their tactical advantage.
• Execute the Ambush: Confront the gnoll pack, utilizing the element of surprise and the party's strategic preparations to overcome the gnolls.
• Meet Romag: After the ambush, meet with Romag and his bugbear bodyguards in the cellar of the Waterside Hotel. Impress him with the party's combat prowess and strategic thinking.
• Secure Temple Access: Follow Romag as he leads the party through a side entrance of the Temple ruins, introducing them to the inner workings of the Earth Temple.

Rewards

• Experience Points: Awarded for defeating the gnoll pack and successfully negotiating with Romag.
• Potential Allies: Gaining favor with the Earth Temple could open up new resources and support.
• Special Items: Romag may reward the party with items useful for their ongoing adventures.
• Strategic Advantage: Gaining inside knowledge and access to the Temple of Elemental Evil can provide a strategic advantage in future encounters.

DM Tips

• Characterization of Romag: Portray Romag as a calculating and somewhat paranoid leader, skeptical of newcomers but willing to utilize capable adventurers.
• Ambush Dynamics: Ensure the ambush on the gnolls requires careful planning and execution, testing the party's combat and strategic skills.
• Potential Double-Cross: Consider adding layers to the quest, such as potential betrayal by Rentsch or an ulterior motive from Romag, to add complexity to the narrative.
• Integration with Larger Campaign: Ensure this quest ties into the larger campaign themes, particularly regarding the ongoing conflict between the Temple's various factions.

Quest Title: Dick Pays the Price

Show spoiler

In the shadowy corners of the Waterside Hostel, a scene of treachery unfolds that could alter the balance of power within the remnants of the Temple of Elemental Evil. Dick Rentsch, overconfident from his recent successes, finds himself the target of an assassination attempt by his own bartender, Wat. The adventurers, present at the tavern, face a critical decision that could either save a life or witness a chilling betrayal.

Objectives

• Witness the Plot Unfold: Observe the interaction between Dick Rentsch and Wat, sensing the impending danger.
• Identify the Poison: Recognize the poison's effects in time to intervene before Rentsch succumbs.
• Make a Choice: Decide whether to save Rentsch or let the assassination proceed, influencing future alignments and relationships in Nulb.
• Confront Wat: Depending on their choice, confront Wat and deal with the repercussions of their action or inaction.

Key Steps

• Arrival at the Waterside Hostel: Enter the tavern to find Rentsch celebrating with Dala, unaware of the danger he is in.
• Observation: Notice Wat's suspicious behavior as he prepares a drink for Rentsch.
• Quick Decision: Quickly decide how to react once Rentsch starts showing symptoms of poisoning.
• Action/Inaction: Choose to intervene and save Rentsch, or do nothing and watch the situation unfold.
• Confrontation: Depending on the earlier choice, confront Wat for his actions or deal with a hostile tavern environment post-assassination.

Rewards

• Experience Points: Gain experience for making critical decisions and possibly for a confrontation with Wat.
• Moral Consequences: Your actions will affect your standing with the factions within Nulb and the remnants of the Temple.
• Potential Ally or Enemy: Saving Rentsch could make him a valuable ally or indebted supporter; letting him die could lead to unforeseen consequences with other Temple factions.

DM Tips

• Emphasize Atmosphere: Highlight the tense atmosphere in the tavern to build suspense before the assassination attempt.
• Character Dynamics: Flesh out the relationship dynamics between Rentsch, Wat, and Dala to add depth to the encounter.
• Poison Mechanics: Clearly describe the poison's effects and the stakes of failing to act in time, adding urgency to the adventurers' decision.
• Role of Wat: Develop Wat's motivations for the assassination, possibly linking it to deeper plots within the Temple or personal revenge.

"Trust is earned, betrayal comes free."

Dick Rentsch

5th level Fighter

• Armour Class 19 (studded leather, +1 shield, defence)
• Hit Points 43 (5d10 + 15)
  Speed 30ft.
• STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
• 15 (+2) 18 (+4) 16 (+3) 8 (-1) 13 (+1) 7 (-2)
• Multiattack: Rentsch attacks twice per combat turn.

Magic Dagger: Melee weapon attack.+8 to hit, reach 5ft., one target. Hit 9 (1d4+6)
Possessions: studded leather, +1 dagger, +1 shield,

Alignment

Neutral Evil

Current Location

3. Waterside Hostel of Nulb

Species

Humans of Greyhawk

Ethnicity

Oeridian Oerid

Year of Birth

540 36 Years old

Sex

male

Eyes

dark brown

Hair

closely cropped hair and beard

Quotes & Catchphrases

"Keep your friends close, your enemies in your debt."

Dala serving wench by 3orcs