level_range: "1-5"

The Impossible Merchant

Summary: The party encounters a merchant on a remote mountain pass who is selling items that shouldn't exist: Kigum silk at half price, Steamfort chronometers with "unauthorized" modifications, and rare deep-sea pearls.

The Hook: The merchant, a disguised kobold named "Sly Krik," mentions that he can get "even better stuff" if the party is willing to follow him to his "wholesale warehouse." He leads them to a hidden cave entrance that is actually a Vertical-Shunt leading down to The Undermart.

Connections: This hook is a perfect way to introduce Krik the Smuggler-King and provide the players with access to high-level (and illegal) equipment early in their journey.