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The Skeleton's Key

Author: 
Anonymous

Description

The power of the Skeleton's Key is very simple, indeed. With it, any non-magically locked door or chest is instantly accessible to even the clumsiest of lockpickers. A particularly skillful lockpicker may even open some magically barred doors with the Key. The two limitations placed on the Key by wizards who sought to protect their storehouses were that the Key could only be used once a day and it would never be the property of one thief for too long. Some of those who have possessed the Key have made themselves rich before it disappeared, others have broken into places they never should have entered ...

Rumors

[Exclamation], some character just asked me if I were willing to pay for information regarding the wherebouts of the Skeleton's Key. As if I'd like it to be found! You want my opinion, a key capable of opening any lock or portal would make all [province] unsafe. I told him to get lost and he headed over [direction] to the [tavern name]. I hope no one takes his offer.

Yeah, this was a little odd. My grandmother told me stories when I was young about a magical key called the Skeleton's Key with which one could open anything. I never believed her, but just today, [direction] of here, this man offered to sell me information to the location of the Skeleton's Key. He was over in the [tavern name].

I don't know if I believe it, but there's a gentleman in [city name] who says he knows how to find the magical key of Arrovan, the master thief. He wants money for the information - a lot of money - but if you'd like to be able to break into anything you might want to head [direction] to the [tavern name] and talk to him.

What kind of [race] are you? You a thief or just thinking about becoming one? Doesn't matter to me anyhow. The Skeleton's Key is not easy to find, mate, but the right person with the right information will be able to do it. I don't know if you're good enough for it, but I can sell you the right information for [amount] gold. What do you say?

Name's [Name], [race]. No one wants the Skeleton's Key to be found, except maybe a few loner thieves. Nothing would be safe from the clutches of the person who holds the key, you understand. I don't care, myself. All I need is [amount] gold to tell you exactly how to get the key yourself.

I make it my business to know where things are. I can tell you how to get the Skeleton's Key yourself. I won't ask why you wish to have the power to open any lock or portal you're probably no more nosy and covetous than I. In this case, I'll only ask for [amount] gold for the information that will lead to the the Skeleton Key. You have that much money to spare, eh?

Tavern Encounters

"What kind of [race] are you?" snorts the man to your left. "You a thief or just thinking about becoming one? Doesn't matter to me anyhow. The Skeleton's Key is not easy to find, mate, but the right person with the right information will be able to do it. I don't know if you're good enough for it, but I can sell you the right information for [amount] gold. What do you say?"

The bartender looks at you suspiciously and then motions to a man in the shadowed corner of the [tavern name], who steps forward. He is a young gentleman dressed in dark clothing. "Name's [Name], [race]. No one wants the Skeleton's Key to be found, except maybe a few loner thieves. Nothing would be safe from the clutches of the person who holds the key, you understand. I don't care, myself. All I need is [amount] gold to tell you exactly how to get the key yourself."

"I make it my business to know where things are," the young man to your left turns to you, his breath stinking of many ales. "And I can tell you how to get the Skeleton's Key yourself. I won't ask why you wish to have the power to open any lock or portal you're probably no more nosy and covetous than I. In this case, I'll only ask for [amount] gold for the information that will lead to the the Skeleton Key. You have that much money to spare, eh?"

Location

"Ah, yes, my purse likes the sound of that. You'll find the Skeleton's Key in a particularly unpleasant dungeon. Of course, no one except a few know where it is, for the Key always chooses inaccessible places to hide. For benefit of the historians, the first holder of the Key, Arrovan, made a map to each of the Key's resting places, but for many years no one could find this one. My contacts say the map is in a place called the [dungeon name]. I have inscribed the location onto your map of the continent. I must leave you. Good luck, my [race] friend..."