A Dozen Documents and Papers
A Dozen
Documents and Papers
Where books and scrolls are quite valuable treasures that any
adventurer will usually instantly assume can be sold for a prof-
it, individual sheets of parchment or vellum that are covered in
mundane writing – that aren’t scrolls – tend to be considered
nothing but trash. I’ve personally always enjoyed treasures that
are not immediately recognizable as valuable but, rather, force
the player characters to take some time researching their find.
My previous PDFs of treasures, 101 Mundane Treasures and
Another 101 Mundane Treasures, greatly show this type of
thinking but even then they are packed with item after item that
is instantly recognizable as something of value.
A Dozen Treasured Documents is a PDF of nothing but
scraps and pieces of paper (and one metal document). Use these
treasures sparingly, mixing them in amongst more common
treasures. Also, so that the players don’t instantly assume that
every parchment sheet they find is worth a mountain of gold, be
certain to include documents that are little more than trash.
Always keep the players guessing!
“THE BATTLE OF BLACK GATE”
Appearance: This giant painting measures eight feet by
seven feet and depicts a massive battle between human soldiers
and twisted, unidentifiable sea creatures. The painting, when
found, is tightly rolled and stored within a massive wooden
tube. Engraving on the tube identifies the work as “Black
Gate.”
by Philip Reed
Appraise Information: DC 19. The painting is by the
renowned drow artist Kel’kathkata and was painted around the
same time as his masterpiece, “Final Stand.” This painting is
over one thousand years old and only one of a dozen
Kel’kathkata paintings still in mint condition. Kel’kathkata
works are highly prized by art dealers and the wealthy.
Value: 5,250 gp (5,100 gp for the painting, 150 gp for the
wooden tube).
Special Rules: None. Collectors can find another
Kel’kathkata painting in Forbidden Arcana: Kelust’s Tower.
CERTIFICATE OF CREMATION
Appearance: A vellum sheet, written in a flowing script and
signed by Vesavalleus, Head Undertaker (the signature is obvi-
ously in a different hand than the rest of the text). This elegant
certificate proclaims that one Miranda Festak was cremated in
the city crematorium seven weeks earlier.
Appraise Information: DC 15. The sheet has no practical
value though Festak’s family may pay a few gold coins for it as
a lasting record to one of their own. A Gather Information
check (DC 14) reveals that Miranda Festak is survived by Justin
Festak, a brother who works as a cargo handler on the city
docks.
Value: None.
Special Rules: None.
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A Dozen Documents and Papers

DECREE OF ELECTION ROSHANTA MEMBER

Appearance: This small brass plate, roughly six inches
square, grants the owner permission to vote in the elections of a
great city by the sea. The date on the plate is current and the
engraving indicates that the possessor of the plate may vote in
any elections held over the next twenty years.
Appraise Information: DC 15. The exact city in question
will depend upon your campaign world. Not all cities allow vot-
ing and typically those that do allow only the wealthy and pow-
erful to participate in the practice.
Value: None outside of the city in question though the brass
could be melted down in which case it would be worth a few sil-
ver coins. In the city in which the plate is used its value could be
anywhere from a few gold pieces to hundreds of gold depending
upon how difficult it is to be granted permission to vote.
Special Rules: None. Voting and political intrigue can intro-
duce a completely new form of play to your sessions. DMs and
players interested in political action are encouraged to hunt
down resources and references pertaining to medieval politics.
BENEFITS
Access to Funds: The member has potential access to an
almost unlimited amount of funds. To acquire these funds be
must initiate a trading venture and issue trade sharers for sale
to guild members. An adventure into a dragon’s lair is not
considered a trading venture and will not be financed.
Access to Information: Within the guild, a member can
present himself at any guild hall (usually the most elaborate
building in the center of every major town) and request
information about the local area. The information will be
given freely to members, whereas a nonmember would have
to pay a steep price for the information.
Good Reputation: Within the guild, members enjoy
good reputation. All reactions to the member receive an
automatic shift of one place in his favor. Nonmember mer-
chants know of the guild and treat guild members with
respect.

GUILD MEMBERSHIP PAPERS Special Rules: A member of the guild is granted access to
funds, information, and enjoys the benefits of a good reputation
Appearance: Several sheets of parchment collected in a with other guild members (see box).
small wooden case, each stamped with the seal of the Roshanta
Trading Guild and bearing the signature of the guild’s account-
ant, these papers proclaim the possessor to be a member in good
L
ETTER OF C REDIT
standing of the Roshanta Trading Guild. Furthermore, the pos- Appearance: This scrap of parchment bears the official seal
sessor is to be granted all of the privileges and benefits of one of the Roshanta Trading Guild and promises the bearer 10 gp.
accorded the rank of “banker” in the guild. The letter is only a few weeks old and made out to Victor
Appraise Information: DC 18. This collection of papers is Smithfield, proprietor of Smithfield’s Chocolate House (see p. 6
much like any other set of guild membership papers. This spe- or www.philipjreed.com).
cific set of papers is for the Roshanta Trading Guild, a merchant Appraise Information: DC 12. This letter would be difficult
guild that grew from a family of the same name. The guild is to cash in without Smithfield’s signature. The letter must have
quite large, with members and offices in almost all of the larger been stolen or lost.
cities in the known lands. Value: 100 gp.
Value: 3,000 gp. Membership in the guild is quite expensive.

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A Dozen Documents and Papers
FORGED DOCUMENTS
As you know, all of the treasures in this PDF are sheets of
paper or parchment with writing on them. This writing is
what makes these sheets of parchment treasures and, as
many have in the past, these treasures may prove to be for-
geries.
The Forgery skill is of particular importance to one who
would choose to make a living by selling forged documents.
In addition to the modifiers found in the Player’s Handbook
two other factors modify the DC when forgery is attempted.
Condition Forgery Check Modifier
Forger has access to an official document+4
Document requires an official stamp or wax seal -2
Special Rules: Many merchants – foreign and domestic –
prefer to carry letters of credit in various denominations (at
least 100 gp). Letters of credit are backed by actual gold coin
issued by various organizations in return for a fee, usually
between 2% and 5%. They can be generic (transferable) or
assigned to a specific individual (non-transferable), but all fea-
ture the signature of the issuer as well as the organization’s, or
individual’s, stamp. This is actually a rudimentary form of
banking wherein the organization backing the letter of credit
keeps the funds in its safes until such time as the letter of cred-
it is redeemed. Most letters are generic and function much like
bank notes; those that have a specific bearer named can only be
cashed by that individual (or someone impersonating them).
Many letters have been circulating for years, changing hands
multiple times without ever being cashed.
LETTER OF TRANSIT
Appearance: This folded parchment sheet is stored careful-
ly within a small leather case that is held closed with a length
of silk rope. The parchment, stamped with the official seal of
two separate countries, gives the bearer permission to pass
freely between the countries without the necessity to pay border
crossing fees, taxes, or other duties.
Appraise Information: DC 15. The exact countries this let-
ter grants permission to travel between will be the decision of
the DM. The countries need not be openly warring but they
should most certainly be on unfriendly terms.
Value: 20 gp at a minimum. The exact value may fluctuate
on a daily basis with the value rising as high as 1,000 gp during
times of open warfare. Anyone caught using a letter of transit
illegally acquired (or, worse yet, a forgery) is immediately con-
sidered a criminal and seized by authorities.
Special Rules: Using a letter of transit can be as simple as
showing it to the proper authorities and as difficult as a
Diplomacy check. Entering or leaving a country during a time
of war – at an official point – can be a tense, nerve-wracking
encounter; especially if the individual entering or leaving is
transporting something illegal. DMs are encouraged to use the
idea of border crossing as a way of springing a new trick on the
PCs. Imagine the concern and confusion as the PCs find them-
selves stopped by armed guards who ask for their papers.
Identification papers, obviously, could also be introduced into
your campaign.
MERCENARY PAYMENT
VOUCHER
Appearance: This parchment card, roughly the size and
weight of a playing card, is decorated on one side with the
image of a shield and skull. The other side bears the signature
of Otto Selvaka and states that whomsoever presents this card
to the Steel Shields’ paymaster must be paid 20 gold pieces.
There is no other information on the card.
Appraise Information: DC 14. This card is a payment
voucher from the Steel Shields mercenary company. The com-
pany is still in service and usually has around 100 men, elves,
and dwarves in its ranks.
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A Dozen Documents and Papers
Value: 20 gp but may only be exchanged with the Steel Appraise Information: DC 15. Slavery, while illegal in
Shields’ paymaster. Others who know of the mercenary compa- some territories and countries, is most certainly legal in others.
ny may be willing to accept the card as payment for some goods The specifics of the slave are left to the concern of the DM, as
or services. is the decision of whether or not slavery is to be a part of the
Special Rules: Several mercenary companies across the campaign world. Many DMs and players look down upon the
lands pay their men with these cards. Such cards are frequently inclusion of slavery into game play and while it was a fact of life
lost, stolen, used in gambling, or traded away. Tracking down for thousands of years it is most certainly a distasteful subject.
this specific mercenary company may not be worth the effort for Value: The exact value of a slave will depend upon age, sex,
such a small sum. race, health, and skills. A goblin warrior, for example, could be
expected to be worth 50 gp while a young human boy would be
T HE O RATION OF worth only 15 gp.
Special Rules: None. Slavery is a touchy subject that
T HERANGA THE W ISE requires a careful hand when implementing it into a campaign
Appearance: This ragged sheet of parchment is yellowed with world. Mature DMs and players should have no difficulties with
age and one side shows signs of fire damage. The sheet is covered slavery in games and, in fact, good-aligned adventurers may
on both sides with what appears to be the writing of a quick, ill-at- take it upon themselves to fight legal and illegal slavery.
ease hand and is a speech proclaiming victory over some dragon
horde. The poor penmanship and damage to the paper makes it dif-
ficult to read (Decipher Script check DC 20).
T S
HE IGNATURE
Appraise Information: DC 25. While this appears to be the OF K ’ EL KATHKATA
ramblings of a madman or perhaps the fiction of a crazed author, Appearance: A parchment sheet with a small, elegant sketch
this is in fact the original copy of a great speech give by the sage of a castle signed “Kel’kathkata the Masterful.” The sheet has
Theranga some one thousand years ago. Following the devastation been folded and unfolded many times and shows signs of water
of nearly 100 dragons, Theranga convinced the people of dozens damage. Parts of the sketch and the signature are smudged but
of villages to bind their lives together so that they could better for the most part the work is clearly visible.
defend themselves and their homes. This is a truly valuable sheet Appraise Information: DC 30. This is a very difficult item
of paper to anyone who understands its meaning and history. to identify. Art specialists will immediately suspect the docu-
Value: 550 gp. ment’s worth but only careful study and research will prove it to
Special Rules: None. be an authentic signature of the long-dead drow artist.
Value: 1,500 gp. Signatures of Kel’kathkata surface from
P APERS OF O WNERSHIP time to time but most do not include sketches. A simple signa-
ture is worth 500 gp.
Appearance: These four sheets of bleached parchment are
the properly filled-out forms granting the holder of the papers Special Rules: None.
complete legal ownership of a single slave. The slave is
described in detail and named and the image of the slave’s brand
– and location of the brand on the slave’s body – is included on
the final sheet.

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A Dozen Documents and Papers

STATUTE OF LABORERS
Appearance: This large sheet of parchment is dull brown in by it. The issuing of such a statute does not make the issuer evil
color and 20” square. Handwritten, this is a declaration from the or immoral – this is just government at work in ancient times.
courts ordering the lower classes to perform their duties, be they
fieldwork, baking, animal handling, smithing, or any other task
the nobles and wealthy rely on others for. The paper states that
anyone shirking his responsibility will be beheaded without
trial.
Appraise Information: DC 12. This is just one of many such
declarations that have been passed over the years. This specific
statute was issued some five hundred years ago and has value
only to collectors of antique documents or a legal library. There
is a good chance that the authority that issued the paper no
longer exists.
Value: None. 100 gp to a collector or library.
P ROFESSION (S -J
TOCK OBBER ) Value: 50 gp. To one versed in the trade of the stock-jobber
This skill covers the profession of buying and selling
stocks and issues. It is treated like all other Profession skills.
Stock certificates are usually sold in an area where stock-
jobbers congregate (any number of taverns or inns in the
city). The buyer and seller each make Profession (Stock-
Jobber) checks to determine which party benefits from the
transaction. If the buyer’s check is higher reduce the printed
value of the stock by 2 gp per point of difference between
the checks. If the seller’s check is higher increase the print-
ed value of the stock by 2 gp per point of difference between
the checks.
Example: If the buyer rolls an 18 and the seller a 12 the
value of the stock would be reduced by 12 gp. If the seller’s
check was 22 and the buyer’s 10 the value of the stock would
be increased by 24 gp.
If the checks tie the stock is sold at the printed value.
Stock may never be decreased in value to less than 0 gp.
Special Rules: None. DMs may choose to make such a paper
current and legal, in which case even PCs will be forced to abide
S TOCK C ERTIFICATES
Appearance: A single sheet of bleached parchment, stamped
with the official seal of Soar Sails, a thriving sailcloth business
located in one of the largest port cities in the realms. This cer-
tificate, like many others, is traded, bought, and sold by the
stock-jobbers and men of influence in most large cities. To most
adventurers this stock certificate will prove worthless but there
are some who choose to delve in financial adventure.
Appraise Information: DC 18. A Profession (Stock-Jobber)
check is required to know when to sell the certificate in order to
get the best value for the parchment sheet. See special rules for
information on buying and selling stock certificates.
this parchment sheet can be worth a lot more (or, on bad days,
less).
Special Rules: The actual value of this (and any other) stock
certificate depends on the current financial situation of the city
and the company who issued the certificate. While some DMs
may find it enjoyable to keep track of market fluctuations and
the many subtle nuances that affect stock values, most will let
everything rest on a single Profession (Stock-Jobber) check (see
box).
NOTE: The DM can easily invent additional stock certifi-
cates for any number of businesses located in and out of the city.
The only important information is the name of the company
issuing the certificate and the value.

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A Dozen Documents and Papers
SMITHFIELD’S CHOCOLATE
HOUSE
“The divine drink which builds up resistance & fights fatigue.
A cup of this precious drink permits man to walk for a whole day
without food.”
–Hernando Cortez
NOTE: This short article was originally presented free on
my website. I’ve included it here so that readers have a cleaner
copy to print if they so choose.
This elegant establishment, as richly decorated as any posh
restaurant, sits deep within the heart of the wealthy merchant
district of the city. A single story in height with a stone roof and
rock walls, Smithfield’s Chocolate House is a place in which the
wealthiest and most powerful men in the city may congregate to
discuss politics and business while politely sipping from a dish
of thick, hot chocolate.
Smithfield’s Chocolate House is a small, cramped business
that is kept well lit and clean. A dozen small tables, each with
two chairs, and three larger tables at which up to ten men may
sit, dominate the public room of the building. A small podium
near the door is attended by Victor Smithfield [male human,
Exp4, hp 17] himself and Smithfield greets each and every
entrant to his establishment and directs them to a table.
Smithfield will allow only the most elegantly dressed men (and
some women) to enter. Anyone Smithfield deems inadequate or
undeserving of visiting his chocolate house will be turned away
– troublemakers who insist on entering will be set upon by two
roughs [male human, War 5, hp 24] Smithfield employs for
just such occasions.
In addition to Smithfield and the two roughs there are four
boys between the ages of 10 and 16 working in the chocolate
house. These boys prepare (in a small, back room) and serve the
drinks and snacks of those visiting the chocolate house. It must
be noted that Smithfield does not allow girls or women to work
CHOCOLATE AND
CHOCOLATE HOUSES
IN THE REAL WORLD
As difficult as it may be to accept, there was a time only
300 years ago when chocolate was a valuable trade good,
nearly worth its weight in gold. Discovered in the New
World, chocolate was transported to Europe where it quick-
ly became an expensive luxury enjoyed only by the most
powerful men and women of the time. The cocoa bean, for a
time, rivaled coffee and opium and entire ships of the beans
made their way to Europe where the beans brought in con-
siderable sums of money.
In 1657 the first chocolate house opened in London.
Several more rapidly sprang up and it is important to note
that these first chocolate houses were opened before the first
coffee houses. Chocolate remained such a valuable com-
modity for almost two hundred years that even after coffee
houses were opened the elite and wealthy, for the most part,
remained within the walls of the chocolate houses – the
lower value of coffee made the coffee houses the meeting
place for the masses.
A large number of websites and books devoted to trade
and economics of the sixteenth through eighteenth centuries
are available for DMs interested in expanding the role of the
cocoa bean in their game.
within his chocolate house.
At any time there are usually a dozen to two dozen customers
in the chocolate house. Any number of them may have body-
guards with them or waiting just outside the building. Anyone
attempting to disrupt or disturb the discussions of gentlemen
enjoying the chocolate house’s elite atmosphere and excellent
chocolate will rapidly find themselves surrounded by any num-
ber of skilled men-at-arms.
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 A Dozen Documents and Papers
Services and Prices
The primary offering in Smithfield’s Chocolate House is, of
course, a dish of hot chocolate. Smithfield’s chocolate dish is made of
ground cocoa beans, milk, and a dash of sugar and vanilla – customers
may request more or less sugar. The ingredients are mixed and heat-
ed and then poured from cup to cup until thick, dark foam collects on
the top. This is then poured into a small saucer and served to the cus-
tomer. Adish of chocolate prepared in this manner costs a single gold
piece. A mug of this chocolate is also offered, costing 5 gold pieces.
Most customers purchase single dishes of chocolate since it is con-
sidered rude to drink chocolate as if it were a cheap beer.
A stronger, bitter-tasting chocolate dish is also offered. This drink,
made of water and crushed cocoa beans, is concocted in almost the
same manner as those tribal cultures who first discovered the cocoa
bean and its uses. A dish of this chocolate is 5 silver pieces. This
chocolate is not offered in a mug.
Other offerings include a number of small cookies and cakes and
cups of hot coffee. Some customers prefer to mix their dish of choco-
late with a cup of coffee. The coffee is made on the premises and
Smithfield has the cakes and cookies delivered twice a day from a
nearby bakery.
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2. The License: This License applies to any Open Game Content that contains a
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Adventure Hooks
While the idea of a chocolate house may not immediately bring
to mind adventure, there are a few interesting adventures that could
be devised around chocolate houses and chocolate itself. DMs
should take these few hooks as inspiration for their own adventures
(or even simple encounters within a much larger adventure).
The Case of the Stolen Cocoa: Smithfield keeps his cocoa
beans in the preparation room within a large, locked chest. At any
time he will have between 100 gp and 500 gp worth of cocoa beans
within this chest and leaves a guard with the chest at all times.
Upon entering the chocolate house one morning Smithfield finds
his guard dead and the chest smashed open – all of the cocoa beans
are gone. Smithfield is desperate to get his cocoa beans back and
will pay a handsome reward to any adventurers who manage to
track down the criminals and return his cocoa beans.
Caravan Escort: Cocoa beans are typically brought to the city
by boat but a rumor of pirates has forced many cocoa traders to
bring their goods in by land caravan. Smithfield – or any number
of other dealers in chocolate – would like to hire adventurers to
protect the caravan.
6.Notice of License Copyright: You must update the COPYRIGHTNOTICE por-
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Open Game License v 1.0 Copyright 2000, Wizards of the Coast, Inc.
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versions of this License. You may use any authorized version of this License to A Dozen Documents and Papers Copyright © 2004 Philip Reed,
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any version of this License.
Guildcraft Copyright 2002, Bastion Press, Inc.
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