Chapter 6
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Don't Be Fooled by a Con Game
Not all fraud happens in the sale or exchange of goods, however. There are
just a few simple things to remember to prevent you from losing something:
A. Never give an item to someone to appraise.
If they want to appraise something, drop
it on the ground, guard it, and invite them to appraise it from there.
Remember, you do not have to hold something in your hands to appraise
it. HOWEVER, there is a large caveat that goes with this, since
a particular con game is being run specifically to get around guarded
items that are placed on the ground. Read on, my friend.
B. Do not count on GUARD to protect your investment on the ground.
Let me describe the setup of a very effective
scam that has left more than one person without one of their posessions.
Someone approaches you and asks to see that weapon or other valuable that
you are using or wearing. You decline, and explain you do not give your
things away. They smile and offer up the solution that will safeguard
your item. You drop it and guard it. After all, they can still appraise
it on the ground, and it will be safe that way. If you do this, they appraise
it. You pick it back up, feeling pretty secure that there was no harm
involved after all.
BUT just as you pick it up, someone else walks in, notices it and asks
about it. They might casually say something to the first person that seems
they know one another, or are friends or something. And so you drop it
again, and guard it so they can look at it closely.
But now ... while you wait for the person to appraise the item on the
ground, suddenly the first person has sneaked up out of hiding and grabs
it and runs off with it.
It is not protected by the usual time allotted when you drop something
because of an anomaly of some sort that only comes into play when it is
dropped the second time, in a row.
It is not protected by the guarding, since the person has hidden and crept
up to melee to get around your guard.
My advise truly is to stop dropping things for anyone who asks. Tell them
where they can purchase it, or relate to them the description of the item
and how you feel it works.
Do not drop it if you hope to keep it.
C. Never give your possessions to someone you do not know to "watch"
for you.
D. Depart with friends, not strangers.
They call them graverobbers, the people who
offer to "watch" your things for you when you die and depart
back to the temple, but instead take them and run.
If there is a paladin in your party of sufficient ranking, (it takes 5
promotions, I think) ask them for a glyph of warding on you right before
you depart. It will keep your things safe. But hurry back from the temple,
these wards do not last very long!
Depart in a quiet, out of the way place, with someone you can trust.
E. The cities of the Realms have their own guards for dealing with crime.
Fines for unlawful acts will be administered
by the guards, not by individuals.
F. REAL Mentors are easy to identify.
Mentors are citizens of the Realms, just
like you, who volunteer to help newcomers. Every Mentor can be identified
by a special armband, and they are able to put on their title, "Mentor"
that is visible when you look at them. Mentors do not go around yelling
"If you are new, I'll help you!" Mentors can send around special
messengers, however, that will notify people in town where one is to help
answer questions. The Jadewater Mansion is the headquarters for the Mentorship
Society.
G. Remember: Never give an item to someone you do not know and never drop
something you want to keep.
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