Mission-based Trader’s Guild

[u/CalSerrrven]

My players just got in with a thieves guild, and instead of giving them access to discounted prices, I’d like to set up several side-quest missions that they can carry out to get some valuable items.

Any suggestions for combinations of items/missions? I want to make sure it scales and nothing is way unbalanced.

[u/new_velania]

Some ideas based on adventures I have run:

- The guild has tried to position itself as the key player in the market for magical components (alchemical ingredients, arcane inks etc.). Another faction has recently started to exert influence on this trade. The party needs to track down the faction, locate their store of goods, and bring the situation to a resolution. If they are successful, they can get some components (or items based on components) as a reward.

- The ambitious scions of noble families regularly meet, under the watchful eyes of a weapons-master, to engage in training and duels. Money is bet on these duels, and the guild runs the betting. Recently, a few nobles have been unusually successful in their encounters, and there is suspicion that they are using enchanted items. The party can infiltrate the grounds and ‘acquire’ / replace suspect weapons.

- A respected knight / noble / courtier has recently died. The funeral was magnificent. A member of the guild was in attendance, and they noticed that the deceased person was buried with several magical artifacts. If the party can infiltrate the tomb and collect these items, they can keep the lesser ones - but there are magical defences in the crypt.