Merrick of the Thirsty Current

Human Ferryman · Level 7

A whimsical NPC for D&D 5e.

“Pay the toll, even if the water’s gone!”

Abilities

  • Strength: 13 (+1)
  • Dexterity: 12 (+1)
  • Constitution: 14 (+2)
  • Intelligence: 10 (+0)
  • Wisdom: 15 (+2)
  • Charisma: 13 (+1)

Stats

  • Role: Keeper of the Long‑Gone River
  • Bond: He swears to the memory of the river that once fed his town
  • Flaw: He refuses to admit the river is dry, demanding payment for a passage no one can take
  • Armor Class: 13 (leather armor)
  • Hit Points: 45 (6d8+12)

Appearance

Merrick stands tall in a rain‑slick coat that still smells of wet stone and hot iron. His beard is streaked with river‑mud that never truly dried, and his eyes glint like polished copper when the sun catches them. He carries a battered wooden pole, now more a walking staff, and a brass bell that rings with a metallic clang whenever someone tells a lie.

Secret

The river vanished decades ago, but Merrick refused to surrender his livelihood. He converted his ferry into a wandering tavern, ferrying travelers across a phantom current while secretly hoarding the gold he collects as “toll”. The iron bell is cursed: it rings true only for those whose words betray the truth, and Merrick uses it to keep his customers honest — or at least to hear their lies.

Hook

The party arrives at the cracked riverbed, where Merrick offers them a passage to a rumored hidden spring—if they can prove the river ever flowed. He challenges them to find a relic from the old waterway, promising a share of his hoarded toll for success.

Tags: ferryman, toll, river, wet stone, iron

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