WFRP: NPC Lawyer

Baglioni's Legal Advice

An NPC Lawyer for Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 4th Edition

As I'm a huge fan of Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay I joined the Rat Catcher's Guild on Discord. They recently put out a call for articles for the Spring issue of their fanzine with the theme "Big Cities, Small Towns". In the 1990's when I was running WFRP 1st Edition my players often got themselves into trouble with the law, or needed some deed notorised, so I created a shady laywer for my players to interact with. I hadn't forgotton about my NPC lawyer but I hadn't done much with him apart from try and type up my scribbled GM notes about a decade ago.

The fanzine theme "Big Cities, Small Towns" was definitely something I felt I could contribute to so I dusted off my old GM notes, loaded up what I had typed up and got to work putting together a new big city lawyer for people to use. I have had to flesh out more than I had written originally, including changing some names and details to make this a useable NPC by other people, as most of my scribbled notes were prompts for me as the GM running the campaign which had information and details relevant to the players at the time, but which would make no sense to someone who wasn't involved back then. Whether or not my NPC Lawyer makes the final fanzine publication doesn't really bother me as I had fun creating him and playing him, and this final NPC Lawyer gives me something I can throw at my players in the future. With that all being said, I give you Enzo Baglioni, Lawyer. Enjoy!

Baglioni's Legal Advice

Note: Baglioni's Legal Advice has been designed to be situated in Altdorf, more specifically on the edge of the university district in Altdorf. You can relocate Baglioni's Legal Advice to another location that fits in with your game.

Just a few streets ways from the main administrative buildings of Altdorf University lies Baglioni's Legal Advice, a modest two storey house with it's own small but well tended front garden. There is a small sign attached to the iron railing that shows an image of a pair of scales in the upper left corner, and an image of a spear and shield in the upper right corner. The writing underneath the images reads:

Enzo Baglioni ~ Lawyer

All kinds of Legal Advice

- Enquire within

On knocking the stout wooden front door a tall, thin, smartly dressed balding man opens the door. Although his dark grey outfit looks of fine quality, you can tell from it's slightly faded and worn appearance it has seen better days. He looks you up and down before stating in a flat matter of fact manner 'You are here to see Enzo Baglioni. Please come in'. You are shown into a modestly decorated and furnished lobby where you are asked to take a seat and wait. After a few minutes a doors opens and a short bald well dressed man appears 'Gooda daya my friends! Youre'a here to see Enzo no? Come'a Come'a, tell me what'a troubles you'

Common Knowledge

• 'Baglioni? Never heard of him!'
• 'Baglioni, the Lawyer? Yeah I've heard of him, if you can call him a lawyer! He runs that 'legal surgery' if you can call it that from his house near the University.'
• 'Baglioni? Yeah, he'll help you alright, but you need to be desperate if you are going to Baglioni!'
• 'My friend was in a real tight spot and Baglioni sorted it out quick he did. After Baglioni got him off his charge, my friend says he'll never break the law again! That Baglioni fellow must be real good yeah?'

ENZO BAGLIONI - HUMAN LAWYER (SILVER 3)

Enzo is short, middle-aged and smartly dressed in the latest in city fashion, although in reserved colours. He has dark brown hair which has receded to the top of his head, and he sports a neatly trimmed beard. His dark brown eyes appraise you as he shakes your hand, and his heavy accent and dark skin tone give away his foreign origin.

Enzo leads you into his office and sits you in front of a heavy dark wooden desk., behind which stands a tall bookcase filled with books. After sitting you down and offering you a drink of 'da finest Tilean wine' he sits opposite you and begins 'so you come to Enzo eh? What can I'a do'a for you today?'

Enzo is very charming and will talk for hours to his clients to get the most detail and background from them, often writing down seemingly inconsequential details in his notebook. Enzo seemingly takes on all cases, no matter what the issue at hand, from trivial things like fines for drunk and disorderly conduct, to substantial work like title deeds for a house purchase, to more involved work like serious criminal offences.

Enzo is an up and coming lawyer in Altdorf, supported by his long suffering business partner and scribe Franklin. Originally from Verezzo in Tilea, Enzo moved to Altdorf to study law. Enzo comes from a merchant family in Verezzo, and he wears his purple family colours with pride. Through his families business back in Verezzo, Enzo also has connections with The Black Guild, a notorious Verezzo guild of bodyguards and assassins. It is through all these connections that Enzo not only has contacts in Altdorf's ruling merchant families, but contacts in the Altdorf underworld as well. Enzo manages to succeed in his legal work, not because he is a good lawyer, but because he knows exactly who to talk to, and when talking doesn't work, a word in the ear of the right underworld contact often makes things happen.

Whilst Enzo will generally ask for straight payment for his legal work, often asks his clients to 'do'a little job for'a me'a' as payment or part payment for his legal work. Most of the work he gets his clients to undertake for him are part of shady dealings for his underworld contacts in order to keep himself at arms length of such things 'you'a just'a deliver dis'a box, an den'a de nice man, he give you'a note'a. You bring'a me da note'a and that'sa it'a. See'a it'sa dat'a easy!'

FRANKLIN BASCH – HUMAN SCRIBE (SILVER 2)

Skills: Art (Writing 32), Consume Alcohol 38, Cool 50, Entertain (Storytelling) 35, Evaluate 55, Gamble 55, Gossip 35, Haggle 35, Intuition 39, Language (Bretonian 53, Classical 55, Estalian 55 Wastelander 53), Lore (Heraldry 55, Law 55, Reikland 55), Melee (Basic 28), Perception 39, Research 55, Trade (Scribe 32)

Talents: Doomed, Etiquette (Scholars 1), Linguistics 1, Perfect Pitch 1, Read/Write, Savvy, Super Numerate 2

Traits: Weapon (Sword) +7

Trappings: Book and ledger, framed degree, writing kit

Franklin is tall, thin, bald and although he looks quite aged he still has a suppleness about him when he walks. He is dressed in a smart dark grey outfit which although of fine quality has definitely seen better days. His pale grey-blue eyes seem to stare through you before he speaks in a flat matter of fact manner.

Franklin is Enzo's business partner, and works behind the scenes to make sure all the legal papers are filled out and filed properly. Franklin wasn't always Enzo's business partner, but when Franklin managed to bet the house bequeathed to him by his parents and lose it all one night at the gambling tables, he didn't know what to do. He knew Enzo was a foreign lawyer and someone without local ties, so he thought  this was his best option to rectify events. Enzo not only helped Franklin recover the house, but now owns the property and has set-up his up and coming 'legal advise' business from the front room and installed Franklin as his business partner. Although Franklin is chagrined that he is in Enzo's debt, he is thankful he hasn't been kicked out of the family home and both Enzo and Franklin get along together with regards their business. Franklin still gambles in the vain hope that he will strike it rich and be able to buy back the house that is rightfully his. Franklin lives on the premises and has a private room upstairs.

Visiting Baglioni's Legal Advice

Enzo will speak with anyone about all types of legal matters, and will take on their case if he thinks he can get something out of them in return. Should someone infer he has contacts with the underworld he will do a very good imitation of an honest businessman 'whadd'ya sayin? I'a don know'a whadd'ya talkin about! You'a accuse'a me of dis you'a get'a outta mi'a house!' until he can properly size them up. Enzo is not easily intimidated, not only can he worm his was out of most situations by legal means, he also has The Black Guild he can call upon.

The bookshelf behind Enzo's desk is a mixture of a collection of books on law, a large collection of books on various Empire city states, a small collection of books on Tilean city states, as well as a number of handwritten ledgers and similar notebooks to that he currently writes in. Most of the ledgers are just business accounts and the notebooks have names and vague details from Enzo's clients. Should the PCs specifically decide to search through the ledgers and notebooks, something useful or relevant to the PCs will be found on a Very Hard (-30) Perception Test.

Behind the bookshelf is a secret wooden compartment housing a simple but sturdy locked metal safe, the false panel hiding the compartment can be found after moving some books out of the way. Should the PCs specifically search the bookshelf they can find the secret compartment on a Difficult (-10) Perception Test. The key to the safe is kept locked in another metal box stored in the large wooden desk. Opening the safe requires a Hard (-20) Pick Lock Test (SL5). The key to the metal box Enzo keeps on his person at all times. Opening the metal box requires a Difficult (-10) Pick Lock Test (3SL). Within the safe are all manner of illegal documents, forged Imperial stamps, and ledgers and notebooks with details and names of various underworld groups, and also explicit details about members of the noble households.

Making contact

The PCs might find Franklin at the one of the cities gambling establishment , and if he is not there he might be drowning his sorrows at the Quill and Ink inn. If they are open and friendly to him, he might offer, for a fee, to read or translate documents for the PCs. All Franklin wants is enough coin to buy the house back from Enzo so anything the PCs could offer to either put coin in Franklin's hand, or to make this a reality will help with relations between Franklin and the party. A successful Gossip in the city might indicate Franklin as someone who would, for a fee, translate documents, or read documents for the party.

The PCs might find themselves at court and be introduced to Enzo, or have Enzo mentioned in conversation as an up and coming lawyer. Should the PCs find themselves on the wrong side of the law, Enzo might make a visit to the cells and offer his services. A successful Gossip in the city might indicate Enzo as someone who could take on a legal case for them. Should the PCs have links with the cities underworld, a successful Gossip here might indicate Enzo as someone who can help them as he 'helps' then with their business.

Useful acquaintances

Enzo and Franklin could be very useful to a group of adventurers. Enzo has contacts in the legal courts, the royal courts and the underworld, and with a successful Haggle could be persuaded to provide the correct introductions, as long as Enzo gets something out of the deal. If the party keep running foul of the law, Enzo could also be their 'legal team' who helps them out when they get in hot water, obviously for something more lucrative than coin. Franklin can be persuaded, for a fee, to help the party with their documents, especially where none of the party have the Read/Write skill.

Both Enzo and Franklin could be used as a lead-in to an adventure. Maybe an item needs to be recovered and the owner has contacted Enzo to help retrieve it. Rather than use his local underworld contacts Enzo contacts the party to recover the item. What is the item? Who is the item for? Who has the item now and what do they want it for? Maybe Franklin has come across a document that could change the fate of the city and doesn't want to tell Enzo as he will only use it for his own gain and so confides in you the party. What is the document? Where did he obtain it? Who knows about it?

I hope that you enjoyed Enzo and you will have fun using him in your games.

J