Red Tom

Name: Red Tom

Race: Human

Gender: Male

Bestows Quest(s): Garl's Tomb

Affiliation(s): The Free Agents

Location: Barrel's Bottom, on the bluff above the beach, just west of (and on the other side of a wall from) the Salty Wench Tavern

Notes:

• He asks your help to stop a likely Troglodyte invasion (and avoid his getting in trouble with local crime lord Skong).
• He's cited in Treasure of Crystal Cove/Treasure Map quests.

Barrel's Bottom

The Troglodytes' Get

If you try to talk to him anytime, he will reply:

• Red Tom: Hey, you. You the one Skong sent for me? The ruddy-faced man swallows and glances around, as if trying to decide if he should run.
  • You: Skong? Who's that?
    • Red Tom: He's the sort of blighter that sends armed folks to 'talk' with people. Even if you ain't them, they'll be coming soon enough. Listen, chum, you gotta to help me!
      • You: Calm down, and explain yourself.
        • Red Tom: There's this crypt. Real old place; used to be the lair of ol' Garl the Grey. We found it a couple weeks back, and burn me if it ain't full o' treasure. So we told Lord Skong, just like we ought... Tom shakes his head and rubs his eyes.
          • You: Go on.
            • Red Tom: So we're in the middle o' lootin' the place. Then all of a sudden, there's scaleys everywhere! Troglodytes, I mean. They came up from below, mad like a Thunder Sea gale!
              • You: What does this have to do with me?
                • Red Tom: Look, chum, I need someone to go in there and clear the buggers out—their eggs, anyway. That'll be enough to drive the survivors away. After they're gone, we split the loot, Skong gets his cut, and all's well in the Cove again. Yeah?
                  • You: It's a deal. Where is the crypt?
                    • Red Tom: Follow the coast west outta town. The tomb's behind Garl's Falls. Watch yourself, knotter. Them trogs are stinkin' mad .. and just plain stinkin', besides. (Bestow quest)
                  • You: I want no part of this. You're on your own.
                    • Red Tom: Tom hides his face in his hands. I'm a dead man. A dead man ... (Walk away)
              • You: Were they after treasure too?
                • Red Tom: No, no. They were breeding! Eggs everywhere. Which means there'll be scaleys all over Three Barrel if some bloke don't wipe 'em out.
                  • You: I'll help you if I can. But what can I do? (see above: "What does this have to do with me?")
                  • You: I want no part of this. You're on your own.
                    • Red Tom: Tom hides his face in his hands. I'm a dead man. A dead man ... (Walk away)
          • You: Why tell Skong? Why not keep the place a secret?
            • Red Tom: Skong likes to know things. If a bloke don't pay him his proper tribute, and Skong hears of it ... well, just say things go poorly for the bloke in question.
              • You: All right. What happened in the crypt? (see above: "Go on")
      • You: If there's gold in it for me, I might be willing to help.
        • Red Tom: There's gold all right! Tom shakes his head. There's this crypt. Real old place; used to be the lair of ol' Garl the Grey. We found it a couple weeks back, and burn me if it ain't full o' treasure. So we told Lord Skong, just like we ought...
          • You: Go on. (see above)
          • You: Why tell Skong? Why not keep the place a secret? (see above)
  • You: What if I am?
    • Red Tom: Please! It ain't my fault! The trogs killed everyone! We're no warriors, and Skong knows it!
      • You: What trogs? Where? (see above: "Calm down, and explain yourself.")
      • You: I don't know what you've gotten yourself into, but I don't want any part of it.
        • Red Tom: Tom hides his face in his hands. I'm a dead man. A dead man ... (Walk away)

Talking to him after acquiring the quest, but before completion, will make him say:

• Red Tom: I thought you're headin' for the crypt, chum...
• You: I am. Can you show me the way?
• Red Tom: I can't leave. Skong's boys see me leavin' the village with you, and they'll show me what the bottom of the harbor looks like. Just follow the shore west outta camp, and look for the waterfall. The tomb's behind it.

Old Grey Garl

On completion of the first quest, he will tell you with the following:

• Red Tom: You get the scaleys' eggs? All of 'em?
• You: Yes. My part of the bargain is taken care of.
• Red Tom: Well, aye, but ... well, there's something more ...
  • You: Isn't there always. What's the trouble, Tom?
    • Red Tom: It's like this. You know Skong? Well, his men roughed me up while you were gone, and ... eh ... I told 'em you went in Garl's tomb.
      • You: You didn't!
        • Red Tom: Look..., you try facing off against four minotaurs with big sticks. See how still YOU keep your tongue!
          • You: All right, all right. What do I do now? (see below)
      • You: So what do I have to do now?
        • Red Tom: You gotta make it up to Skong, or I'm hangin' from a yardarm. And then they'll come after you. Go back into the tomb. Old Grey Garl hid some fair loot down there, they says. It's locked down deep inside the crypt where his mates buried 'im.
        • You: That's all? Just find the loot? What aren't you telling me, Tom?
        • Red Tom: Nothing. Well, not much anyway. It's only a story, tavern-talk; no one really believes it ... Tom looks uneasy, and can't meet your gaze.
          • You: Then there shouldn't be any problem telling me, should there?
            • Red Tom: Fine, fine. See, they says Old Grey Garl himself didn't go on the Dolurrh when he died. Too greedy for his loot. They says he 'n his mater 'll come for anyone who takes his treasure. But they says lot o' things...
            • You: Those tales always seem to turn out true when you don't want them to be, though.
            • Red Tom: Yar, ain't that the truth. And I got an eerie feeling from that place. Didn't rightly want to go too deep, if ya get my meaning. The Host knows what we would've run into if the trogs hadn't gotten at us. But you'll go, then?
            • You: Yar ... I mean, yes. I'll go. But after that, we're through.
            • Red Tom: Fine by me. Long as it gets Skong off my back ... and yours, besides. (Advance quest)
          • You: Tom! Out with it, or I walk and Skong can have you!
            • Red Tom: No! You can't do that! They'll be finding bits o' me off the wharf for weeks!
            • You: Then talk. (see above "Then there shouldn't be any problem telling me")
  • You: Listen. We had a deal. The trogs are gone. That's it, isn't it?
    • Red Tom: Look, I ain't happy about it either. But sometimes things change. Sometimes they get worse.
      • You: Tom ...
        • Red Tom: ?????????????????

Talking to him after acquiring the quest, but before completion, will make him say:

• Red Tom: Go on, find Garl's loot! Skong'll be coming to teach me some new things about pain soon, and ... heh, I never been the best learner.

After completing the quest, you can inform him about the treasure in the tomb:

• Red Tom: Cor, didn't expect to see you back here alive. We heard old Garl a-yellin' all the way down here. Put the fright even into Skong's beaters, it did!
  • You: Yes ... the tavern-tales turned out to be true.
    • Red Tom: But you don't seem worse for it. Well, not much, nohow. Tom leans forward, his eyes glinting. So ... did ye find it? Garl's loot?
      • You: Yes, and you were right—it was worth the trouble.
        • Red Tom: I don't doubt it. Skong'll be glad, that's for sure ... there's talk of other booty, buried in secret places. You can keep what you found, and I'll take care of the rest, once I've patched things up with him.
        • You: Sounds fair. we're done here, then? No dragons or daelkyr for me to slay?
        • Red Tom: Tom winks at you. No, no. But if you're lookin' for more work, speak with Kurvic the Hound on Sorrowdusk Isle. You can take boat there from House Deneith in Stormreach. Tell Kurvic that old Red Tom sent ya!
  • You: You should try seeing him up close.
    • Red Tom: Ha! Thankya, no—the livin' scare me enough! Tom leans forward, his voice dropping to a whisper. So ... did ye find it? Garl's treasure?
      • You: Yes, it was there. And you were right—it was worth the trouble. (see above)

After completing the quest and take the reward, if you talk to him again, he will reply:

• Red Tom: Hoy, there. You saved my skin, and that makes you a friend ...
• You: Did you pay Skong's tribute?
• Red Tom: Aye. An' he grabbed it with a smile. Devourer take 'im!