Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Gary)
Source: Theros Bestiary TBVXXII
The gray merchant of Asphodel, often referred to as “Gary”, is a Returned merchant. It buys goods from one polis at low prices and sells them in another polis at highway-robbery prices. At the end of the day, the merchant begins its journey back to Asphodel, with its sacks of gold slung over its shoulder.
Due to its now-acharismatic disposition, it couldn’t care less that there’s a hole in its sack and that the money it worked all day to con falls on the ground behind it. Highway bandits camp out along the road to Asphodel, allowing the merchant to pass only because doing so ensures the stream of income continues.
"name": "Gray Merchant of Asphodel (Gary) (TBVXXII)"
"size": "Medium"
"type": "undead"
"subtype": "returned, human"
"alignment": "Neutral Evil"
"ac": !!int "10"
"ac_class": "14 while carrying gold sacks"
"hp": !!int "72"
"hit_dice": "9d8 + 36"
"modifier": !!int "0"
"stats":
- !!int "15"
- !!int "11"
- !!int "18"
- !!int "11"
- !!int "11"
- !!int "11"
"speed": "30 ft."
"skillsaves":
- "name": "[Insight](../../../Compendium/rules/skills#insight)"
"desc": "+2"
- "name": "[Persuasion](../../../Compendium/rules/skills#persuasion)"
"desc": "+2"
"damage_resistances": "necrotic"
"damage_immunities": "poison"
"condition_immunities": "[poisoned](../../../Compendium/rules/conditions#poisoned)"
"senses": "passive Perception 10"
"languages": "Common, Any two languages"
"cr": "1"
"traits":
- "desc": "When returning to Asphodel from a market, the merchant carries its gold in .5-lb sacks that can hold up to 30 lb. of gold (1,500 gp). (The merchant can carry up to 75 lb., 150 with encumbrance, and 225 lb. with heavy encumbrance. Each level of encumbrance reduces the merchant's speed by 10 feet, and heavy encumbrance causes the merchant to have [Disadvantage](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/disadvantage-xphb) on ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws that use Strength, Dexterity, or Constitution.)"
"name": "Encumbered Flight"
- "desc": "The human guild merchant's innate spellcasting ability is Charisma (spell save DC 10, +2 to hit with spell attacks). It can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: At will: [Thaumaturgy](../../../Compendium/spells/thaumaturgy-xphb) 3/day: [Calm Emotions](../../../Compendium/spells/calm-emotions-xphb), [Enthrall](../../../Compendium/spells/enthrall-xphb), [Suggestion](../../../Compendium/spells/suggestion-xphb) 2/day: [Compulsion](../../../Compendium/spells/compulsion-xphb) 1/day: [Dominate Person](../../../Compendium/spells/dominate-person-xphb), [Mass Suggestion](../../../Compendium/spells/mass-suggestion-xphb)"
"name": "Innate Spellcasting"
- "desc": "The merchant needs water and air but not food or sleep. It thinks and speaks and even feels emotions based on its new experiences, but given its circumstances, those emotions tend to be muted."
"name": "Returned Nature"
- "desc": "Wherever the merchant walks, one of the sacks it carries steadily spills one gold coin at a time until it is empty, then falls to the ground."
"name": "Trail of Gold"
- "desc": "The merchant has [Advantage](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/advantage-xphb) on saving throws against any effect that turns undead."
"name": "Turn Resistance"
- "desc": "The merchant is immune to any effect that would sense its emotions or read its thoughts. Wisdom (Insight) checks to ascertain the merchant's intentions or sincerity are made with [Disadvantage](../../../Compendium/rules/variant-rules/disadvantage-xphb)."
"name": "Unreadable Face"
"actions":
- "desc": "_Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack:_ +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target. _Hit:_ 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage in melee, or 4 (1d4 + 2) piercing damage at range."
"name": "Dagger"
"source":
- "TBVXXII"
"image": "Compendium/bestiary/undead/token/gray-merchant-of-asphodel-gary-tbvxxii.webp"