So not only are there “corrupt caravan masters” among the Vistani (as I assume there must be, yeah?) but potentially also “local messengers”. And although it’s contentious to say they “can deliver messages for you”, there seems to be some potential for that too vis-à-vis their purported ability to pass freely through the Mists.
Based on looks alone, not inherently, no, but if someone has been raised in a place where matters of state are definitionally the most central part their background/history, it would not be surprising at all, to me, that they knew how to invoke courtly graces, diplomacy, or negotiation as warranted to have a significant leg up for interactions with foreign dignitaries based on that experience, even ones who have very different cultural defaults.
In the world of D&D, the person in the bottom picture wouldn't be a noble. He'd be considered a warlord or a chieftain or thane or something like that.
But in those cases there were political and trade ties. potential influence, etc.. If you are from an important enough noble family that has that kind of pull, you could get accommodations. But you can also be the 5th child of a fallen noble house and still qualify.
Maybe in your campaign world. Not mine.
And apparently you can never get to know them either. And it's absolutely impossible for you to ask around to see if anyone would be willing to carry a message for you.
I'm not talking about in the campaign. I'm talking about D&D, the game.Maybe in your campaign world. Not mine.
at no point did I ever say that, in fact I said the opposite, more than once… but that is the difference between relying on the feature and what happens during the game to establish that connection
