The Slatehook Practical

Professional examination

The Slatehook Practical

Lvl Unrestricted. The examination is not level-gated and can be run for characters of any level. For D&D 5E, avoid scaling the assessment around monster difficulty; adjust time pressure, task complexity, and the amount of support available instead.Best for 3 to 6 player characters, with several other candidates present. The exam can be run for a smaller or larger group by having candidates work in pairs or staggered teams.1 session of about 3 to 5 hours, or 2 shorter sessions· Medium. The difficulty comes from competing priorities, incomplete information, and the need to communicate, not from a required fight. Adjust the number of simultaneous tasks and the strictness of time limits to suit the group.

“Credentials are earned by the choices you can explain.”

— Hook · Professional examination

Professional examination

D&D 5E. The assessment is not built around combat and can be completed without initiative. Any checks used are ordinary ability checks chosen by the GM; no particular DC is mandatory. The quarry hazards and assessment procedures are custom scenario elements, not official D&D rules.

Medium. The difficulty comes from competing priorities, incomplete information, and the need to communicate, not from a required fight. Adjust the number of simultaneous tasks and the strictness of time limits to suit the group.

Best for 3 to 6 player characters, with several other candidates present. The exam can be run for a smaller or larger group by having candidates work in pairs or staggered teams.

1 session of about 3 to 5 hours, or 2 shorter sessions

4 NPCs

3 encounters

The Opening

“A notice on the Compact's public board invites independent applicants to a practical examination at Slatehook Quarry. Successful candidates may qualify for a register of hazard-response contracts, but the notice emphasizes that safe withdrawal, sound judgment, and teamwork matter as much as speed. Registration closes at sundown tomorrow.”
— Hook · Professional examination

Set the Scene

Candidates gather beside the quarry office beneath a canvas awning. Examiner Maelin Voss checks names, explains that each candidate is assessed as an individual even when working with others, and demonstrates the hand signal that stops the exercise. She states plainly that the marked hazards are controlled, the casualty is a roleplayer, and any real safety concern ends the exercise immediately. Candidates are then assigned route cards and a limited practice kit.

Patron

Questgiver

Examiner Maelin Voss

Maelin Voss posts the notice publicly and welcomes applicants at the quarry office. She answers questions about the assessment, access limits, safety signals, and certification outcomes before candidates agree to participate.

On the Streets · In the Books

Rumours

d4 · table

01
The Compact's registry is useful, but it does not guarantee that every employer will accept a candidate's credentials.
02
Some applicants pass the practical and still choose not to take hazardous contracts.
03
The Slatehook caves are mapped and maintained for the examination, but the old quarry workings extend farther than the assessment route.
04
A previous candidate earned high marks after asking to withdraw when their team could not account for a missing member.

Stakes

Certification affects which Compact contracts the characters may accept and how employers perceive their professional standing. A poor result may delay access to work, while an unsafe choice can put people at risk and damage trust. The assessment itself is controlled, and there is no concealed life-or-death threat.

Ticking Clock·The practical closes at sundown, giving candidates roughly four hours on site. The time limit creates a reason to plan and prioritize, but marshals stop the clock for safety concerns, questions about the rules, or a real injury.

Background Lore

The Wayfarers' Compact is a regional association that coordinates independent hazard-response work, publishes contract standards, and keeps a register of people qualified to accept contracts above ordinary local risk. Its open practical examination is held at Slatehook Quarry, a disused stone pit with a surveyed cave network beneath it. The assessment uses prepared hazards, consenting roleplayers, and clearly marked safety procedures. Passing grants standing to accept a defined class of contracts, not a guarantee of competence in every situation.

What the World Knows

The Wayfarers' Compact is holding an open practical examination at Slatehook Quarry for people seeking certification to accept certain independent hazard-response contracts. Candidates will navigate a disused quarry and its surveyed cave network, respond to a simulated casualty, and make decisions about teamwork, hazards, and withdrawal. The examiners assess each applicant individually, and passing is not guaranteed.