NA-01: Arrival at the Civic Square
The adventurers arrive in the Civic Centre of Verbobonc—a bustling hub of government, religion, and commerce—following a mysterious summons from Lady Elinor Asbury. As they cross the vibrant Community Square, they experience the sensory richness of the city and prepare to enter Jylee’s Inn for a fateful audience.
Scene Introduction (Read-Aloud Text)
You enter the Community Square, a broad plaza more than 350 feet wide, paved with handsome golden stone forming sweeping geometric patterns.
The great City Hall looms above, its golden-limestone façade crowned by a crenelated roof and a tall white tower—the Ragosa—rising 155 feet into the air. Around the square, sturdy old buildings of gray stone house chapels, academies, shops, and fine inns.
Plainly dressed clerics, city officials, and off-duty soldiers mingle in the square. The Vigil Warden, Verbobonc’s city watch, patrol with purpose—guiding the lost, spotting pickpockets, and pointing travelers toward the Trader’s Market.
Among them, a green-eyed street boy scavenges bits of jerky fallen from a group of chatting soldiers. Despite his ragged clothes, there’s a fire in his eyes as he darts between boots and bags.
The noise of the square assaults your ears—priests calling to worship, merchants barking directions, and the clatter of iron-shod boots on stone. Jylee’s Inn waits just ahead, its carved sign swinging slightly above a polished stone entrance.
The great City Hall looms above, its golden-limestone façade crowned by a crenelated roof and a tall white tower—the Ragosa—rising 155 feet into the air. Around the square, sturdy old buildings of gray stone house chapels, academies, shops, and fine inns.
Plainly dressed clerics, city officials, and off-duty soldiers mingle in the square. The Vigil Warden, Verbobonc’s city watch, patrol with purpose—guiding the lost, spotting pickpockets, and pointing travelers toward the Trader’s Market.
Among them, a green-eyed street boy scavenges bits of jerky fallen from a group of chatting soldiers. Despite his ragged clothes, there’s a fire in his eyes as he darts between boots and bags.
The noise of the square assaults your ears—priests calling to worship, merchants barking directions, and the clatter of iron-shod boots on stone. Jylee’s Inn waits just ahead, its carved sign swinging slightly above a polished stone entrance.
Optional Roleplay Opportunities
| Element | Description | Potential Hook / Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Vigil Wardens (nickname: Cobwalker) | Professional city watch, in brass-linked chainmail and golden sashes. | May redirect players, offer gossip on noble tensions. |
| Street Boy | Green-eyed, sharp, and hungry. Watchful and clever. | Might befriend a kind PC; could become a contact or messenger later. |
| Merchant Peddlers | Selling religious charms, jerky, fruit, and candles. | Purchase mundane items; subtly mention Elinor’s notice as “curious.” |
| Beggar Prophet | A blind old woman muttering, “The stone is cracked... the sword forgotten.” | Flavorful foreshadowing of the Temple’s return. |
Transition to Jylee’s Inn
Once the players identify C3 Jylee’s Inn:
As the adventurers approach the inn:
Jylee’s Inn stands proudly in the shadow of City Hall, framed by a carefully pruned line of blooming topiary plum trees that shield the entrance from street dust and market noise. A masterpiece of gray stone and polished darkwood, the three-story structure gleams from a recent whitewashing, its paintwork immaculate and trim freshly oiled. Brass hinges and hanging lanterns gleam in the morning light. Along the peak of the inn's steep gabled roof, five noble banners flutter bravely in the breeze—each one marking the presence of high-ranking guests in residence. Known as a paragon of comfort, discretion, and refinement, Jylee’s Inn caters exclusively to nobility, foreign emissaries, and the most accomplished of merchants and adventurers. Its proximity to City Hall makes it both a hub of political intrigue and a fortress of decorum.
Displayed Banners (Knowledge DC 10):
- Sir Harold Viscoy (Veluna – Knight Companion of the Shield)
- Sir Rauth Towsend (Furyondy – Knight of the Hart)
- His Worship Olan Deloit (Veluna – Emissary of Rao)
- Baroness Elinor Asbury (Verbobonc – Flaming Sword and Gemstone)
- Lord Simon Milinous (Verbobonc – Black Griffon on Azure)
Jylee Inn Banner by 3orcs
A nasal voice cuts through the quiet refinement. A thin, sharp-nosed doorman in a yellow tunic with the Jylee crest steps forward, eyeing you with a mix of suspicion and protocol.
“What business do you have at our fine inn?”
If the players do not name Lady Elinor or present her posted summons:
The doorman’s lips tighten, his nasal tone sharpening like a drawn quill. He glances at the group’s attire with clear disapproval.
“Oh, splendid. Another lot of vagabonds thinking they’ve found their path to glory by wandering into my doorway.” He snaps his fingers dismissively. “No name, no invitation, no entry. I’m very busy, and you clearly belong somewhere... a touch less refined. May I suggest the docks?”
One of the liveried guards shifts his weight, and the doorman leans in theatrically: “Or shall I call a Vigil Warden and have them escort you to a nice quiet corner where you can tell your tales to someone less discerning?”
He lifts a brow. “You have until the count of five to say something clever or to produce a proper summons.”
“Oh, splendid. Another lot of vagabonds thinking they’ve found their path to glory by wandering into my doorway.” He snaps his fingers dismissively. “No name, no invitation, no entry. I’m very busy, and you clearly belong somewhere... a touch less refined. May I suggest the docks?”
One of the liveried guards shifts his weight, and the doorman leans in theatrically: “Or shall I call a Vigil Warden and have them escort you to a nice quiet corner where you can tell your tales to someone less discerning?”
He lifts a brow. “You have until the count of five to say something clever or to produce a proper summons.”
If the players do then name Lady Elinor or show her notice:
His expression changes—reluctantly. He sighs as though it pains him to do his duty, then gives a curt nod to one of the guards.
“Take this one... or these ones... to the audience room set aside for Lady Elinor of Asbury.”
Then, addressing the party again: “Please follow this man, and refrain from questions or commotion. It is our honor to accommodate Lady Elinor, but we must insist that our other guests not be disturbed.”
“Take this one... or these ones... to the audience room set aside for Lady Elinor of Asbury.”
Then, addressing the party again: “Please follow this man, and refrain from questions or commotion. It is our honor to accommodate Lady Elinor, but we must insist that our other guests not be disturbed.”
The inn’s interior awaits—warm marble floors, soft lantern light, and velvet silence that stands in sharp contrast to the square outside.
To be continued in NA-02: The Audience with Lady Elinor.
City Hall by 3orcs
Purpose of the Encounter
- Establish the tone, culture, and complexity of Verbobonc City.
- Allow players to immerse in the setting through sensory detail and interaction.
- Signal that Lady Elinor’s summons is no ordinary job—the city is paying attention.
- Introduce minor urban NPCs and a sense of watchful order and layered politics.
GM Goals
- Emphasize the contrast between public chaos and noble privacy.
- Reward curiosity and small-talk with hints of broader intrigue (e.g., whispers about Lady Elinor, Temple-related superstitions, increased Cobwalker presence).
- Set the stage for NA-02, which takes place inside Jylee’s Inn.
Parent Plot
Related Organizations
Related Locations
Lady Asbury Message Post by 3orcs
Jylees Inn by 3orcs
Comments