NA-02: Jylees Inn – The Gilded Threshold
The velvet cushions of the parlor chairs are stuffed and shaped to cradle nobility. The silver utensils gleam, their filigree finer than anything found in even the richer quarters of the city. Here, wealth isn't simply shown—it performs. And the performance is one of power.
All around you, nobles sip pale wines from crystal goblets and pick at game birds glazed with spiced plum. Merchants in richly embroidered doublets engage in low-stakes banter about high-stakes coin. Even the bar stools are occupied—each by someone who knows the value of appearances.
Social Atmosphere
You are led past long tables, where lone travelers mingle with sharp-tongued courtiers and seated guildmasters. Snippets of hushed conversation spill out like spilled wine:
"…Elinor’s silence is not silence at all…"
“…a letter from Narwell suggests an envoy may be turned…”
“…narrowing the list of those who’ll back the proposal…”
“…the southern lords grow restless again…”
“…if she makes a statement, it will ripple from the Hill to the Council…”
(see sidebar for more gossip)
At a finely polished table near the entrance to a curtained back room, two well-dressed men are deep in conversation. One of them speaks continuously with the casual arrogance of someone used to attention—his rich attire speaks more of ceremony than practicality, with rings adorning each finger and a deep velvet cloak draped over his shoulders despite the warmth of the room.
The other man, quieter and sharper-eyed, listens intently while subtly surveying the room. His posture is relaxed, but every glance is calculating. As your party is led across the floor, his eyes follow you—not with malice, but with interest, as though filing your faces away for later consideration.
You catch fragments of their conversation—mention of diplomatic gatherings, quiet disputes between merchant guilds, and whispered rumors involving “the Lady’s position” and “unspoken Temple interests.” Nothing overtly sinister, but everything seems tangled in layers of courtly double-speak.
DM Tips:
- Characters can roll a DC 14 Insight check to detect the quieter man’s intent—he is evaluating the party’s status and potential usefulness.
- A DC 12 Perception check reveals the table has maps, a few sealed missives, and a fine glass of untouched brandy.
- These individuals may be encountered again later in the campaign under their proper names—Lord Conner Bridgeforth and Master Lakash Quallad —both with their own agendas tied to regional politics.
Lady Asbury’s Interview
Polished wood panels gleam under golden candlelight. The ceiling is supported by exposed beams of local ipp wood, carved with the sigils of several noble houses. At the center of the room stretches an imposing dining table of dark lacquered oak, its surface bare save for a crystal decanter filled with a deep garnet liquid. A sideboard of silver dishes and porcelain platters gleams untouched, suggesting a formal gathering soon to begin.
Around the room, a strange assortment of candidates lingers.
An elf in flamboyant robes clutches an oversized spellbook, his posture theatrical and slightly awkward.
A woman in flashy leather armor leans against a post, more bard than mercenary by appearance.
And a stocky, kilt-clad dwarf belches loudly before exclaiming, “This hud better be fur a crackin’ pie-eater reward, or mah cherubic nature’ll turn sour!”
All attention turns to the raised dais at the far end of the chamber. Seated there is a strikingly composed young noblewoman, her bearing regal but not unapproachable. On her right, a tall, silver-haired knight leans against a writing stand, his expression stoic. His surcoat bears the crest of House Asbury.
At the far wall stands a page, immaculate in tailored livery also bearing Asbury’s heraldry.
“Thank you, Bertram. Please allow no others entry until I have spoken with those assembled.”
The escort bows. “As you wish, Your Prominence,” he replies, withdrawing and shutting the doors with solemn finality.
She surveys the room with calm intelligence before addressing you all:
Before Lady Elinor addresses the room, take a moment to describe the PCs’ entrance and the response of the room’s other occupants. This helps center the players and sets expectations for how important etiquette and first impressions are in this scene.
She gestures to the elderly knight beside her. “Sir Armount, proceed.”
With quiet grace, the knight steps forward, stylus in hand. “Each of you shall step forward in turn. State your name, your place of origin, and explain why you seek the honor of service with House Asbury.”
Sir Armount’s Interview Procedure
Lady Elinor finishes her measured address and settles back in her seat, her expression unreadable beneath noble poise. With a practiced motion, she gestures to the silver-haired knight standing at her side. Lady Elinor: “Sir Armount, proceed.”
The elderly knight steps forward with a slight bow, his tabard bearing the sword-and-gemstone crest of House Asbury. In one hand he holds a narrow ledger and a silver-tipped stylus. His eyes, though aged, are sharp and watchful.
He looks down briefly to prepare the next line, then up again, meeting each candidate’s eyes one by one. “I care not for flattery, nor fine words. What I seek is sincerity, and suitability. Be brief. Be clear.” He nods to the first adventurer.
Dwarven Adventurer
As the questioning begins, a squat, broad-shouldered dwarf in soot-blackened chainmail stomps forward, his kilt swinging like a battle banner. His beard is braided with bits of wire, and his breath smells faintly of onions and pipe smoke. He slams his calloused hand on the table and bellows:
He flashes a broken-tooth grin around the room, then snorts toward the adventurers behind him. “As fer these soft-palmed striplings behind me—pfft! That one’s got the posture of a collapsed wineskin, an’ the elf looks like he’d cry if his book got wet. Pretty face over there? This tall drink of girl is right poofy, lI would climb that spooked chicken! You want a job done? You send a dwarf.”
He leans on the table, squinting at Lady Elinor with mock suspicion. “Now, ye talk about secrets an’ whispers an' ‘tasks of great importance’—that’s all good an’ flowery, but I don’t walk into shadows fer pretty words. What’s the job? Spittin’ riddles an’ askin’ questions like a gnome scribe in heat—bah! I’m no one's puppet, unless yer servin' roast griffon an’ triple pay!”
Sir Armount quietly raises an eyebrow and scribbles something briskly onto his parchment as Lady Elinor’s expression sharpens ever so slightly.
“Ah, go on then, wave yer fingers about—I ken when I’m bein’ tossed out. But mark me—when the job turns bloody an’ the silver needs countin’, ye’ll wish ye’d kept ol’ Grumm!”
He stomps back to the others, muttering about “noble games and chair-stuffin’ politics.”
Lady Elinor's face tightens ever so slightly at the rogue’s blunt tone and coarse language. Without a word, she raises the index finger of her left hand just slightly—graceful, deliberate, and unnoticed by most.
Sir Armount, standing behind her like a statue of steel and patience, subtly shifts forward the moment her finger moves. He clears his throat. “Thank you, Master Slagmarrow. That will be all. We shall send word if you are selected for further service.”
Human female in leathers Heathy the Nimble
Heathy the Nimble is a wiry human woman dressed in patched leather, with quick eyes, quicker hands, and a mouth that rarely stops moving. Her dark hair is cropped short beneath a faded scarf, and her boots are worn thin from rooftops and back alleys. She moves like a cat on cobblestones—light, fast, and always a half-step from trouble.
Lady Elinor's face tightens ever so slightly at the rogue’s blunt tone and coarse language. Without a word, she raises the index finger of her left hand just slightly—graceful, deliberate, and unnoticed by most.
Sir Armount, standing behind her like a statue of steel and patience, subtly shifts forward the moment her finger moves. He clears his throat. “Thank you, Miss Heathy. That will be all. We shall send word if you are selected for further service.”
Thalanil Wynhana, Envoy of the Silver Consortium
Thalanil Wynhana is a tall, slender elf with porcelain skin and long moon-white hair, tied back with a silver Consortium clasp. His violet-gray eyes radiate cold intelligence, and his deep-blue robes are immaculate, etched with arcane symbols in silver thread. Every movement he makes is deliberate and refined, exuding the quiet arrogance of noble elven scholarship.
- Tone: Formal, refined, aloof, with sharp wit and strong academic pride
- Affiliation: Silver Consortium, acting as a contracted field agent for artifact evaluation and arcane recovery
“I have been sent as their appointed arcane evaluator for this matter of lost relics. All contracts and rewards are to be negotiated through the Consortium directly. Any items of historical or arcane significance discovered in the course of this venture must—by standing charter—be remanded into Consortium custody for proper cataloging and valuation.”
(He turns, letting his violet eyes scan the other adventurers as if weighing the quality of their cutlery.) “And let us be transparent from the beginning: I do not share rations with hedge conjurers, ale-stained dwarves, or unbathed humans freshly escaped from the fish markets. The Consortium holds its standards, and I—by oath—must uphold them.”
Lady Elinor raises one eyebrow, her fingers folded beneath her chin.
Lady Elinor’s expression does not change overtly—but her gaze cools, and the faintest narrowing of her eyes betrays the shift in mood. Her lips press together in a thin, unreadable line. With elegant subtlety, she lifts the index finger of her left hand, a gesture practiced and purposeful.
Sir Armount, watching for the sign like a loyal sentinel, responds without hesitation. He steps forward with calm authority and gives a single courteous nod.
Sir Armount: “Thank you, Master Wynhana. Your qualifications are noted. We shall send word if your services are required further.”
Wrapping the Interviews
Once all adventurers and applicants have responded to Sir Armount’s questions, Lady Elinor stands with quiet authority, her voice composed and refined.
“I thank you all for coming and ask your patience. Please allow me to offer some simple refreshments while I consult with Sir Armount, Seneschal of House Asbury, and make my decision. Jarek.”
At her word, a young page stationed near a side door quickly opens it, revealing a modest but tidy anteroom. Several tables within are set with trays of cheese, bread, dried fruit, chilled wine, and mugs of dark ale—not lavish by noble standards, but enough to show courtesy without commitment.
Lord Milinous requests audience
Before anyone moves, the heavy main door to the audience chamber swings open again. The doorman—still in his stiff yellow tunic—enters, bows deeply, and clears his throat.
A visible tension passes across Lady Elinor’s face. Her mouth tightens subtly, though she maintains her poise.
Lady Elinor (with noble restraint): “Please tell the Lord of House Milinous that I am flattered by his interest, and I will be most honored to receive him—once my business is concluded.”
With a quick nod, the doorman backs away and departs.
At this, Jarek gestures politely, ushering the applicants and adventurers into the adjoining antechamber. The door is drawn closed behind them, allowing Lady Elinor and Sir Armount privacy to confer.
DM Notes: Observant characters may note that while the refreshments are decent, they are clearly not of the quality one would expect from a highborn hostess—perhaps a subtle test of humility or endurance.
Characters who passed earlier Insight checks may detect Elinor’s tension at the mention of Lord Milinous, and might guess at a political rivalry or deeper grudge.
As you pass, the steady hum of noble gossip reaches your ears—soft but pointed:
- “…you ask me, the gnomes have worn out their welcome. Always hedging their trade deals, always vague with delivery…”
- “…they say Prince Jimm Pithriggen and that fool Hilewy stood in open session and accused the council of wanting to annex the Greenway Valley. Absurd.”
- “…a Mounted Borderers patrol was hit last week—ambushed in the southern Kron passes. No one's naming names, but everyone’s thinking the same.”
- “…it’s not just their 'light fingers.' They forget the blood we spilled for them at Emridy, and now this?”
- “…if the mines in the hills shift hands, who really profits? Not the gnomes, certainly…”
- “…Lady Elinor won’t back them. She can’t. The council would turn.”
- “…let them retreat back to the granite and moss they crawled out of.”
Lord Conner Bridgeforth introductions
A minor lord in the city who thrives off of the political maneuverings in Verbobonc. He host elaborate parties, in the center of gossip and court intrigue. Highly placed in political circles.
Lakash Quallad introductions
Several months ago, a man named Lakash Quallad came to Verbobonc. He seemed to be a merchant from Dyvers, and said that he wanted to ply his business here instead of in his old home. The people of Verbobonc see Dyvers as a trade rival, and welcomed him with open arms. He immediately set about showing off his wealth to make himself agreeable to the upper class of Verbobonc society, and proved adept at business.
DM Note: Managing Player Presence and Roleplay Before Lady Elinor Speaks
Before Lady Elinor addresses the room, take a moment to describe the PCs’ entrance and the response of the room’s other occupants. This helps center the players and sets expectations for how important etiquette and first impressions are in this scene.
- Encourage roleplay by letting each PC react briefly to the opulence, the other NPCs, and the pressure of the noble setting.
- If any PC makes a bold entrance, inappropriate comment, or displays signs of arrogance or disdain, consider having the knight Sir Armount quietly note it with a raised eyebrow or a scribble in his ledger.
- PCs with high Insight (DC 12) may sense that Lady Elinor is deliberately appraising each person’s composure and courtesy. Reveal this only to successful checks.
You may also allow players to roll History or Nobility (if used) to recognize House Asbury’s crest or gain context on the region of Penwick. This adds depth and may alter their approach to the upcoming interview.
This is a chance for players to realize they are not merely mercenaries, but potential operatives of a noble house—with all the expectations that role entails.
DM Guidance for Interview Scene:
Observing Lady Elinor’s Tells
Players who are observant during the interviews may notice Lady Elinor's subtle reactions to breaches of etiquette or overt displays of greed:
- Insight (DC 12): A PC notices that Lady Elinor’s expression tightens whenever a guest is rude, disrespectful, or too focused on personal reward.
- Insight (DC 15+): The PC observes that each time she disapproves, she slightly raises the index finger on her left hand—a precise, silent signal.
- Insight (DC 17+ or Perception + Social Context): The same PC realizes that Sir Armount, her aging knight and advisor, watches for this signal with unwavering attention. Once the finger is raised, the current interview is swiftly ended with courteous dismissal.
Examples of Favorable Responses:
- “I need the work, m’lady. My sword is sharp and my belly is empty.”
- “I seek a cause worth serving—if yours is just, I am yours to command.”
Unfavorable:
- “What’s in it for me?”
- “I don’t get out of bed for less than 50 gold.”
If a PC breaches etiquette or presses for payment, Lady Elinor replies coolly: “You have my word, and that shall be enough. House Asbury rewards service with honor and generosity—but not before the task is done.” After each adventurer speaks, Sir Armount either dismisses them politely or gestures for them to remain. The interviews continue until she has selected the party.
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