NA-04: A Voice from the Shadows
Summary
After pledging their oaths to Lady Elinor of House Asbury, the party is dismissed to prepare for their journey to Asbury Manor. But for one adventurer—particularly one of questionable moral character or chaotic alignment—the night brings an unexpected encounter with a shadowy figure who sows doubt and whispers a dangerous alternative. This figure is Alber Guldenstern, acting under a false name and subtle direction from Lakash Quallad, the merchant agent of the Temple of Elemental Evil.
Scene Introduction
This scene is intended to be private, occurring while the rest of the group is occupied. Choose one PC randomly—preferably not Lawful-aligned or strongly devoted to Rao or similar good deities.
As you return alone to your lodgings, the lanterns flicker and the wind carries the chill scent of rain on the cobblestones. Just as your hand reaches the latch of your door, a low voice calls to you from behind—calm, measured, and oddly unthreatening.
“Well met, friend. A word with you, if I may?”
read: A nondescript man in a long charcoal-gray cloak stands within the shadows of a nearby alley. His presence is strangely muted—you didn't hear his footsteps. His posture is relaxed but unreadable.
“You’ve met with Lady Elinor of Asbury Manor and accepted her cause. I bring information—perhaps worth hearing. My name is Vershan. Shall I continue?”
“Well met, friend. A word with you, if I may?”
read: A nondescript man in a long charcoal-gray cloak stands within the shadows of a nearby alley. His presence is strangely muted—you didn't hear his footsteps. His posture is relaxed but unreadable.
“You’ve met with Lady Elinor of Asbury Manor and accepted her cause. I bring information—perhaps worth hearing. My name is Vershan. Shall I continue?”
If the PC listens:
The man steps closer, lowering his hood. His pale skin and sandy hair catch the lamp glow. His eyes are dark and devoid of warmth, but his tone remains polite.
Vershan (Alber): “The Lady Elinor wears a noble mask and is blessed with a honeyed tongue—but underneath it lies something far less pure. A she-devil cloaked in charm and holds Asbury Manor. The man whose ravings led you here—he was tortured. His mind broken, not by fate, but by the Lady’s own agents.
And that chalice? Not from Asbury at all. He was once a priest of Rao, one of a group sent to deliver a sacred treasure from Veluna to Queen Yolande of Celene. They were ambushed by orcs en route, but not before hiding their burden. Most were slain or taken in chains, tormented for years. That one—broken as he is—escaped only recently.”
"It is a wonder that any part of his mind remained lucid when he finally escaped and stumbled into Asbury. It is this treasure that she seeks not the paltry baubles of some bumpkin holding. The treasure belongs to the Temple of Rao though the secrecy of the mission to the elves requires that the priests disavow any knowledge of it to those outside their order. It would be better that this treasure disappears forever, then to allow the Scarlet Brotherhood to gain any knowledge of the pact."
(He leans in slightly.) “Lady Elinor seeks this treasure, not some dusty heirloom. The Temple of Rao would disavow it publicly, but within their order, its loss was deeply felt.”
PC: “What pact are you speaking of?”
Vershan: (shrugs) “Of this I may not speak—not even under threat. Too many lives depend upon silence. But I ask you this: question the story you’ve been told. Seek out the seams in the fabric of lies the Lady of Asbury Manor has told you and make up your own mind.”
“If, in time, you decide the Lady’s cause is less righteous than it seems... well, there may be other ways to profit. Ways that need not bind you to honor or debt.”
He then nods respectfully and vanishes into the shadows, impossible to follow or trace.
Vershan (Alber): “The Lady Elinor wears a noble mask and is blessed with a honeyed tongue—but underneath it lies something far less pure. A she-devil cloaked in charm and holds Asbury Manor. The man whose ravings led you here—he was tortured. His mind broken, not by fate, but by the Lady’s own agents.
And that chalice? Not from Asbury at all. He was once a priest of Rao, one of a group sent to deliver a sacred treasure from Veluna to Queen Yolande of Celene. They were ambushed by orcs en route, but not before hiding their burden. Most were slain or taken in chains, tormented for years. That one—broken as he is—escaped only recently.”
"It is a wonder that any part of his mind remained lucid when he finally escaped and stumbled into Asbury. It is this treasure that she seeks not the paltry baubles of some bumpkin holding. The treasure belongs to the Temple of Rao though the secrecy of the mission to the elves requires that the priests disavow any knowledge of it to those outside their order. It would be better that this treasure disappears forever, then to allow the Scarlet Brotherhood to gain any knowledge of the pact."
(He leans in slightly.) “Lady Elinor seeks this treasure, not some dusty heirloom. The Temple of Rao would disavow it publicly, but within their order, its loss was deeply felt.”
PC: “What pact are you speaking of?”
Vershan: (shrugs) “Of this I may not speak—not even under threat. Too many lives depend upon silence. But I ask you this: question the story you’ve been told. Seek out the seams in the fabric of lies the Lady of Asbury Manor has told you and make up your own mind.”
“If, in time, you decide the Lady’s cause is less righteous than it seems... well, there may be other ways to profit. Ways that need not bind you to honor or debt.”
He then nods respectfully and vanishes into the shadows, impossible to follow or trace.
DM Notes – Running Alber Guldenstern
- Alber is always in control: calm, unreadable, precise. He does not plead or coerce.
- If the PC tries to threaten him, he will simply disappear.
- His goal is not to convert the PC immediately, but to plant seeds of doubt.
- This interaction is one-sided—he expects nothing in return, and offers no proof.
- You may roll Insight (DC 18) to feel that he is not lying, but withholding.
- The PC may choose to share or conceal this encounter with their companions. Let this evolve naturally.
Lore Clarifications for the DM
- The Raoan priest truly was on a secret mission; this much is true.
- The treasure’s true nature is unclear—likely both divine and political in nature.
- Lady Elinor believes the man is mad but honest, and that the chalice confirms her theory that it’s Asbury’s lost heirlooms.
- Alber, acting for Lakash Quallad, is distorting truth with just enough accuracy to remain believable.
Alber Guldenstern-Vershan by 3orcs
Encounter Type: Solo Roleplaying / Moral Dilemma / Intrigue
Location: Lodgings in Verbobonc City, night before departure
Part of: Noble Ambitions 576CY
Purpose of the Encounter
Introduce Alber Guldenstern under false identity (“Vershan”).
- Sow doubt and intrigue among the party.
- Test the PCs' loyalty, alignment, and moral compass.
- Set up a possible future betrayal, alliance shift, or internal conflict.
Parent Plot
Related Characters
Related Organizations
Related Locations
Outcome & Continuation
- No immediate mechanical effect—this is a roleplay and moral setup.
- If the player chooses to confide in others, adjust Lady Elinor or Sir Armount’s reactions accordingly (especially if asked directly).
- This scene opens the door for:
- Future betrayal
- Revealing Alber’s true identity
- A deeper subplot involving the Temple of Rao or the Scarlet Brotherhood
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