NA-08: The Great Hall of Asbury – A Noble Supper
A Formal Invitation
A formal banquet at Asbury Manor introduces the adventurers to Lady Elinor’s inner circle, where politics, loyalty, and ambition simmer beneath the warmth of a noble supper.
The adventurers, now firmly in Lady Elinor’s good graces, are invited to dine in the Great Hall of Asbury. This noble supper serves as both a celebration of their safe arrival and an opportunity to meet the leaders, confidants, and household of House Asbury. Beneath the chandeliers of the high-vaulted chamber, amid carved oak furniture and roaring fireplaces, secrets flicker in the shadows—and one of those shadows is an old priest, hidden upstairs, whose words may change the fate of the realm.
"Asbury pledges, Lady Elinor expects your company in the great hall. Please follow me."
He turns and leads you down the parapet stairs into the courtyard, where torches now flicker in sconces. Their soft light dances on the stone walls, casting the approaching night in hues of amber and shadow.
Scene One: Entering the Great Hall
A raised wooden dais at the far end supports the Lord’s Table, flanked by other important members of the house. The rest of the hall hosts long oaken tables for soldiers, villagers, and distinguished guests. A five-foot-wide catwalk rings the upper wall, with arrow slits and shuttered windows offering a view into the black night outside.
The room hushes as Sir Armount strides forward in full dress tabard and polished boots. His voice, though clear and calm, carries authority: "Baroness Elinor Treguard Asbury, Ambassador of the Celestial Circle, Mistress of House Asbury. All rise."
All stand with deference. Lady Elinor enters beside him, radiant in a flowing green gown embroidered with patterns of twisting Ipp tree roots. A fine ruby circlet gleams upon her brow, and her pendant displays the heraldic sword and jewel of her house. Her eyes sparkle with restrained emotion as she surveys her people.
She lifts her voice, poised and eloquent. “Our journey to the city of Verbobonc, to petition His Grace Viscount Wilfrick, has met with only modest favor. Yet freedom is the only reality in wishing, willing, sensing, and striving. We are joined tonight by new friends—good men and women pledged to our cause, who proved their valor in the wild places of this realm. Know your own happiness. Want for nothing but patience—or give it a more fascinating name: call it hope.”
With that, she nods gently and all are seated. The warmth and murmur of the great hall resumes.
Scene Two: The Supper is Served
You are seated with other household companions at the guest tables. Conversation ripples across the room, from whispered gossip to loud laughter near the guards’ bench.
Scene Three: The Head Table and House Politics
At the dais, Lady Elinor is flanked by her most trusted household leaders. Their dinner conversation is hushed but passionate, full of earnest concern for the holding’s future.
Notable Guests at the Head Table:
| Seat | Name | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sir Armount | Knight Commander | Loyal seneschal of Asbury, still grim from the road |
| 2 | Boditea Greensward | Steward | Sharp-featured woman in her forties, kin to Elinor’s mother |
| 3 | Olaf Berg | Chamberlain | Gruff, golden-haired with a burned leg and deep loyalty |
| 4 | Sir Thomas Hadlee | Knight of the Holding | Broad-shouldered and scarred, Elinor’s martial advisor |
| 5 | Paxton | Priest of Rao | Stern-faced man in yellow-trimmed robes, steel-gray eyes |
| 6 | Sage Viggo Hougaard | Scholar | Elderly, distracted, stabbing at peas and muttering to himself |
Lady Elinor keeps her gaze drifting among the guests, listening more than she speaks. But she pays close attention to any words spoken by the player characters seated nearby. A successful Insight (DC 15) reveals that she is evaluating you for more than just loyalty—she is gauging wisdom, diplomatic skill, and moral strength.
Scene Four: Artus Kellan, A Priest of Rao
Lady Elinor rises. “Friends. Tomorrow begins our work anew. Asbury is not yet whole—but I believe we are whole enough to begin. Sleep well.”
The guests rise. Pages escort you back across the courtyard to your rooms in the sleeping loft above the gatehouse. As you climb the wooden stairs, the manor behind you glows warm in the night. In its walls, the seeds of something greater are being planted.
A short time after the supper concludes, a page quietly arrives and bows. “My lords, Lady Elinor has permitted your audience with the man in our care. Please follow Sir Armount.”
Sir Armount rises solemnly and leads the party away from the hearth-lit hall. The warmth of the feast lingers on their clothes as they cross the Great Hall to the kitchen side door. Once inside, the air becomes cooler, and the sounds of cooking and clinking cookware cease as staff pause to observe your passing.
“This way,” Armount says, voice steady, eyes heavy.
The kitchen is expansive—its groin-vaulted stonework a fireproof barrier. A hearth large enough to roast an ox yawns with dying embers. Beside it, a smaller baking oven radiates gentle warmth. The trapdoor at the rear hums with faint echoes from the cellar below. Armount ignores all this and approaches a narrow stone stairwell beyond a small side door. The spiral staircase groans under his weight as he leads you upward.
Another hall, lit by a lantern swaying slightly from a breeze, welcomes you with its smell of herbs and clean linen.
“We keep him in the infirmary, under the care of Priest Paxton and our ladies-in-waiting. He has not spoken... save for fragments. But we listen. Lady Elinor believes he must be returned to Verbobonc, that someone at the Cathedral of Rao may help him.”
The corridor is silent. Armount’s hand rests on the final door. “Please. Do not distress him. His mind is like shattered glass.”
The door creaks open. Inside the Infirmary The room is warm and clean. Partition curtains separate the space into alcoves for the infirm. In one of the dim corners, huddled like a broken marionette, lies the old man. He rocks back and forth, muttering softly, eyes unfocused. He is dressed in once-regal robes of Rao, now frayed and stained. A basin and towel sit nearby, unused. A serving woman nods once and leaves the party in silence.
The man murmurs in rhythm: “...fire in the east... the seals broken... the Crown and Flame... the madness... the fens…”
If the PCs approach and mention Rao by name, he stops. His back straightens. His eyes snap to theirs—lucid for a heartbeat. Then he cries out:
“Father Rao! Forgive us...they were too many! The Fens of Tor! Beware the Fens of Tor!”
Then just as quickly, he slumps back, eyes clouded once more, retreating into silence. Not even repeated invocation of Rao rouses him. This man, Priest Paxton will confirm, is Artus Kellan, a cleric of Rao and member of the lost Velunan diplomatic mission. He vanished months ago, and his survival—let alone his madness—is of grave concern.
DM Notes
- Artus Kellan’s condition closely resembles Feeblemind.
- A Heal spell cast by a 14th-level cleric of Rao is required to cure him.
- The “Fens of Tor” is a cryptic clue—let players investigate further in the campaign.
- Armount and Paxton will not permit Artus to be transported to other temples; he must remain under Lady Elinor’s protection unless Viscount Wilfrick gives express permission.
- Lady Elinor’s interest in the PCs deepens after this encounter—especially if they express compassion or insight.
Roleplaying Tips
- Armount: Grave, dignified, and loyal to Lady Elinor above all. He speaks sparingly but with weight.
- Priest Paxton: Calm, observant, older than he looks. Rao’s serenity lies behind his every glance.
- Artus Kellan: His brief lucidity should feel supernatural, as if Rao himself is forcing a moment of clarity.
- Lady Elinor: May question the party about what was said later, or express private anxiety about what the outburst means.
“We are but humble stewards of this land, but we are not without gratitude. What little we possess, we offer freely to those who walk in service to Asbury.”
Scene Five: The Baroness on the Eastern Parapet
The parapet looks out over the rolling dark fields and clustered cottages of Asbury lands. A brazier glows warmly beside the stonework, casting a flickering halo over the figures standing there. Boditea Greensward finishes her conversation with the Baroness and offers a respectful bow before passing by you with a quiet word of blessing.
Lady Elinor Asbury remains, silhouetted against the moonlit horizon of Luna low over the farmfields, her cloak catching the breeze, her red hair aglow in the firelight. She turns as you approach, her face contemplative and touched with melancholy.
Dialogue
Lady Elinor (softly):
"Master PC’s name... Good evening."
She studies your face, and her voice carries a quiet weight.
Elinor:
"I wonder—why would the Archbishop of St. Cuthbert send one of his own with me? A billet with an iron cudgel and tongue to match. There is something they’re not telling me. Or perhaps they fear I already know."
She turns back to the view, her arms folded at her waist.
Elinor:
"I have not spoken of Sir Simon Milinous to anyone in some time. I loved him, once. He was fierce and proud. There was a time we were to be wed. But war... war consumes more than land and life. When he returned from the Greyhawk Wars, he was cold. Closed. And cruel in ways no sword could explain. The man I loved did not come home."
She pauses, letting the wind fill the silence.
Elinor:
"But I dreamed last night. A dream that I must share with you. Perhaps it means something. Perhaps you will understand."
The Vision
Her eyes gleam with memory, and she begins, reciting in a distant voice like telling a bedtime fable:
One night, she saw a traveler with a blossom so wondrous it glowed with its own light. ‘Where did you find it?’ she asked.
‘At the mountain’s peak,’ he said, ‘among thousands like it, petals like fire. But beware—only those who truly seek it ever arrive.’
She asked, ‘But how will I climb so high? I cannot fly.’
The traveler smiled, ‘Then you must grow wings.’
I was that girl. The dream was of me. And I awoke with tears and hope. Somewhere out there is a gem... a truth... a salvation for Asbury."
Request
She faces you again, her voice now laced with fragile strength.
Elinor (firmly):
"I do not know what lies ahead, nor why the gods have burdened me with this vision. But I believe it is tied to the gem—the one I sent my priest Artus Kellan to protect. And now he is broken, and our lands still suffer. I ask you this, not as a Baroness, but as a woman who carries hope like a flame in the storm..."
Elinor:
"Please. Find my gem. Restore what was lost. And let my people dream again."
She lifts her chin, her expression calm, resolved, and quietly regal.
Elinor (softly):
"Love fades. But duty remains. And through that, perhaps—hope lingers still."
She turns to gaze once more over the lands of Asbury, her silhouette unmoving as the breeze dances about her. The moment passes into quiet.
DM Notes
- Purpose: This is a powerful closing scene that deepens the player character’s emotional connection to Elinor and reveals the dreamlike metaphor that foreshadows the larger quest involving the Chest of Rao, Artus Kellan, and the Fens of Tor.
- Tone: Treat this scene as deeply personal. Elinor’s vulnerability is rare, and her trust in the PCs is a key moment in the campaign’s arc.
- Symbolism: The story of Luna is a veiled allegory for Elinor’s quest to reclaim her family’s legacy—and may be interpreted as a calling toward the rare mountain flower and gem referenced in her vision.
- Impact on players: This scene should feel like the quiet before the storm—the emotional core of the noble’s plea before adventurers take up a great burden.
Type: Social Encounter
Campaign Arc: Noble Ambitions 579 CY
Location: Asbury Manor, Barony of Asbury
Involved Factions: House Asbury, Church of Rao
Key NPCs: Lady Elinor Asbury, Sir Armount, Olaf Berg, Paxton (Priest of Rao), Boditea Greensward (Steward), Sir Thomas Hadlee, Sage Viggo Hougaard
Roleplaying Opportunities
- Talk of the Bandit Ambush: Sir Thomas wants to know exactly how the fight unfolded. He eyes you like a general sizing up a fresh recruit.
- The Forge and Wagon Supplies: Olaf hints that the smithy supplies from the wagon will be vital. He is searching for a new blacksmith.
- The Mad Priest and the Chest of Rao: Priest Paxton remains quiet during this line of conversation but watches closely. His concern is clear.
At one point, Sir Armount excuses himself to walk the room and speak briefly with you:
“The Baroness values your service. And in this hall, loyalty and truth are as prized as sword and spell. Speak wisely, and you may gain more than favor.”
DM Notes: Additional Leads & Clues
The Fens of Tor – Rumors and Reputation
If the PCs choose to ask any of the household staff, townsfolk of Penwick, or residents of Asbury Manor about the Fens of Tor, provide the following summary:
- The Fens of Tor lie east of Asbury Manor, along the west bank of the Emridy River, near the southern edge of the Gnarley Forest.
- It is said to be a marsh-ridden region, often shrouded in fog and twisted by unnatural sounds.
- Local lore identifies it as a staging ground for goblin and orc raiding bands, and more ominously, a place from which scouts and foragers never return.
- Woodsmen speak of strange lights, half-heard whispers, and ruins submerged in muck—relics of the days when the Temple of Elemental Evil rose in strength.
- Lady Elinor, upon hearing Artus Kellan's words, immediately latches on to the Fens as a probable source of danger—and opportunity. Her instincts tell her the old priest’s words are a divine sign from Rao.
"If the old priest speaks true, then I believe Rao points us to the Fens. Let us not ignore the will of the gods." – Lady Elinor
Encourage players to treat this lead as a launch point for their next major expedition.
The Betrothal Cup – Evidence from the Past
If the PCs specifically ask to see the item Artus Kellan was carrying when found (perhaps inspired by his mutterings or a connection to Lady Elinor), they are granted a private viewing by Lady Elinor or Priest Paxton:
- The Betrothal Cup is a silver chalice, tarnished and slightly dented.
- Etched upon its base is a blessing from Rao, and an inscription:
"To Kyllan & Aluna, by sword and heart entwined — may Rao bless this sacred bond." - The presence of this object confirms to Elinor that Artus must have been present at the time of her parents’ death or the moments just before.
- Elinor is visibly moved by the sight of it, her voice unsteady as she speaks of her parents’ virtues and their noble sacrifice at Whistler’s Bridge.
This object, though minor in power, has great symbolic value. If taken on the next quest, Lady Elinor will ask that it be returned when the party returns—as a relic of her family's honor.
Provisions from House Asbury
Before departing on the quest into the Fens, the PCs may request supplies. The steward and quartermasters of Asbury Manor will offer the following:
- Basic rations (dried meat, nuts, blackbread, trail cheese) – enough for a week’s journey per person.
- Hemp rope, flint & steel, torches, canvas, and wood bundles.
- Arrows and hunting bows, used by the manor guard and fletched in the Asbury style (black fletching).
- Healer's supplies – limited, but includes wound poultices and herbs gathered by the locals (treated as a Healer’s Kit with 4 uses).
- No magic items or advanced adventuring gear is available, but Lady Elinor is willing to write letters of recommendation to be delivered to merchants in Verbobonc for the acquisition of specialty gear upon return.
Comments