Occupation: Informal Spy, Dragonchess
Enthusiast
Alignment: Neutral
Base of Operations: Crescent Garden Bench, always facing the fountain
Appearance
- Build: Slightly stooped but wiry, with the stubborn posture of someone who refuses to admit age is catching up.
- Face: Weathered, sun-spotted skin with a scruffy gray beard.
- Eyes: Piercing blue, always scanning, rarely still.
- Clothing: A patched, well-worn cloak with frayed edges, sturdy boots made for walking every street in Lygos.
- Personal Item: A battered wooden dragonchess board and a pouch of mismatched, well-loved pieces.
Personality
- Gruff but Sharp: Known for barking sarcastic comments at passersby—half the time as an insult, the other half as a test.
- Perceptive: Notices small details others miss—who just switched seats at the café, who’s carrying a dagger under their coat, whose smile doesn’t reach their eyes.
- Dragonchess Devotee: The surest way to earn his respect—or his secrets—is to sit down for a game.
- Soft Side (Deeply Hidden): Shows surprising gentleness toward street urchins, stray animals, and anyone down on their luck.
Reputation
Among Garden Regulars:
- Known as “the old crow on the bench.” Some come to him for advice, others avoid him entirely.
Among City Watch:
- Tolerated, even used on occasion for unofficial intel.
Among Criminal Elements:
- Some think he’s harmless. The smart ones know better.
Role in Gameplay
- Living Ledger of the Garden: Can recall exactly who came and went on a particular day.
- Strategic Interlocutor: Will trade information only after the players impress him—usually over a dragonchess match.
- Hidden Asset: If danger arises in the Crescent Garden, Jarles may already have the escape route or the suspect’s description.
Abilities
- Keen Observer: Advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks when tracking people or spotting suspicious activity.
- Master Strategist: Once per long rest, can give the party advantage on their next group strategy or planning roll by pointing out overlooked factors.
- Invisible in Plain Sight: Jarles is so ordinary-looking that most NPCs forget he’s there—advantage on Stealth when staying seated and “being an old man.”
Adventure Hooks
- The Garden Murder: Jarles saw the killer flee but will only describe them to someone who beats him at dragonchess.
- The Missing Courier: A messenger vanished in the Crescent Garden; Jarles remembers who they were talking to.
- The Old Man’s Debt: Jarles is in trouble with a dangerous figure who wants him silenced—can the players protect him without blowing his cover?
Sample Dialogue
- “Your stance says ‘new in town.’ Your boots say ‘adventurer.’ And your eyes say you’re about to ask me something stupid.”
- “Dragonchess. Win, I talk. Lose, and you fetch me a meat pie.”
- “People think I’m here for the sunshine. Ha! No, I’m here for the truth. And the shade’s better here.”