Maltheris Voss

Alias: Darron Claywright

Human Male • Local Politician of Yeshpek • Lawful Evil (hidden)

Public Identity: Darron Claywright, Potter and Civic Leader

To the citizens of Yeshpek, “Darron Claywright” is a model resident.

Appearance

A middle-aged man with:

• sandy brown hair tied back with a leather cord,
• well-trimmed beard flecked with gray,
• rough clay-stained hands,
• and a constant layer of dust around his boots.

His eyes are a striking steel-blue — cold when he’s not mindful of his expression.

Personality (Public)

He appears:

• Jovial
• Patient
• Compassionate to the poor
• Diplomatic in arguments
• Humble about his success

He tells stories of “traveling far before settling down,” avoiding too much detail. His pottery shop is hardworking and popular, lined with well-made earthenware: bowls, urns, cups, and decorative tiles.

Role in Yeshpek

• Elected to the City Council of Yeshpek, representing Craftsmen and Tradesmen.
• Advocates for better trade rights, water access, and artisan guild protections.
• Beloved for donating pottery to orphanages and temples.

Most see him as a stable, reasonable voice in politics.

Only a few suspect that his calm is rehearsed.

True Identity: Maltheris Voss, Former General of Thay

Before he was Darron Claywright, he was Maltheris Voss, a ranking general in the armies of the Red Wizards of Thay.

Background

Maltheris was:

• A brilliant strategist
• A ruthless enforcer of Thayan policy
• Responsible for the campaigns that destroyed Varkuun, the hobgoblin homeland
• Personally tasked with hunting down survivors

He commanded undead battalions and war-mages, tracking the fleeing hobgoblin caravan all the way to the borders of more civilized lands.

But when the refugees slipped beyond his reach—vanishing into the wilds, eventually reaching Lygos—Maltheris was blamed for the failure.

Humiliated, stripped of command, and narrowly avoiding execution, he disappeared.

His Disguise

Using old contacts and forbidden spells, he changed:

• his appearance (subtly),
• his voice,
• and forged a new identity in Yeshpek.

The potter act began as camouflage.

Over time, he grew genuinely skilled.

But the hatred never died.

Present-Day Agenda

Maltheris has watched Lygos from afar for over a decade.

He keeps:

• spies in trade caravans,
• eyes on the hobgoblins’ population growth,
• tabs on Bogaz and other leaders,
• maps of their district and defenses.

He believes one day he will reclaim honor by finishing the job he failed to complete.

Long-Term Goal

To gather enough influence, allies, and occult aid to:

• destroy the Lygos hobgoblins,
• or weaken the city until Thay can conquer it.

He is patient, strategic, and hates rushing a plan.

Behavior & Tells

Even in public:

• He watches hobgoblins with unmasked intensity.
• The muscles in his jaw tighten whenever someone mentions Thay.
• He never discusses his life before Yeshpek.
• His pottery patterns contain coded symbols used by Thayan military.
• He practices sword drills at night, quietly, behind closed shutters.

He keeps a hidden chest containing:

• his old Thayan uniform,
• maps of Varkuun’s ruins,
• a list of hobgoblin refugees who fled,
• a dagger engraved with the Red Wizards’ sigil,
• letters he writes but never sends — to Thay, begging for reinstatement.

Role in Your Campaign

Rumors begin spreading in Lygos:

• “A ghost from Varkuun’s past lives in Yeshpek.”
• “A Thayan general in hiding.”
• “The man who hunted the caravan still draws breath.”

Bogaz tasks the players:

• Find him. Confirm the truth. Decide his fate.

Possible Directions

1. A Confrontation
   The PCs corner him in his pottery shop.
   He tries to talk his way out… until he realizes they won’t leave.
2. A Tragic Reveal
   He admits everything but insists he was “only following orders” and still believes the hobgoblins are dangerous.
3. A Villain in Waiting
   He uses the investigation to slip away, becoming a recurring antagonist.
4. Captured?
   The PCs may decide to capture him—leading to a political storm between Lygos and Yeshpek.
5. Red Wizard Ties
   His old Thayan contacts come searching—turning Yeshpek into a battlefield.

Stat Block (Optional Mid-Level Villain)

If you want, I can generate:

• A full Thayan General stat block (CR 7–10)
• A weakened “Potter in Disguise” stat block
• Magic items he still carries
• A combat encounter or pursuit scene