NPC
Bentley Mirrorshade
Proprietor of the Friendly Arm
A retired gnomish adventurer, illusionist, thief, and proprietor of the Friendly Arm, known for anticipating trouble before it reaches his door.
General description
Bentley Mirrorshade is an energetic, curly-haired gnome with a reputation for uncanny preparation. Travelers call him a "master anticipator" because he routinely recognizes schemes, hidden agendas, and brewing trouble before most people notice anything is wrong.
Reference details
- Ancestry
- Gnome
- Alignment
- Chaotic Good
- Classes
- Illusionist 10
- Thief 10
- Intelligence
- 17
- Dexterity
- 17
- Occupation
- Innkeeper and settlement leader
- Home
- friendly-arm
- Spouse
- gellana-mirrorshade
Key facts
- Bentley hums when thinking deeply.
- He scratches his large nose when he becomes concerned.
- He requires guests to observe strict security rules intended to preserve the Friendly Arm's neutrality.
- Weapons may be checked at the door.
- Wizards may be required to have their primary casting thumb peace-bonded to their belts.
- Despite his retirement, Bentley appears able to obtain mercenaries and professional spellcasters when necessary.
- Before the fire-shrine breach, Bentley noticed Seraphel Vane probing the keep's foundations and suspected he came because of the hidden temple connection. Bentley wrongly believed Seraphel left by the road.
- Bentley has one confirmed illusion-shrouded iron golem that can impersonate him or a human servant.
- After the breach, that same single golem sheds its disguise and helps lift heavy kitchen and cellar debris; it does not multiply into a repair crew.
Appearance
Bentley is a small, energetic gnome with curly hair, a large expressive nose, and quick eyes that keep returning to doors, hands, and spell components. He carries himself like a retired adventurer who never stopped measuring rooms for danger.
Motivation
Bentley wants the Friendly Arm to remain neutral, safe, welcoming, and profitable. He prefers to anticipate trouble and quietly remove its leverage before anyone draws steel. Protecting Gellana, his staff, and the people sheltering behind the walls outranks a guest's pride or convenience.
Roleplaying Bentley
Be brisk, observant, and polite without softness. Bentley remembers faces, notices spellcasters immediately, and speaks as if the practical answer is already obvious. He hums while thinking and scratches his nose when a problem genuinely concerns him.
What he will not do
Bentley will not relax weapon checks, spellcasting safeguards, or the inn's neutrality merely because a traveler is powerful, impatient, or offended. He also avoids exposing the keep's buried history unless secrecy would put more people at risk.
Background
Bentley was an adventurer before becoming the proprietor of the Friendly Arm. Around 1346 DR, he led a gnomish adventuring company that occupied the ruined keep, cleared out the monsters still living there, and converted the site into a fortified inn and caravan stop.
Personality
Bentley is energetic, perceptive, and difficult to surprise. His habit of anticipating trouble has become part of his reputation. He hums while thinking and scratches his nose when worried.
Neutrality and security
Bentley treats the Friendly Arm as neutral ground. Guests are expected to suspend their feuds while there. He enforces security rules such as checking weapons and restricting a wizard's ability to cast without warning.
Politics
Bentley balances competing regional interests by permitting various southern military powers to quarter troops nearby when they do not damage the settlement. He maintains one unusually strict rule: anyone claiming descent from the Tethyrian royal family is denied entry.
Iron stand-in
Bentley sometimes puts the Friendly Arm’s single illusion-shrouded iron golem in his likeness when private business keeps him away from the common room. During repairs after Adventure 004, the same construct performs heavy lifting while staff, temple acolytes, carpenters, and masons do the broader work.
Resources and connections
Bentley never seems short of the money or contacts needed to hire mercenaries and spellcasters for urgent work. Rumors connect him to secret merchant cabals and clandestine operations. He also has ties to powerful figures, including Khelben "Blackstaff" Arunsun.
Roleplaying profile
- Personality
- Dry, energetic, observant, practically kind, and almost impossible to surprise. He prefers competence to drama.
- Motivation
- Keep the Friendly Arm neutral, safe, welcoming, and profitable while protecting Gellana, the staff, and everyone sheltering behind its walls.
- Quirks
- Hums while thinking, scratches his large nose when genuinely concerned, and watches hands, doors, and spell components while appearing to make casual conversation.
Also known as
- Bentley