The Mysterious Stranger (NPC)

The Mysterious Stranger is an elusive person of unknown identity or even nature that may give hints, clues, or missions to lost or misdirected player characters. He (or she) prefers to communicate through means that are not in person, letters, telegrams, etc. Only in abandoned or discrete locations will the Strange meet heroes directly, and then something will always provide a distraction for him to slip away once his job is done. Basically, the Mysterious Strange is a plot device to help move the game along.