Ashen is a nobleman from Waterdeep. He is down in the Sword Coast on business. You will find him standing in a very out-of-the-way spot in the Temple area, presumably in his desperate search for fresh air. No matter what responses do you choose, he will get rebuff you (despite him initiating the talk) and vanish from the game to never be seen again. Like most (if not all) nobleman from Waterdeep, Ashen finds the Sword Coast smelly and vermin ridden. The only reason he's still here is that his caravan might be raided by bandits on the return journey.