Would Jalt hear him mention the Purple Wyrm?

Yes, he did. 

(Oops, I am sorry I forgot about what time it is!)

Nate will decide if he wants to go look for magic shops and the like tomorrow morning. He might decide against it now depending on if we start our lookout first thing... but let's see.

Nate's going to follow the party to whichever inn/tavern they choose. Perhaps we can get more info like Ackyn mentioned in one of them before we turn in for the night.

Elspeth would like to find out more the caravans gathered near the gates before they approach as a whole. Would the traders stay with their wagons and goods when night comes or are there taverns providing for them? Elspeth would follow up on Soar's question and ask Ackyn whether he's aware of the inn most frequented by such traders, so they can get some preliminary research done before they start their mission proper.

She'd also suggest that one of them could pose as a trader, gathering some carts and supplies from the city itself.

Elspeth, Ackyn tells you a little more of how the caravans work.  There are inns where the traders will stay while they wait for a caravan to assemble; some are good quality and expensive, and others are cheap dormitories - even the rich traders will often keep their guards in the dormitories.  The dormitories are attached to warehouses and yards where wagons and goods are stored during the wait.  He suggests that the two inns he's already recommended are good places to start, as they are popular with traders who do not follow this trade route regularly, and therefore are less likely to have ready-made arrangements for guards and more likely to be looking to hire. 

There are a few places where traders go to hire guards, and I have contacts with them.   I also know quite a number of the more regular traders - they're frequent customers.  Once you find out which caravan the cultists need to join, let me know and I can do some quick digging.  If we're lucky, there'll be someone who can take you on at my recommendation - but we won't know until later.

If you want to pose as traders, you can buy everything you need from me - at a discount, because you come from the Black Antlers.  You will need to find plausible trade goods in the city - if you have the coin, and can make it to Waterdeep you should be able to turn a profit, but you'll need to pay up front.  

Upon hearing Acklyn mention The Purple Wyrm, Jalt agrees and says to the others Yes, I remember the Purple Wyrm quite nicely. Comfortable rooms, good food and very packed with traders and travelers. That's where Breena and I first found work. Its as good a place as any to find the information of what the cult is up to.

(Are you all headed to the Purple Wyrm for the first night then?)

Yup

Jalt leads the way, the memories of his previous stay playing through his mind.  You enter the tavern and find it - packed.  It's hard to move, and there's no spare tables and three groups of people waiting ahead of you.  A human waiter rushes past with a tray of seven tankards of ale;  Don't worry, you won't have to wait long!  

The common room of the inn is rustic and charming, with two fireplaces, one at each end of the room, providing warmth and light.  There is a raised platform where a band of four halfling bards are playing something very jolly, and patrons are tapping their feet and a few are joining in the singing; there might be dancing if there were space.  It's a noisy, boisterous, friendly and warm atmosphere.  Tables all of the same style but of many varied shapes and sizes sit many varied shapes and sizes of people, none that you recognise.

A few minutes later, one table is clear as five gnomes head out into the night, laughing and clapping each other on the back, talking in gnomish as they go.  The queue shortens, and then shortens some more, and then finally a dwarf comes over and leads you to your table.  Name's Silla.  What can I get you folk?

Jalt, you don't recognise Silla.  You can make a Perception check to see if you do recognise any of the staff here.

20

Jalt, you see Enda Toral behind the bar, a seemingly middle-aged high elf woman, pouring drinks and chatting to a man in uniform seated across from her.  You recall that she seemed to be in charge, though you recall hearing that she manages the tavern for the real owner. 

You also recognise Merrit, a human in his fifties also working the bar, who you spoke to a couple of times.  As you look, he notices you gaze and gives a friendly wave of recognition before returning to his task.  You recall that he has two sons in the Flaming Fist, the guard of Baldur's Gate, and that he worries about them a lot.

Jalt points out the two people he recognizes and conveys this information to the rest of the party. Enda knows this town inside and out, if anyone can find out information its her. Merrit too, but with his sons in the Flaming Fist, I'm not sure trying to get info out of him will help or hurt our cause.

(Catching up here...)

When hearing that Jalt knows the people at the Purple Wyrm, Soar would suggest it's not great if they become known around there as a foursome asking questions, for fear of allies of the cult noticing and then putting two and two together (literally!) and being suspicious when the caravan's assembling.

So she'll hang back and let Jalt and Elspeth and perhaps Nate if he wants go get a table, and she'll come in separately and go to the bar and begin talking to caravan guards, people who know about caravan guards, and other folks who seem to track trade. She's asking questions and letting other people talk.

Instead of the peppy, enthusiastic, happy approach Soar usually brings to, well, everything, she has a very droll and pessimistic approach to these conversations, lots of gallow's humor, dry jokes. It's a very different kind of charisma, trying to be a bit more forgettable, but someone that others find easy to talk to. Dolorous Edd listens well and always thinks the worst.

"Oh yes, three days in the saddle in the pouring rain, mud-stuck wagons, flooding creekbeds, my favorite." Soar would say that with bizarre sincerity, but Boar says it with the deepest, more rational, sarcasm. 

She's trying to get a sense of the personalities involved in caravan guards, learning where they tend to congregate, where it pays to be when it's assembling, listening for stories about common mistakes rookies make, telling stories of her own about guards she's seen do dumb things in her travels, etc.

Nate and Elspeth, are you with Jalt or with Soar?

Nate agrees with Soar in that it might look odd if 4 people together start asking questions. "Let me see if I can get any information about possible jobs on the caravans in here... I'll meet you guys at the table later." Nate will head into the tavern, always keeping an eye on where his comrades are. holy hell it's busy in here

Nate's going to grab a pint from the bar and then head over to the common room where everyone seems to be having a good time and partying, and he's going to see if he can find someone who looks wasted and try and ask about potential work on the caravans, if that's a thing, etc. Maybe he can get someone talking who's had a few too many drinks. Nate's going to drink his beer as well, trying to look like he fits in. (Any humans in here that look drunk?)

Nate's going to actually have a few drinks in the common room. To loosen up, to be able to speak to people better, to perhaps have advantage in getting info!? (2 mugs, 8 copper removed). "Yeeeee-hawww!"

Nate, make a Perception check to find a suitably drunk person who is nevertheless knowledgeable and eloquent about the caravan life.

So Jalt, Soar and Nate are all engaged in separate activities in the tavern.  Where's Elspeth?

wow this beer is going down well... now lets see if I can find out something...

Nate takes a good look around the room, enjoying the music all the more as he drinks, but ultimately trying to keep a straight mind as he knows the task at hand isn't to party. 

8

Hah!  says Frellin, a half-elf who Nate has been talking to for about an hour now, learning not very much.  Caravans are a mug's game.  Pay... a pittance.  Danger... 'n  wolves 'n... stuff.  Stupid.  Nope.  Nope.  Not anymore.  'm stayininbaldursgateandworkingformypa.  That's what.  Yeah.  Travelandseetheworldtheysaid.  Nope.   Nonononononono.

You get the sense that Frellin did not enjoy his time working on the caravans.

When Nate is in character, he's speaking a dirty southern (american) accent. 

"HYUK HYUK well holy ole shit mama's ass!!! Damn son I rekon you'za mighta be right!" takes a drink "But nonetheless Frellin bud.... what kinda stuff they got you doing on those caravans? Might be shitty work but this guyz gotta find at least a bit more coin and so anything I could do with a lick or a promise on them those caravans let me know. Hell I might like it! I'm kinda the adventurous type!! Yeeeee-hawwww!" then drinks again.