Elspeth is going to join in the search for further signs of antlers around the shop, preferably without going too deeply into the shop, not wanting to poke around without the presence of the shopkeeper. "Anyone around?" She calls out, peering about the shop.
Soar, there's no response to your words; they don't echo exactly, as the shop is too full of stuff and the sound is absorbed and deadened, but you don't hear any movement from the rest of the building.
Jalt, you don't notice much. It's easy to get distracted in a shop full of brightly-coloured bits and bobs. There are lots of nice pins, but no indication of how much they cost.
Elspeth, you do see only one more example of black antlers, on a statue of a stag, about six inches high, that sits on a shelf. It's not prominently displayed, but it is visible if you're looking for that.
The door opens, and the elderly woman enters, closes the door and bars it behind her. She looks at you all in turn. Tell me, she says quietly, the name of Sir Ontharr Frume's squire, if you please.
The woman laughs. I just won a bet. Well, come in, come in. Jalt, Elspeth, Soar and Nate, is that right? There's not much I can do for you, but come in and take some tea at least. My name is Coral, by the way.
She leads you into the back of the shop, and a pleasant living room with expensive upholstered wooden chairs. Drapes and wall hangings covered with embroidered flowers cover every inch of the walls, making a very homey feel to the place. She invites you to sit and spends a few minutes making a pot of tea, which she serves. As she does so, the conversation continues.
Welcome to Waterdeep, though I believe some of you have been here before. I have someone watching the wagons of the Dragon Cult. As well as young Carlon, I assume? There are a couple more groups already in the city, waiting for yours to head north.
(Carlon observed the altercation with Lasfelro, but then disappeared into the city, looking for the cultists.)
Eventually, you all have your tea and Coral sits with you. Now, aside from tea and conversation, is there anything you want to tell me? Or ask me?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Binden, that was it, Soar thought. Totally forgot the name. "Yes, hello, Coral! That is us. What was the bet? That we'd remember the name, or that we are who you were looking for?"
Insight check Coral, though Soar would be very trusting she's who she says she is. Check's mainly out of habit at this point: 20
She listens to the welcome and the rest of the introduction. "Yes, I used to live here, before I went traveling south, with Elspeth. Ended up a caravan guard headed to Greenest with Jalt. Then, well, I assume you know everything that happened there. We were lucky to find Nate with the cultists. He's been really helpful, and extremely tolerant of all the dangers and chaos, and even my antics."
She sips her tea, thanking Coral for the welcome after the long, long, stressful, dangerous journey.
"The mission went... fairly well. We stayed with the cultist wagons. They did eventually figure out Jalt and probably me despite my disguise, and maybe Elspeth. Tried to get rid of us a few ways, but they didn't make many friends and we did. We rescued Carlon, who got booted from his caravan and buried to his neck in the road as an oathbreaker. We couldn't really avoid attention. They're a suspicious lot. They tried to poison us, and frame us for murder. I think they recognized Jalt from his battle with Cyanwrath. And me, probably. Might as well give up the conceit. At least they don't know I beheaded Cyanwrath and Mondath. Not sure I would have made it to Waterdeep alive if they did."
She pulls out her sack stuffed with the splint armor Kaerus made, eyes darting to Jalt's bag containing his armor and greatsword. Her head springs up, looking at Coral with a smile.
"Oh! Nate and Jalt executed a flawless, brilliant scouting mission and overheard that three groups got here before our group, and another group was arriving by sea around the same time. They said that places with the company have been secured, whatever that means. And that they're in a hurry. Really, it was an amazing mission, they're so impressive, Jalt can sneak around like the best Harpers in the stories, who knew!!"
After the tea, and after she asks for any questions they have, Soar allows that she does.
"I have a few questions, sure. Are Leosin or Untharr here? Or their friends? Which group are you with? We met someone else tracking the cultists, a gnome woman calling herself Jamna Gleamsilver. Said she was working for someone else, we don't know who, but that our interests aligned. Do you know her? And what's next? We're still tracking the cultists and their treasure, but where, and why? We don't know much."
Running her fingers through her somehow-still-black hair, she says, "I could use a warm bath, if you have a place to recommend. I'm a Doomguide, trained here in Waterdeep, and I could go stay at the chapterhouse, but the baths were always so cold there, and after a long journey like that, I've heard warm baths are nice. And I'd like to get this dye out of my hair. Reapplying it was tricky on the road."
Soar, you don't really have any sense of Coral's honesty - you've just met her, after all.
As your torrent of words and questions flows over her, Coral just sits, sipping her tea, listening, occasionally nodding or shaking her head at a particularly important point. After you have finished, she takes a deep breath.
Well, goodness me. What an exciting time you've had of it. I'm not sure I can be quite as much help as you are hoping. I will try to answer what I can. Firstly, no, Sir Ontharr and Master Erlanthar are not here in Waterdeep, leastways not that I know of. I have never heard of a Jamna Gleamsilver, so cannot help you there. I don't belong to any 'group', but I help out where I can. And I do know a little of your Dragon Cultist friends.
The 'Company' is the High Road Charter Company, of Neverwinter. They are rebuilding the road between Waterdeep and their home, and providing escort to travellers and caravans headed north, stopping off at the various work camps along the way. The cultists are busy attaching themselves to a convoy that will head out day after tomorrow.
OOC: meant that series of questions to happen in the context of a conversation, not as a long monologue :)
"So you know Leosin and Ontharr, but you're not a member of any group? Who are you, other than a helper? Is there anyone else in town we should be talking to? Is someone supposed to take over for us to follow the High Road Charter Company, or are we just following them a bit more openly... I'd really like to know more about their bigger plan."
After being a bit annoyed at Soar's earlier interactions at the gates, Nate was very happy to hear and see Soar take the lead and get all of the details out and proper questions asked. This is something Nate has always admired about Soar. Although not surprising given her demeanor. And she's a doomguide. There's also that.
Nate clearly does not like socializing and listens intently to Soar's description of events and experiences we've had along the ride, nodding along where applicable. Nate thinks it's spot on. Maybe a bit meaty... but spot on nonetheless.
...for I need this woman, whoever she is, to know all of the information that we know... so we can ultimately stifle the dragon cult's plans... and they will all die... and I will have my revenge
Nate would continue to listen to the conversation.
Why in the world are you asking me? What am I, your mother? Dear me. Coral sounds faintly exasperated, and takes another sip of her tea.
I am the proprietress of this shop, is who I am. What I might have been in the past, and how I know those two, well, I would need to know you all a lot better to be telling those old stories. If that's not enough for you, then the door is over there. She nods towards the door back to the shop.
Look, she says, her tone a little kinder, it sounds to me like you young folks are floundering a bit. Maybe struck with a bit of impatience, eh? It must have been quite frustrating having to follow those fools and not really be able to take any action. Not what you're used to, I'm guessing? Still, as far as I know, your mission is to follow them and... find out where they go. Is that right? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But I would like to help, if I can.
Soar’s hands begin to go a little white from squeezing her mug too tightly as Coral replies. Her fave doesn’t change from happy contentment, though.
“We don’t need a mother. We need support. We need to talk to the people who are tracking them in the city. Who are talking to others in Faerun who are tracking the cult. What can you help us with? I did ask you about rest and a bath. And the bet - who you made the bet with and what it was about. And talking to other friends of Leosin and Untharr. Can you get a message to anyone in town who does know about our mission?“
She looks at Nate, and tries to give him a calming, let’s be nice to this woman sort of expression.
"My apologies, Ma'am. I suppose the travel has indeed gotten to me a bit. Yes, you could say impatient. Along with the disguises and everything else. We would appreciate any help you can offer."
Nate kind of lowers his head a bit, his face partly shaded now from his black hood. He listens on.
I'm not sure what I can help you with, Coral muses. I can't put you in touch with the people who are tracking your target here in the city. For one thing, they're busy tracking your target. For another, they value their privacy, and they are very good at remaining hidden. They would likely refuse to meet you without good reason. I can try to answer any questions you have. She pauses and sighs. I suppose I might be able to arrange a meeting, but truly, what do you hope to learn from them?
As for a place to rest and take a bath, I know an inn not too far from here, only a ten minute walk. The Merchant's Resolve; I know the innkeeper for an honest woman. I would recommend it, but there are many many others to choose from.
Elspeth is, uh, mildly confused about how unwilling Coral is to divulge any information, to say the least. She leans forward a little, face clouded. "Coral, forgive me for speaking frankly, but you say you don't belong to any group, yet you know of who we're speaking on behalf of?"She points at the pin to make her meaning clear. "I was lead to believe you'd be able to give us clearer directions, is all. Any advice would be welcome, certainly. Just- look, we made it all the way here, we'd like a clear next step. You said they would be joining the Company for the next leg of their journey, do you know where their caravans stop off at? Do we have any contacts within the company itself? I know you said they'd likely be unwilling to speak with us, but this is urgent, and knowing that they exist would make me feel so much the better."
Well, says Coral to Elspeth, considering. I'm not sure it's so strange, really. I don't belong to any group, but Ontharr and Leosin asked me to keep an eye out for these cultists, and for you, and I've done so. They and their friends ask for my assistance from time to time. And Waterdeep is my home, and I am capable of seeing what passes through here, in most circumstances. I'm sorry if you though you were coming to me for directions or orders? Is your previous mission complete then? If so, then... perhaps I could aid you in contacting Ontharr directly. That would be tomorrow though.
I don't have contacts with the Charters, but you shouldn't find it hard to join them as travellers or sign on for a tour as guards, if you still plan to follow these cultists north.
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Nate would just be calmly waiting for the woman to arrive. He maybe also looked at all of the pins as he thought those were interesting.
"You guys think this is our contact? It has to be... right?"
“Hello? Leosin? Caron? Anyone here?” Soar stage whispers, poking her head into the other door in the back.
Jalt looks around the shop to see if he notices anything with any dragon symbols or markings 6
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Perception: 21
Elspeth is going to join in the search for further signs of antlers around the shop, preferably without going too deeply into the shop, not wanting to poke around without the presence of the shopkeeper. "Anyone around?" She calls out, peering about the shop.
Soar, there's no response to your words; they don't echo exactly, as the shop is too full of stuff and the sound is absorbed and deadened, but you don't hear any movement from the rest of the building.
Jalt, you don't notice much. It's easy to get distracted in a shop full of brightly-coloured bits and bobs. There are lots of nice pins, but no indication of how much they cost.
Elspeth, you do see only one more example of black antlers, on a statue of a stag, about six inches high, that sits on a shelf. It's not prominently displayed, but it is visible if you're looking for that.
The door opens, and the elderly woman enters, closes the door and bars it behind her. She looks at you all in turn. Tell me, she says quietly, the name of Sir Ontharr Frume's squire, if you please.
what the hell was his name..... he stayed with me when the others went out riding at that damn light city....
"BINDEN!!" Nate awkwardly blurts out.
The woman laughs. I just won a bet. Well, come in, come in. Jalt, Elspeth, Soar and Nate, is that right? There's not much I can do for you, but come in and take some tea at least. My name is Coral, by the way.
She leads you into the back of the shop, and a pleasant living room with expensive upholstered wooden chairs. Drapes and wall hangings covered with embroidered flowers cover every inch of the walls, making a very homey feel to the place. She invites you to sit and spends a few minutes making a pot of tea, which she serves. As she does so, the conversation continues.
Welcome to Waterdeep, though I believe some of you have been here before. I have someone watching the wagons of the Dragon Cult. As well as young Carlon, I assume? There are a couple more groups already in the city, waiting for yours to head north.
(Carlon observed the altercation with Lasfelro, but then disappeared into the city, looking for the cultists.)
Eventually, you all have your tea and Coral sits with you. Now, aside from tea and conversation, is there anything you want to tell me? Or ask me?
Binden, that was it, Soar thought. Totally forgot the name. "Yes, hello, Coral! That is us. What was the bet? That we'd remember the name, or that we are who you were looking for?"
Insight check Coral, though Soar would be very trusting she's who she says she is. Check's mainly out of habit at this point: 20
She listens to the welcome and the rest of the introduction. "Yes, I used to live here, before I went traveling south, with Elspeth. Ended up a caravan guard headed to Greenest with Jalt. Then, well, I assume you know everything that happened there. We were lucky to find Nate with the cultists. He's been really helpful, and extremely tolerant of all the dangers and chaos, and even my antics."
She sips her tea, thanking Coral for the welcome after the long, long, stressful, dangerous journey.
"The mission went... fairly well. We stayed with the cultist wagons. They did eventually figure out Jalt and probably me despite my disguise, and maybe Elspeth. Tried to get rid of us a few ways, but they didn't make many friends and we did. We rescued Carlon, who got booted from his caravan and buried to his neck in the road as an oathbreaker. We couldn't really avoid attention. They're a suspicious lot. They tried to poison us, and frame us for murder. I think they recognized Jalt from his battle with Cyanwrath. And me, probably. Might as well give up the conceit. At least they don't know I beheaded Cyanwrath and Mondath. Not sure I would have made it to Waterdeep alive if they did."
She pulls out her sack stuffed with the splint armor Kaerus made, eyes darting to Jalt's bag containing his armor and greatsword. Her head springs up, looking at Coral with a smile.
"Oh! Nate and Jalt executed a flawless, brilliant scouting mission and overheard that three groups got here before our group, and another group was arriving by sea around the same time. They said that places with the company have been secured, whatever that means. And that they're in a hurry. Really, it was an amazing mission, they're so impressive, Jalt can sneak around like the best Harpers in the stories, who knew!!"
After the tea, and after she asks for any questions they have, Soar allows that she does.
"I have a few questions, sure. Are Leosin or Untharr here? Or their friends? Which group are you with? We met someone else tracking the cultists, a gnome woman calling herself Jamna Gleamsilver. Said she was working for someone else, we don't know who, but that our interests aligned. Do you know her? And what's next? We're still tracking the cultists and their treasure, but where, and why? We don't know much."
Running her fingers through her somehow-still-black hair, she says, "I could use a warm bath, if you have a place to recommend. I'm a Doomguide, trained here in Waterdeep, and I could go stay at the chapterhouse, but the baths were always so cold there, and after a long journey like that, I've heard warm baths are nice. And I'd like to get this dye out of my hair. Reapplying it was tricky on the road."
Soar, you don't really have any sense of Coral's honesty - you've just met her, after all.
As your torrent of words and questions flows over her, Coral just sits, sipping her tea, listening, occasionally nodding or shaking her head at a particularly important point. After you have finished, she takes a deep breath.
Well, goodness me. What an exciting time you've had of it. I'm not sure I can be quite as much help as you are hoping. I will try to answer what I can. Firstly, no, Sir Ontharr and Master Erlanthar are not here in Waterdeep, leastways not that I know of. I have never heard of a Jamna Gleamsilver, so cannot help you there. I don't belong to any 'group', but I help out where I can. And I do know a little of your Dragon Cultist friends.
The 'Company' is the High Road Charter Company, of Neverwinter. They are rebuilding the road between Waterdeep and their home, and providing escort to travellers and caravans headed north, stopping off at the various work camps along the way. The cultists are busy attaching themselves to a convoy that will head out day after tomorrow.
OOC: meant that series of questions to happen in the context of a conversation, not as a long monologue :)
"So you know Leosin and Ontharr, but you're not a member of any group? Who are you, other than a helper? Is there anyone else in town we should be talking to? Is someone supposed to take over for us to follow the High Road Charter Company, or are we just following them a bit more openly... I'd really like to know more about their bigger plan."
After being a bit annoyed at Soar's earlier interactions at the gates, Nate was very happy to hear and see Soar take the lead and get all of the details out and proper questions asked. This is something Nate has always admired about Soar. Although not surprising given her demeanor. And she's a doomguide. There's also that.
Nate clearly does not like socializing and listens intently to Soar's description of events and experiences we've had along the ride, nodding along where applicable. Nate thinks it's spot on. Maybe a bit meaty... but spot on nonetheless.
...for I need this woman, whoever she is, to know all of the information that we know... so we can ultimately stifle the dragon cult's plans... and they will all die... and I will have my revenge
Nate would continue to listen to the conversation.
"oh... Ma'am... you never answered her about the bet. What was the bet?"
Nate actually would pipe in, annoyed that she doesn't know more, and happy that Soar is prodding her.
"Ok... what are the next steps for us? Are we just going to continue trailing them? Can't we act on them now?"
Why in the world are you asking me? What am I, your mother? Dear me. Coral sounds faintly exasperated, and takes another sip of her tea.
I am the proprietress of this shop, is who I am. What I might have been in the past, and how I know those two, well, I would need to know you all a lot better to be telling those old stories. If that's not enough for you, then the door is over there. She nods towards the door back to the shop.
Look, she says, her tone a little kinder, it sounds to me like you young folks are floundering a bit. Maybe struck with a bit of impatience, eh? It must have been quite frustrating having to follow those fools and not really be able to take any action. Not what you're used to, I'm guessing? Still, as far as I know, your mission is to follow them and... find out where they go. Is that right? You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But I would like to help, if I can.
Soar’s hands begin to go a little white from squeezing her mug too tightly as Coral replies. Her fave doesn’t change from happy contentment, though.
“We don’t need a mother. We need support. We need to talk to the people who are tracking them in the city. Who are talking to others in Faerun who are tracking the cult. What can you help us with? I did ask you about rest and a bath. And the bet - who you made the bet with and what it was about. And talking to other friends of Leosin and Untharr. Can you get a message to anyone in town who does know about our mission?“
She looks at Nate, and tries to give him a calming, let’s be nice to this woman sort of expression.
Nate catches Soar's glance.
"My apologies, Ma'am. I suppose the travel has indeed gotten to me a bit. Yes, you could say impatient. Along with the disguises and everything else. We would appreciate any help you can offer."
Nate kind of lowers his head a bit, his face partly shaded now from his black hood. He listens on.
I'm not sure what I can help you with, Coral muses. I can't put you in touch with the people who are tracking your target here in the city. For one thing, they're busy tracking your target. For another, they value their privacy, and they are very good at remaining hidden. They would likely refuse to meet you without good reason. I can try to answer any questions you have. She pauses and sighs. I suppose I might be able to arrange a meeting, but truly, what do you hope to learn from them?
As for a place to rest and take a bath, I know an inn not too far from here, only a ten minute walk. The Merchant's Resolve; I know the innkeeper for an honest woman. I would recommend it, but there are many many others to choose from.
Would you like some advice?
Soar nods.
Elspeth is, uh, mildly confused about how unwilling Coral is to divulge any information, to say the least. She leans forward a little, face clouded. "Coral, forgive me for speaking frankly, but you say you don't belong to any group, yet you know of who we're speaking on behalf of?" She points at the pin to make her meaning clear. "I was lead to believe you'd be able to give us clearer directions, is all. Any advice would be welcome, certainly. Just- look, we made it all the way here, we'd like a clear next step. You said they would be joining the Company for the next leg of their journey, do you know where their caravans stop off at? Do we have any contacts within the company itself? I know you said they'd likely be unwilling to speak with us, but this is urgent, and knowing that they exist would make me feel so much the better."
Well, says Coral to Elspeth, considering. I'm not sure it's so strange, really. I don't belong to any group, but Ontharr and Leosin asked me to keep an eye out for these cultists, and for you, and I've done so. They and their friends ask for my assistance from time to time. And Waterdeep is my home, and I am capable of seeing what passes through here, in most circumstances. I'm sorry if you though you were coming to me for directions or orders? Is your previous mission complete then? If so, then... perhaps I could aid you in contacting Ontharr directly. That would be tomorrow though.
I don't have contacts with the Charters, but you shouldn't find it hard to join them as travellers or sign on for a tour as guards, if you still plan to follow these cultists north.