"Our next step was to meet you. We were told to look for the antlers. So here we are. If you could help us contact Ontharr and Leosin, it would be much appreciated. Do you know if they are still in Elturel?"
Nate thinks for a moment, then says to the others:
"Maybe she isn't even the "Antlers" that the message was referring to?"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Insight check to try and figure out why we are here, if this is the right contact we were supposed to meet, and what this woman's motivations/intentions are.
Ontharr and Leosin are not in Waterdeep, I can assure you. I would know, I think, if they were here.
I have a contact who can send a message to Ontharr of up to twenty-five words. I can't guarantee he will receive it, or that he will respond, but he should do. My contact is in the Temple of Lathander; I can direct you, if you don't know the way, and I will give you a letter to show that you came from me.
Were you led to expect more of me than this? Aside from assisting you in not losing track of the cultists as they pass through Waterdeep, I'm not really aware of anything else I can or should do. If Ontharr promised something in my name, and without letting me know, I shall have sharp words with him. He always talked a lot, and not always wisely. She sounds a mixture of annoyed and amused at the memory.
My advice, if you wish it, is simply this. You have chosen, or at least found yourself drawn into, working with people who keep a lot of secrets. And people who are deliberately kept in the dark as well - the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, that kind of thing. That would include Leosin, myself, even Ontharr, whatever his friends in his organisation might wish. She shrugs. That can be hard for people who want to take action and solve problems. But it's the way it is. There's no harm in asking questions, but get used to... well, not having the whole story. Most of the people you'll meet will be in the same position as you, and know part of the story at best. Take me for example. I don't know much about these cultists or intentions, but Ontharr asked me to keep an eye on them, and I trust him.
I think I can speak for the others when I say that these methods are not we are used to. Jalt interjects So my apologies if we may seem a bit overzealous. I myself am just used to receiving and executing more direct orders. This is all new to us. We just want to help bring an end to the Cult.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
I do understand, believe me. I found it trying at first as well. If nothing else, Ontharr will be able to give you orders if you ask that of him. He's always been rather good at that. She gives another half smile, and finishes the last of her tea. Well, perhaps you'd like to talk amongst yourselves for a moment. I'll write that letter for you.
She heads through another door and you hear her going up a flight of stairs. You probably have a few minutes to talk in her absence.
“Let me be very clear - we are grateful for your assistance in helping all of us keep track of the cultist wagons - we can’t do it easily now that the caravan is no more. So thank you for that. And linking us up with your contact in the temple would be helpful. Who are they, and how much of this do they know? I assume they can be trusted, else you wouldn’t work with them. How can we contact the people you are working with who are watching the wagons now? I’d like to know if they move more quickly than you expect the Company to move for instance.”
She sighs, with a rueful smile that is both tired and understanding.
”I think our confusion lies more with the context Leosin and Ontharr gave last we saw them... it seemed a great deal of effort on the part of many groups was gathering to deal with the cult. So I for one expected more preparation and organization happening in the city where we knew the cultists were heading. But no one really seems to be here, no offense intended, present company excluded. I don’t need orders, I just expected more people.”
When she leaves to write the letter, Soar will say quietly to her friends, “should we go to the place Jamna mentioned tonight? Maybe we’ll learn more there?”
It's now an hour after sunset. Soar would know that it's safe enough to walk through the city streets at night so long as you keep to the main roads and avoid the seedier parts of town - mainly the Docks.
Well, that is a matter to take up with Ontharr and his friends. She heads off to write the letter, returns after ten minutes and hands the letter to Jalt. Take this to Dawnmaster Alatus at the Temple of Lathander in the Castle Ward. Do not break the seal before you do, or she will not aid you.
The cultists are with the Company, and seem set to leave with them. You may go there immediately to keep an eye on them if you do not trust my eyes. But if they make a move to depart early, I will know it. I'm sorry, but I won't arrange a meeting with my friends to ask a question that I am perfectly able to answer myself. They would refuse, in any case.
(If you have any more questions to ask Coral, you can post them. Otherwise, you continue a polite but rather strained conversation for a few more minutes, and then she subtly but firmly indicates that it's time for you to leave, and you find yourselves ushered out into the street.)
“She made helping look so hard. I don’t really understand why - helping is easy! She has eyes on the target but for us to know what they see and when they see it we have to come find her and ask her. Seems annoying for her at least, not to mention us. Oh well. I’m exhausted. I know a decent tavern a block or two away from the Merchant’s Resolve, maybe we try to stay there tonight and go see if Jamna is there with more information. We still don’t know who she works for but maybe they have more people in town working on this.”
Is the Temple of Lathander on the way to the Merchant’s Resolve? If so Soar will suggest stopping on the way to try to send a message to Ontharr and Leosin and checking in with Alatus. I still don’t quite understand if Alatus and Coral are Harpers or Gauntlet Order people - are we just using Alatus as a courier or could we tell her about the mission at all? I mean, really, all good folks should know about this threat, right? Pillaging rampaging cultists, with an interest in Tiamat and a new order. Not something you usually let stay under wraps.
The Temple of Lathander would be a detour. But you could reach it using safe main city roads at night if you wish. Soar can make a Religion check if she wishes.
I'm assuming the other questions are just thinking aloud? I can't really answer them, but they're certainly things that Soar could explore in-game, and it's certainly up to you how you want to approach Alatus.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
That was more confirming mostly-out-of-game what I think we’ve been shown in-game. But for the purposes of moving things along, let’s say she voiced the questions to the group quietly outside, hoping for their thoughts.
Soar religion: 20
She isn’t too worried about the streets of her second home being dangerous - though there are cultists in the city and they don’t like us very much so there could be unusual threats. Maybe go to the tavern, see Jamna, and get some rest and tomorrow send the message. But then again, as far as we know, the Harpers and Gauntlet folks don’t know we are back in the city. Maybe going to find Caron by the Company is a better idea.
Someone make a decision - Soar is good with any of the options, and will happily play guide and show the best ways to get from place to place :)
I think the best course of action is to seek out Jamna tonight Jalt says We have the message that we can take to the temple in the morning. And far better to be rested up before we begin our pursuit again. I tire of all this run around we are getting. Any more of it tonight will just cause me much stress.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
Soar, you know that Lathander is a deity of good, god of sunlight maybe? Also the dawn. You don't know much more about him, as your studies were devoted to Kelemvor.
"Soar I couldn't agree with you more. It's like we were pulling teeth."
Nate was hoping the party could retire for the night, then Nate hears Jalt's response, and responds "...er, yes, Jalt's right, ok lets go see if we can find Jamna now." Nate yawns as he's also exhausted.
Lastly, Nate says: "Before we go, I want to know what this lady actually wrote on the message to Ontharr. Let's open it. And I can just mend it shut once we are done."
"Jamna, temple, Merchant's Resolve. Is that the agenda?"Elspeth repeats, just to confirm with the others. "I definitely feel like we should determine where the cultists are right now, but I don't mind how we arrange the rest of our time. Although I do have to admit I'm just about tuckered out. Soar, you know this place best, is it safe for us to split up?"
"If you can do it discreetly, please, Nate, open the letter. I'm not sure I like being kept in the dark like this."
“Lathander’s folks are good honest people, so I don’t think this Alatus is someone we have to worry about betraying us. We could probably just go there, tell her someone named Coral said she could help us, and then open the letter together. Lathander is the god of the sun, not secrets. It’s been a long day, let’s get moving.”
Soar begins leading the group toward the Merchant’s Resolve, trying to remember the name of the good dependable inn she knows of the next block over. She helped the innkeeper one time with a suspected amateur necromancer staying in one of the rooms who was scaring the guests. They can book rooms and then head over to the Merchant’s Resolve to wait for Jamna for an hour or so and hopefully get some information about the cultists. Then go back to crash in their rooms, get some restful sleep. Then in the morning they can head over to the Temple of Lathander to deal with Alatus and get a message out. Then check out the Company to confirm the cultists are still there.
(DM if the Company’s building is on the way from here to the Merchant’s Resolve, she’ll suggest they stop by there and let the druids shift to rats cats or bugs to check on the wagons and quickly retreat to the inn.)
She will say, even though she trusts the streets of her adopted hometown, that they should keep an active eye out for trouble and unfriendly watchers, especially Elspeth with her eagle eyes.
"Lathander might not be the god of secrets, but from the sense I got from Coral, she's keeping a few. And I doubt we're going to be sitting around the fire together reading the letter with Alatus before it is sent. It'll take two seconds."
Nate looks at Jalt with his hand outstretched.
(Steve, can you confirm that if the letter is opened, the mending spell will ensure Alatus doesn't know it was opened?)
(Has Nate ever used the Mending spell for this purpose? I'm assuming not, so would he know for sure? Up to a point, yes. Magic users always understand the capabilities of their spells. But Nate's life has been almost completely in the wilderness, in bandit camps, and so on. Wax seals are very much out of his knowledge. So I would say, Nate thinks that the spell should definitely work. But there's a little bit of doubt in his mind.)
"Our next step was to meet you. We were told to look for the antlers. So here we are. If you could help us contact Ontharr and Leosin, it would be much appreciated. Do you know if they are still in Elturel?"
Nate thinks for a moment, then says to the others:
"Maybe she isn't even the "Antlers" that the message was referring to?"
Insight check to try and figure out why we are here, if this is the right contact we were supposed to meet, and what this woman's motivations/intentions are.
17
Ontharr and Leosin are not in Waterdeep, I can assure you. I would know, I think, if they were here.
I have a contact who can send a message to Ontharr of up to twenty-five words. I can't guarantee he will receive it, or that he will respond, but he should do. My contact is in the Temple of Lathander; I can direct you, if you don't know the way, and I will give you a letter to show that you came from me.
Were you led to expect more of me than this? Aside from assisting you in not losing track of the cultists as they pass through Waterdeep, I'm not really aware of anything else I can or should do. If Ontharr promised something in my name, and without letting me know, I shall have sharp words with him. He always talked a lot, and not always wisely. She sounds a mixture of annoyed and amused at the memory.
Nate, you get the sense that she is telling you the truth, but she is someone who keeps many secrets, almost out of habit.
My advice, if you wish it, is simply this. You have chosen, or at least found yourself drawn into, working with people who keep a lot of secrets. And people who are deliberately kept in the dark as well - the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing, that kind of thing. That would include Leosin, myself, even Ontharr, whatever his friends in his organisation might wish. She shrugs. That can be hard for people who want to take action and solve problems. But it's the way it is. There's no harm in asking questions, but get used to... well, not having the whole story. Most of the people you'll meet will be in the same position as you, and know part of the story at best. Take me for example. I don't know much about these cultists or intentions, but Ontharr asked me to keep an eye on them, and I trust him.
I think I can speak for the others when I say that these methods are not we are used to. Jalt interjects So my apologies if we may seem a bit overzealous. I myself am just used to receiving and executing more direct orders. This is all new to us. We just want to help bring an end to the Cult.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
I do understand, believe me. I found it trying at first as well. If nothing else, Ontharr will be able to give you orders if you ask that of him. He's always been rather good at that. She gives another half smile, and finishes the last of her tea. Well, perhaps you'd like to talk amongst yourselves for a moment. I'll write that letter for you.
She heads through another door and you hear her going up a flight of stairs. You probably have a few minutes to talk in her absence.
“Let me be very clear - we are grateful for your assistance in helping all of us keep track of the cultist wagons - we can’t do it easily now that the caravan is no more. So thank you for that. And linking us up with your contact in the temple would be helpful. Who are they, and how much of this do they know? I assume they can be trusted, else you wouldn’t work with them. How can we contact the people you are working with who are watching the wagons now? I’d like to know if they move more quickly than you expect the Company to move for instance.”
She sighs, with a rueful smile that is both tired and understanding.
”I think our confusion lies more with the context Leosin and Ontharr gave last we saw them... it seemed a great deal of effort on the part of many groups was gathering to deal with the cult. So I for one expected more preparation and organization happening in the city where we knew the cultists were heading. But no one really seems to be here, no offense intended, present company excluded. I don’t need orders, I just expected more people.”
When she leaves to write the letter, Soar will say quietly to her friends, “should we go to the place Jamna mentioned tonight? Maybe we’ll learn more there?”
What time of night is it? Cult hunting is exhausting, Nate would be tired.
"Seems like a good idea... then perhaps the inn she mentioned, the merchants resolve?"
It's now an hour after sunset. Soar would know that it's safe enough to walk through the city streets at night so long as you keep to the main roads and avoid the seedier parts of town - mainly the Docks.
Well, that is a matter to take up with Ontharr and his friends. She heads off to write the letter, returns after ten minutes and hands the letter to Jalt. Take this to Dawnmaster Alatus at the Temple of Lathander in the Castle Ward. Do not break the seal before you do, or she will not aid you.
The cultists are with the Company, and seem set to leave with them. You may go there immediately to keep an eye on them if you do not trust my eyes. But if they make a move to depart early, I will know it. I'm sorry, but I won't arrange a meeting with my friends to ask a question that I am perfectly able to answer myself. They would refuse, in any case.
(If you have any more questions to ask Coral, you can post them. Otherwise, you continue a polite but rather strained conversation for a few more minutes, and then she subtly but firmly indicates that it's time for you to leave, and you find yourselves ushered out into the street.)
“She made helping look so hard. I don’t really understand why - helping is easy! She has eyes on the target but for us to know what they see and when they see it we have to come find her and ask her. Seems annoying for her at least, not to mention us. Oh well. I’m exhausted. I know a decent tavern a block or two away from the Merchant’s Resolve, maybe we try to stay there tonight and go see if Jamna is there with more information. We still don’t know who she works for but maybe they have more people in town working on this.”
Is the Temple of Lathander on the way to the Merchant’s Resolve? If so Soar will suggest stopping on the way to try to send a message to Ontharr and Leosin and checking in with Alatus. I still don’t quite understand if Alatus and Coral are Harpers or Gauntlet Order people - are we just using Alatus as a courier or could we tell her about the mission at all? I mean, really, all good folks should know about this threat, right? Pillaging rampaging cultists, with an interest in Tiamat and a new order. Not something you usually let stay under wraps.
The Temple of Lathander would be a detour. But you could reach it using safe main city roads at night if you wish. Soar can make a Religion check if she wishes.
I'm assuming the other questions are just thinking aloud? I can't really answer them, but they're certainly things that Soar could explore in-game, and it's certainly up to you how you want to approach Alatus.
That was more confirming mostly-out-of-game what I think we’ve been shown in-game. But for the purposes of moving things along, let’s say she voiced the questions to the group quietly outside, hoping for their thoughts.
Soar religion: 20
She isn’t too worried about the streets of her second home being dangerous - though there are cultists in the city and they don’t like us very much so there could be unusual threats. Maybe go to the tavern, see Jamna, and get some rest and tomorrow send the message. But then again, as far as we know, the Harpers and Gauntlet folks don’t know we are back in the city. Maybe going to find Caron by the Company is a better idea.
Someone make a decision - Soar is good with any of the options, and will happily play guide and show the best ways to get from place to place :)
I think the best course of action is to seek out Jamna tonight Jalt says We have the message that we can take to the temple in the morning. And far better to be rested up before we begin our pursuit again. I tire of all this run around we are getting. Any more of it tonight will just cause me much stress.
Hoard of the Dragon Queen - Jalt Rhogar - Dragonborn Cleric (9)
"Ive heard it both ways."
Soar, you know that Lathander is a deity of good, god of sunlight maybe? Also the dawn. You don't know much more about him, as your studies were devoted to Kelemvor.
"Soar I couldn't agree with you more. It's like we were pulling teeth."
Nate was hoping the party could retire for the night, then Nate hears Jalt's response, and responds "...er, yes, Jalt's right, ok lets go see if we can find Jamna now." Nate yawns as he's also exhausted.
Lastly, Nate says: "Before we go, I want to know what this lady actually wrote on the message to Ontharr. Let's open it. And I can just mend it shut once we are done."
"Can I have the letter, Jalt?"
Mending
"Jamna, temple, Merchant's Resolve. Is that the agenda?" Elspeth repeats, just to confirm with the others. "I definitely feel like we should determine where the cultists are right now, but I don't mind how we arrange the rest of our time. Although I do have to admit I'm just about tuckered out. Soar, you know this place best, is it safe for us to split up?"
"If you can do it discreetly, please, Nate, open the letter. I'm not sure I like being kept in the dark like this."
“Lathander’s folks are good honest people, so I don’t think this Alatus is someone we have to worry about betraying us. We could probably just go there, tell her someone named Coral said she could help us, and then open the letter together. Lathander is the god of the sun, not secrets. It’s been a long day, let’s get moving.”
Soar begins leading the group toward the Merchant’s Resolve, trying to remember the name of the good dependable inn she knows of the next block over. She helped the innkeeper one time with a suspected amateur necromancer staying in one of the rooms who was scaring the guests. They can book rooms and then head over to the Merchant’s Resolve to wait for Jamna for an hour or so and hopefully get some information about the cultists. Then go back to crash in their rooms, get some restful sleep. Then in the morning they can head over to the Temple of Lathander to deal with Alatus and get a message out. Then check out the Company to confirm the cultists are still there.
(DM if the Company’s building is on the way from here to the Merchant’s Resolve, she’ll suggest they stop by there and let the druids shift to rats cats or bugs to check on the wagons and quickly retreat to the inn.)
She will say, even though she trusts the streets of her adopted hometown, that they should keep an active eye out for trouble and unfriendly watchers, especially Elspeth with her eagle eyes.
"Lathander might not be the god of secrets, but from the sense I got from Coral, she's keeping a few. And I doubt we're going to be sitting around the fire together reading the letter with Alatus before it is sent. It'll take two seconds."
Nate looks at Jalt with his hand outstretched.
(Steve, can you confirm that if the letter is opened, the mending spell will ensure Alatus doesn't know it was opened?)
(Has Nate ever used the Mending spell for this purpose? I'm assuming not, so would he know for sure? Up to a point, yes. Magic users always understand the capabilities of their spells. But Nate's life has been almost completely in the wilderness, in bandit camps, and so on. Wax seals are very much out of his knowledge. So I would say, Nate thinks that the spell should definitely work. But there's a little bit of doubt in his mind.)