Jalt would like to do that then. Find someone to hire. He would pay them 50 gp and hand them a package. Inside the package is 250 gp and the package is meant for Okkie. A letter within the package reading "More help to get the both of you back on your feet."

Using more of the gold from the hoard, Soar buys two potions of healing, and is a bit too confused about the gnome's explanation about the orb to even ask the price. She thanks him for the potions and heads back, just listening to stories and chatting up locals, buying drinks for any who seem particularly knowledgeable and chatty and not full of crap, trying to find out more of what's been going on in the world of late. She'll spend up to 3gp of her own coin in copper and silver on such stories. 

Jalt, the woman you recruit is named Finara; she's a young half-elf looking to travel and see a bit more of the world.  She's acted as a courier before, accompanying a caravan to Triboar and back, but Greenest will be the furthest she's even gone.  She looks excited, and promises that she will see the package delivered to the kobold named Okkie, as instructed.

Soar, the two main topics of conversation back at the inn are the death of this Waterdeep nobleman, and who might be responsible.  Some blame a political rival, though no-one is quite sure who that would be, because the Masked Lords of Waterdeep are by definition unknown.  Others suggest that the dragon cult might have been involved, though there's no evidence of that.  One old man suggests it could be the work of the Harpers, who are known to deal in underhand matters and are not to be trusted.  

More people are talking about the dragon cultists, though.  There's some frustration that the authorities of the city aren't doing enough to protect the outlying villages and farms, though attacks seem to have lessened in the last week or so.  There's one trader who arrived a day after you along the road from Everlund who claimed to have seen a huge castle flying overhead, but this is not taken seriously by the gathered townsfolk.

You finish up your business, pay for another night in the One Foot in the Boat, and get a good night's sleep and a long rest.

You wake in the morning before sunrise.  What are you doing?

Sir would just grab some produce, fruit mostly, the day before. She’s happy to be back in a city where she doesn’t have to eat hard tack. 

Early the next morning she gathers all their stuff, has an early breakfast, and heads to the bridge in question to watch the sunrise with Jalt and Nate, looking for any birds who come by to say hello.

You all stand in the centre of the bridge over the River Subrin as the sun peeks about the horizon, though the sky is cloudy today and what you see is more of an orange glow in the distance.  As the light grows stronger, the trickle of people crossing the bridge turns into a steady stream of labourers and merchants headed to their work, and travellers setting off early for a long day's walk.  

A raven swoops down and lands on Nub's shell.  It is clutching a small satchel in its claws, which it drops before croaking a loud croak and then taking to the sky again.

Nub catches the satchel, looks at you both, and then opens it.  It contains a magical scroll and a letter, which Nub reads and then shows to you all:

My friends

I am delighted to hear that you are well, and look forward to hearing news of your adventures.  I would advise that you prepare to tell and retell the tales of  your exploits, as I fear  you will be called upon to do so many times and to many audiences, including some of the leaders of the land who are even now assembling in Waterdeep.  Though assembling a little too slowly for my tastes.  I will be glad to hear your news, and I finally have some worthwhile news to share with you; the leaders of many groups, including the Harpers, the Emerald Enclave, the Order of the Gauntlet and the Lords' Alliance have been stirred to take the dragon cult threat seriously, though I do not think we can count on their full commitment yet.  In any case, both I and Sir Ontharr are now in the city, and will be glad to welcome you as soon as possible.  Please use this scroll if you can, as it will save you much time on the journey; if you cannot, then please hurry - meetings to discuss action against the cult will begin in two weeks, and will go much better with your testimony and counsel.

Leosin Erlanthar

Below this is an extremely complicated picture of runes that makes your eyes water to look upon it.  As you have been reading, Nub has been inspecting the scroll.  This scroll will allow me to move us instantaneously to a location in Waterdeep, he says somewhat hesitantly.  The runes on the letter are a sort of key to that location.  I'm afraid the magic is quite difficult, and I've never attempted to cast such a thing before.  There is, I regret to say, a chance that I will fail.  If there is anything you can do that will aid my skills, please do so. Oh, and I suppose we shouldn't do it here, he says, looking around at the passing commoners and a guard patrol headed out to the west.  It will take a full minute to cast, so let us find somewhere quiet, perhaps on the other side of those trees over there?  He points to a small cluster of trees on the far side of the bridge, and starts walking towards them, reading and re-reading the scroll and looking a little worried.

Soar reads the note once more, and says, "well, things are about to get interesting! Yes, let's head over there, Nub. I can give you Kelemvor's blessing, and I think Jalt can give you some guidance from Bahamut. But take whatever time you need. If it works, what's an hour? If it doesn't, well, what happens if it doesn't? We stay here? We go somewhere else from Waterdeep? We die? Maybe I should give us some aid in case it hurts."

I think, Nub replies slowly, from what I learned, that if it doesn't work, then it just doesn't work.  He frowns.  I don't think it will hurt us.  I just wish I were confident I could cast it successfully.  If it doesn't work, perhaps we should let Master Erlanthar know, and ask what he suggests?  Nub looks at Jalt, hoping the dragonborn will have something to help him.

Soar looks to Jalt to cast guidance, and she'll lend moral support, since I don't think aid or bless will help at all!

"We can tell him it worked in person, or we can message later that it didn't work. But I think you can do it Nub!" Soar says, smiling.

Jalt places a hand on Nub's shell. Bahamut will guide you and us in our quest against the Dragon Cult. He casts Guidance

Nub sighs reluctantly, but takes out the spell scroll and reads it carefully.  He looks around, checking that no-one is watching, but you are fairly well secluded behind the trees, and few people pass close enough to notice.  He puts the scroll away, and begins to trace runes and symbols on the ground, exactly like those in the letter, and then takes the scroll out once again.  He reads it aloud, a complicated tangle of syllables and sounds that is utterly incomprehensible to you, and then his voice rises to a slightly-squeak crescendo as he reaches the final part and attempts to cast the spell.

9 + 4

It seems to fail... for a moment. Nub looks crestfallen, and then the runes begin to glow faintly, then brightly, then they burn blindingly bright and you all close your eyes.

The temperature changes.  You open your eyes again.  You are standing in a stone room, perhaps fifty feet across; there are no windows, suggesting it may be underground.  The room is brightly lit, and on the ground you see, carved into the stone floor and glowin faintly, the same runes as before.  In front of you stands the monk, Leosin Erlanthar, who you rescued from the camp of the cultists near Greenest.  He is smiling broadly.

Soar nearly knocks Nub over with a hug, shouting in joy at his victory. Then she sees over the tortle's shoulder their old friend Leosin, and then races around him to attack Leosin with another hug. After a squeeze, she separates from the monk and grins in his face. "Elturel, right? That's the last place we saw you? It's been, well, it's been a blur, my friend. So much to relay. And I'm glad to see you. It's a good thing Nate's not here -- he'd say hello by yelling at you about sending us on a goose chase with no support or instructions or clues or communication options or the full picture or..." She trails off. "But he's not here! He's actually better than he was. He'd found his revenge and wanted to see what was on the other side." Then she blinks. And looks around the chamber. "So, where are we? What's next? Wanna see a dragon tooth?"

Leosin accepts the hug, and even returns it briefly.  I am... sorry that he is not with you, and would like to know much more.  He seemed a troubled young man with good intentions.  I hope he is well, and will pray for him.  He quirks a smile.  Remarkable, is it not, that he is absent and yet his questions do not go unasked.  I will do my best to answer them, but perhaps another time.  We are in the private residence of an ally of the Harpers, who most graciously allows us to use this location from time to time, but we should go quickly.  I don't like to bother her too much.  And... did you say dragon tooth?  He looks genuinely interested at the thought.

Soar hands him a dragon tooth, and shows him the scales. "More of this, and plenty of stories to come. Where are we headed? And how are you doing, Jalt and Nub?"

Nub is in a bit of a state of shock, staring at his hands which are still extended as though they were holding a scroll, though the scroll itself vanished during the casting.  He looks up.  Umm.  Good?  Yes.  It worked.  That's definitely... good.  Yes.  Good.  His lips move slightly as he continues to speak to himself, but otherwise he ceases to pay attention to the conversation with Leosin.

To the Grinning Lion, Leosin says.  A pleasant tavern, not far from here, where we can find a private room to discuss what happens next.  He gestures to the door, and puts a reassuring hand on Nub's arm, bringing him back to reality somewhat.  Well done, lad.  I'm sure that casting took a lot out of you; my friend warned that might be the case.  But it will be a great advantage to know your tale before the council meets.  He heads towards the door, guiding Nub gently but firmly.

Soar follows, eyes open for clues about the place they got to, and where they are headed. 

Leosin leads you through well-lit and well-maintained hallways to a set of stairs that lead up to a small, richly-decorated hallway with windows letting in a little light, though you can see outside that the weather is rather overcast, with drizzle spattering against the glass panes.  Then he takes you through a small door, and into a kitchen where a cook and two servants are busy washing and cleaning up, presumably after the household's breakfast.  The cook ignores Leosin, but they are not surprised and make no attempt to stop you or interact with you in any way.

Out of the kitchen and into a large, walled garden that is well-maintained but not particularly well-loved; it suggests an owner who is keen to keep the place looking nice, but with no real love of gardening.  And round the side of a large manor house, past the main entrance and through the main gate into the city.  It's clear that you are in a location where many noble houses have their ancestral homes; high stone walls with iron gates concealing large homes and gardens, clearly hundreds of years old or older.  Leosin leads you along the street, then into a main street, and then to the Grinning Lion, an inn that looks as though it was rather rundown until recently, but has been lavishly restored or improved.

Inside, the monk nods to the bartender and leads you straight through the half-full common room and into a back room where there are chairs set around a large table.  Leosin takes a seat, and encourages you to do the same.  Nub sits, still looking a little befuddled:  It's hard to imagine... travelling so far so quickly... I knew it was possible of course... quite an experience.  He trails off, lost in his own thoughts again.

Take your time, lad, Leosin says kindly.  And he takes a moment too, to gather his thoughts.

(Soar, you would know that you are in the North Ward of Waterdeep, where the nobles and rich folk live, those not actually in the Castle Ward.  You've been down these streets before, though not perhaps in the Grinning Lion - you can make a History check if you think you might recall something of its reputation.)

I would very much like to hear your stories of your adventures, and to know the latest news regarding the dragon cult.  I suspect you may know more than I do, of some aspects at least.  However, and Leosin pauses as the bartender comes in with teas and sweet biscuits, which they set in the middle of the table before leaving.  However, the monk resumes, I am aware that I have not been in a position to share much information with you in the past.  I know more, and am permitted to say more, now that you have proven yourselves.  We have some independent news of what happened at Skyreach Castle.  Not the details, you understand, and I'm afraid I cannot tell you how I know.  But the death of Rezmir, one of the 'Wyrmspeakers' as the cultists call them, well, that news spread quickly and our ears have picked it up.  In any case, it's clear that you have played a significant part in the fight against the cult, and will play a great part in the struggle to come.

So, let me tell you what I know.  Much of this you may already know, so stop if if I start to bore you.  The cult of the dragon, long a dormant threat in these lands, has awoken with renewed purpose under a new leader, whose name we believe is Severin Silrajin, a Calishite.  He has gathered a group of powerful dragon cultists and half-dragons to follow him.  The strongest of these take leadership positions, and are know as 'Wearers of Purple'.  I believe you have met a few, and come away with the proof, he indicates the armour recovered and adapted from Cyanwrath.  The four most powerful leaders are the Wyrmspeakers, and with Severin himself make the five rulers of the cult of the dragon.  Each of the five possesses an artifact tied to Tiamat - we are not sure what, and I would like very much to know if you recovered any magical items from Rezmir.  

In any case, the cult's purpose is clear.  They gather materials, artifacts and other resources to summon Tiamat, their monstrous goddess, the eternal enemy of Bahamut and of the world, from her prison in Avernus.  The nature of the ritual to summon her is unknown to us, and something we must now investigate soon.  We do know, or at least we believe, that the treasure they have stolen across the lands is not directly part of the ritual; rather, it is intended to win Tiamat's favour when she returns and is presented with a great hoard of gold and jewels.  He shakes his head in disbelief.  I doubt that foul goddess understands the meaning of gratitude, but perhaps they know her mind better than we do.  

In any case, the attacks have grown frequent and dangerous enough to stir the world to action.  I will brief you closer to the time about those who will meet in this city ten days from now.  However, I'm afraid that there remain political problems, and not all of the factions are united in purpose, or clear what our course of action will be.  Much will hang on your story, and the impression you make upon them.  There are still those who counsel caution, to wait and watch, but I think the time for that is past.  

As to our next steps, we will investigate the ritual and find the means to stop it.  I believe we should also target the leadership; we know of one other Wyrmspeaker, Varam the White, and the Harpers are tracking him down as we speak; when we know his location, I will advise that we strike to capture him if possible.  

I'm afraid we cannot simply disregard what the council discusses and agrees.  If what we know of the cult is right, they have brought together a significant number of troops, and several powerful dragons.  If they present a united force, we will need magic and armies to face them, and that means forging an alliance and holding it together.  An alliance of factions, of cities and of nations, and perhaps more.  I am unclear if the metallic dragons or the giants will become involved, though surely they must know the threat that Tiamat poses.  Let there be no doubt; if Tiamat is summoned, it will usher in a dark age of terror and enslavement for humanoid folk of all races, as dragons burn and destroy without anyone to stand in their way.  The fate of the world is in jeopardy.  Luckily, there are heroes to stand against the threat, no?

Now.  I have spoken enough.  It is time for you, to ask questions, and to tell me, if you will, what you have been up to since we parted so long ago under the bright sun of Elturel.

(Feel free to ask questions of Leosin, as though they were integrated into a longer conversation, and I'll put his answers below.  I'd also like you to indicate how much you tell him of what you have experienced.  If you like, you can give a full summary, perhaps as bullet points.  Alternatively, if there's anything specifically that you want to avoid mentioning, you could just specify that and I'll assume you tell him everything else.  It's up to you how you want to do this, but you don't have to give a full replay of the last year's game!)