Session 16: On the Road

The party finished their meal with Arreus and headed out to continue their journey to Elturel. The rest of their trip was uneventful except for hearing some wolves howling in the distance and possibly sighting a tiger at one point. Approaching Elturel those that had been there before noted the lack of the glowing orb in the sky that used to light the area around Elturel and the area around it to around 50 miles both day and night.

More stuff happened that that I forgot to get back to and make note of so here we are... I'll add notes after this as I can remember them.

Once they got to Elturel they searched out Onthar Frume who greeted the party warmly, especially Jameak who he apparently knew from before, and offered food and drink. He sent a runner for Leosin Erlanthar. Before long Leosin arrived and the Onthar ushered the party into a private space off the tavern's common room and closed the door. Suddenly seeming more serious than his previously jovial nature Onthar thanked the party for bringing the information on the cult's activities and told them about the situation as they currently understand it.

Thanks to the characters, the Harpers now know that the cult is amassing treasure and shipping it north. Where exactly this treasure is going and what the cult plans to do with it are the next two questions that need answering. Onthar and Leosin would like the characters to join the cult's caravan and accompany it on the journey. They could get themselves hired as guards-if not by the cult's wagon masters, then by other merchants who are traveling in the same direction at the same time. Merchants from different companies commonly join together to form larger trains for protection. Onthar has contacts among the many merchants of the region and is certain he can arrange a job. He directs them to a human trader named Ackyn Selbon in Baldur’s Gate.

The Chionthar River flows directly from Elturel to Baldur's Gate. A sailing vessel can make that trip downstream in about three days if it ties up overnight for safety, or two if it risks pushing on through the night by lamplight. Onthar has already arranged for such a boat to leave at dawn the next morning. They are also provided with 50 gp each to cover expenses on the trip.

Leosin is a member of the Harpers. It is is generally rumored that the Harpers are dedicated to furthering equality and justice and to keeping power out of the hands of those who don't deserve it. Leosin explains that the Harpers are loosely organized; agents are allowed wide freedom of action.

Ontharr Frume represents the Order of the Gauntlet. His order shares many of the Harpers' principles, but the two organizations are very different. The Order of the Gauntlet emphasizes faith, vigilance, and constant struggle against threats of evil. Many of its members are clerics and paladins, but the order welcomes anyone who shares its ideals. Discipline is key, and the order is distinctly more structured and hierarchical than the Harpers.

The top concern of both groups is the Cult of the Dragon. In the past, the cult was more active to the east and it was focused on creating dracoliches. Its shift to the Sword Coast and new emphasis on living dragons and on Tiamat are cause for concern. The cult is on the move and it's up to something big; the Order of the Gauntlet, the Harpers, and a third allied group known as the Emerald Enclave want to thwart the cult's plans.

In this meeting, Onthar and Erlanthar are offering the characters the chance to join their factions. At this early stage, there is no pay for members and there are no ranks. What they can offer is help and support from other members and allies, who are spread from Nashkel and Candlekeep in the south to Neverwinter and Mirabar in the north. The horses that Leosin arranged for the characters are just one small example of the aid the Harpers and the Order of the Gauntlet can provide.

Tanaelia Loneglide joined the Order of the Gauntlet and Nivek joined the Harpers