Character Overview
High Harper Althaea Moonshadow is a high-ranking agent of the Harpers, a secretive organization dedicated to gathering intelligence and maintaining balance in the realms. She is known for her sharp wit, meticulous attention to detail, and unwavering commitment to the cause of freedom and justice. Althaea has spent years infiltrating and dismantling the Cult of the Dragon’s operations, but the attack at the Winterscrest Masquerade has left her credibility strained.
Her role in the council is a difficult one—she must defend the Harpers’ intelligence failures while ensuring they retain influence in the Lords’ Alliance’s war efforts. Though she prefers to work from the shadows, this meeting forces her into the political arena, where she must play a careful game of diplomacy.
Personality & Roleplaying Guide:
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Speech Style: Precise, analytical, and slightly aloof; rarely wastes words.
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Core Beliefs: Knowledge is power; freedom must be preserved through careful intervention.
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Strengths: Intelligence gathering, strategic thinking, persuasive when needed.
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Weaknesses: Distrusted due to the Harpers’ secrecy; struggles with open confrontation.
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Attitude Toward Others: Prefers to observe before acting, rarely trusts completely.
Relations with Other Council Members
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Laeral Silverhand: Respects her wisdom and leadership but worries Silverhand’s idealism makes her vulnerable.
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Dagult Neverember: Distrusts him completely; sees him as an opportunist who would exploit the war for personal gain.
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Delaan Winterhound: A strong ally; both believe in strategic, calculated responses over brute force.
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Ontharr Frume: Finds his righteousness frustrating; sees him as too quick to action without considering the consequences.
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Rian Nightshade: Despises the Zhentarim; views them as a necessary evil but refuses to rely on them.
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The Adventurers: Cautiously optimistic; sees potential in them but is wary of their unpredictable nature.
Goals for the Meeting
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Defend the Harpers’ role in the war effort despite the intelligence failure.
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Ensure the council relies on intelligence and strategy rather than brute force.
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Undermine Neverember’s push for military dominance and prevent him from sidelining the Harpers.
Talking Points for Each Agenda Item
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Opening Statements
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Reiterate that the Harpers have spent years gathering intelligence on the Cult.
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Acknowledge the attack at Winterscrest but warn against scapegoating intelligence efforts.
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Security Concerns & The Winterscrest Attack
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Emphasize that the Cult is more embedded than expected; the attack proves they are evolving.
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Push for increased cooperation between factions to prevent future intelligence failures.
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The Cult of the Dragon’s Threat
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Share updated intelligence on the Cult’s movements and their growing alliances.
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Stress the need for espionage, infiltration, and sabotage over open war.
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Faction Contributions & Preparedness
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Offer Harpers’ intelligence networks as a primary tool for tracking and disrupting the Cult.
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Argue against relying solely on military force, which may play into the Cult’s plans.
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The Role of the Adventurers
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Suggest they take on covert missions rather than acting as frontline warriors.
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Ensure they are briefed on the deeper layers of the Cult’s operations.
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Final Deliberations & Voting on Immediate Actions
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Oppose any rushed military campaign without proper intelligence.
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Insist that the Harpers play a key role in strategic planning.
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Closing Statements & Next Steps
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Urge caution and strategic planning over impulsive decisions.
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Reinforce that intelligence will be the key to stopping the Cult’s rise.
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Secrets & Hidden Information
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The Harpers knew there was a risk at Winterscrest but underestimated the Cult’s ability to act.
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Althaea has a personal contact within the Cult whose cover remains intact—she won’t reveal this unless absolutely necessary.
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She suspects the Zhentarim may have benefited from the attack, though she has no proof yet.
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She knows Neverember has been gathering support for a power grab but lacks evidence to confront him directly.
Reactions to the Players actions
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Skyreach Castle Returned to the Giants – Cautiously supportive. Sees potential in an alliance with the giants but warns that the council must maintain diplomatic ties to ensure cooperation.
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Dragon Eggs Survived – Conflicted. She understands their significance but worries about the ethical implications of keeping or destroying them. Will advocate for covert observation of the eggs rather than an immediate decision.
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Rezmir Captured, Rath Escaped – Deeply concerned. Warns that Rath was likely the greater threat due to his arcane knowledge. Will push for tracking Rath’s movements before he can rejoin the Cult’s ranks.
Briefing the Adventurers on Varram the White
Althaea pulls the adventurers aside after the council discussion, her usual calm demeanour tinged with urgency. She unfolds a parchment, revealing sketches and notes gathered by Harper spies.
“We have reason to believe that Varram the White, one of the Cult’s Wyrmspeakers, has been exposed. He was last seen in the region near the Serpent Hills, seemingly in distress. Our operatives intercepted a whisper—he has lost his White Dragon Mask. That mask is crucial to the Cult’s rituals, and if we can recover it before he does, we will deal them a significant blow.”
She taps the parchment. “This is our best chance to weaken them from within. If Varram is desperate, he may be reckless. He may also be vulnerable. Your mission is twofold—track him down and secure the mask before he can retrieve it. If possible, capture him for interrogation. He knows the Cult’s inner workings.”
She pauses, glancing at each of the adventurers. “This is a delicate matter. We cannot allow other factions—especially Neverember or the Zhentarim—to interfere before we understand what’s at stake. Work quietly and quickly.”