People within the city of Waterdeep had also noticed the unsettled animals and the barely audible low rumbling, and everyone was on edge. No one knew what was causing the noise until Dala Silmerhelve, a Waterdeep noble woman, informed authorities that she had been told by a benefactor of her family that the sound was caused by an ancient magical artifact called the Draakhorn. It was originally used to alert dragons across Faerûn that important events were happening. She didn't know what the events were. She also refused to divulge who the family benefactor was.

At the Evenwood farm, Riardon was out in the garden with Mara gathering spinach for the noon meal when he saw her expression change to one of surprise and alarm.

"What's wrong, Honey?" he asked.

I just got a message from Talis that said the Draakhorn is being sounded to summon dragons to Tiamat's summoning ritual."

"What? What's a Draakhorn?"

"I don't know. I never heard of it before."

"What's this about a summoning ritual?"

Mara sighed and explained, "The Cult of the Dragon has been preparing to bring the evil dragon goddess Tiamat to the material plane. They want to establish a reign of dragons with her as queen."

Riardon's jaw dropped. "That's horrible!" he gasped. "Does Talis really want that to happen? Doesn't she understand what this means to all living creatures?"

"Before we reunited, I think she did support it. But now I'm not sure how she feels. I need to see her as soon as possible to talk to her about this."

Mara went into the farmhouse and retrieved her Sending Stone. She sent a message to Talis, "We must meet as soon as possible to talk about your news this morning. By tonight, if possible."

Talis replied back, "I will arrange it and get back to you."

Mara went back to helping her father gather the greens from the garden, then went to a neighboring farm to use her Druidic magic to tend to an ailing sheep.

Later that day, Mara received a message from Talis, "Meet Kusphia at the Sheep's Head ale house at the time of the evening meal and she will escort you to the safe house."

Mara set off for Waterdeep about 3 hours after lunch, wearing a hooded cloak to hide her face from onlookers. The Sheep's Head ale house was on the outskirts of town, along the road to Helfton. She reached the ale house after a couple of hours and ordered a little bit to eat. As she was eating, she saw Kusphia come in and she waved her over. They chatted briefly to present the appearance of a friendly meeting, then left the ale house together.

Kusphia led Mara through the town to the northern shore of the Waterdeep harbor and the ruined docks of Mistshore. The area had fallen into disrepair and subsequently suffered a devastating fire. It was populated by the most downtrodden of Waterdeep. Mara and Kusphia went to the water's edge, passing by the Hearthfire, a permanently lit fire pit at which people could cook and warm themselves. Kusphia led them to a rowboat, they climbed in and Kusphia rowed them out to a partially submerged derelict ship a short way out into the harbor.

They climbed a ladder affixed to the side of the ship and Mara stepped onto the deck. Talis was waiting for her and rushed to embrace her.

"Talis, Talis!", Mara cried. "What's going on? Is this summoning ritual really going to happen?"

"Yes," said Talis. "The preparations are nearly complete. Chromatic dragons are being summoned to the Well of Dragons, as well as most of the cultists."

"Can we go to your quarters and talk privately?"

"Yes, we can."

They went down a stairwell into the first lower deck to what would have once been the captain's quarters. Although the outer shell of the ship was in disrepair, the cultists had repaired the interior of the ship to be relatively comfortable, though still fairly simple.

They sat down on the edge of the bed and Mara laid her head on Talis's shoulder.

"Talis, I'm really scared at the prospect of having Tiamat on the material plane to rule all of Faerûn. What will happen to all the people and creatures here?"

"Most non-dragons will probably by enslaved. We of the cult expect to be given some sort of positions of power, although it's not clear to me exactly what."

"So, I would be a slave, along with my family?

"Perhaps I would be able to obtain your freedom, claiming you as my consort."

"But eventually they would figure out that I had been fighting to stop the ritual. What then?"

Talis bowed her head and tears formed in her eyes. "If they found out about that, they would probably execute you. I don't know if I could prevent it."

The two of them sat in silence for a while, Talis crying and stroking Mara's hair. Eventually Mara spoke up.

"Do you really want Tiamat to return?"

Talis sighed. "I don't know any more. The more I think about it, the less certain I am. I keep imagining the suffering that will beset the people of the realm, and any power I might personally gain seems less enticing. Especially when I think that the cost could be to lose you a second time."

"If you don't leave the cult, we will have to break up again, even if the summoning ritual fails. I couldn't bear to stay with you if you continue with the evil of the cult."

"Yes, I know."

Talis wrapped both arms around Mara and kissed the top of her head.

"Mara, I love you more than anyone else. The thought of losing you again brings me unbearable pain. The power and position I now hold now seems like heavy burden. I'm beginning to feel I would be willing to give it up just to be with you."

"What can I do to push you in that direction?"

"Be patient with me while I work this out in my own mind."

Mara nodded, knowing that Talis was a strong-willed woman who could not be forced to do anything against her will. Talis held Mara, rocking her gently. For many minutes neither of them spoke.

Eventually Mara raised her head and asked, "Are you going to be called to the Well of Dragons? I won't be able to visit you anymore if you are."

"I probably will," Talis said. "I think the top leadership of the cult is not quite sure what to do with me at this point. The need me, but also see me as a threat. But it's only a matter of time before I get called there."

"Don't go, Talis! I may never see you again!"

"Baby, I don't want to go. I really don't. I don't know what to do right now."

They lay back on the bed, embracing one another, both of them worried and upset. They spent a long time caressing and crying. Finally, they fell into fitful sleep, both too tired, too anxious to make love.

The next morning, they ate a simple breakfast of bread and ale. They sat for a while holding hands as Talis described how the cultists had occupied and repaired the ship to be livable.

Mara finally looked at Talis and said, "I really need to get back to the farm today. My family will worry about me and there's work to be done. If only you would come with me!"

Talis, smiled sadly, then replied, "I wish I could! Let me accompany you as far as the shore."

They entered the rowboat and Kusphia rowed them to shore. Getting out of the boat, Talis walked over to the Hearthfire and cast Create Food and Water. Enough food and clean water to feed a crowd of 15 appeared on the ground and hungry people gathered to eat. A chorus of thanks rose from the grateful people.

"Oh, bless you, Ma'am."

"I haven't eaten for two days."

"You are the only person in town who cares about our plight."

Talis turned to Mara. "When I saw these people without enough to eat, I thought about my mother and me going hungry. I just had to help them."

Turning to the crowd, she said, "I will come back on a daily basis and create food for you. I can also heal illness and injuries, so I will attend to as many of you as I have magical energy for."

The people cheered and some began to cry from happiness.

"And you can call me Lady White, rather than Ma'am," added Talis.

As Mara was turning to leave, she asked Talis, "Where is your mother right now?"

"The cult has moved her to the Well of Dragons for her own safety. If any of the authorities are looking for me, they may arrest her to get to me. She will be well protected at the Well of Dragons."

Mara kissed Talis goodbye and Kusphia led her the back to the Sheep's Head ale house. She ate a small midday meal then walked back to the family farm, arriving late afternoon.

Helena met her with a big embrace. "I'm glad you're back, Honey. What did Talis have to say about all this?"

"She is conflicted and doesn't know any more if she wants Tiamat to return or not. While she, as a member of the cult, would probably receive a high position, most non-dragons would be enslaved. It would be miserable for everyone."

"I can't believe Talis isn't against the return of an evil deity to take over the material plane! Why does she even have to think about it?"

"Momma, you know as well as I do about how destitute she and her mother were prior to them joining the Cult of the Dragon. It was her path out of poverty and she feels a sense of loyalty to them."

Helena shook her head. Then Mara continued, "Why didn't we bring them back to Helfton where they might have been able to find employment and scratch out at least a meager existence? We could have used extra help on our own farm when I was the only child you had. Maybe then they wouldn't have been so vulnerable to the offer from the cult."

Helena's jaw dropped, then she said, "But Talis' mother isn't a half-elf, so she wouldn't fit in very well in Helfton. And Talis is the illegitimate child of an elf man who left before she was even born."

"Momma, Talis is a half-elf, even if her mother isn't! She would have fit in just fine with all the other half-elves in the village! And she certainly would not have been the only illegitimate child in town!"

"But Mara, Talis' mother was a lady of the night! We couldn't have that kind of people in Helfton!"

"She only sold her body infrequently, when they hadn't been able to afford food for a couple of days! It's not like she was entertaining customers every night! And she forbade Talis from selling her own body. She was only doing what she had to do so the both of them could survive."

Helena once again shook her head. Tears of hot anger filled Mara's eyes as she turned and stomped off to the field to help Harly weed the corn.

Tension in Waterdeep, already high because of the Draakhorn sounding, became even worse when Arthagast Ulbrinter, a prominent and wealthy citizen of Waterdeep, was murdered by the Cult of the Dragon. His grieving wife, Remalia Haventree, became determined to destroy the cult once and for all. She, herself a Harper, prevailed upon the Harpers to focus on tracking cult activities and the movements of the cult's most powerful members.

A few days later, Sildar Hallwinter's report reached the Lords' Alliance. A flurry of message birds went out to the all the major cities of the Sword Coast explaining the dire danger everyone was in. Remalia Haventree began advocating for a council of representatives from all the powerful organizations in the Sword Coast to be convened for a secret meeting in Waterdeep to fight the menace.

Accordingly, calls were put out for representatives to be chosen from the Harpers, the Order of the Gauntlet, the Emerald Enclave, the Lords' Alliance and even the Zhentarim. Sildar Hallwinter successfully lobbied for the party to be included in the session discussions. The Lords' Alliance would pay for them to stay at the Flagon Dragon Inn in the Castle Ward for the duration of the council. City watch would be assigned to make sure they were safe during their stay.

A runner came out to the Evenwood farm to inform the family that Mara would be summoned to attend meetings at the Lords' Palace within the next few days and she should await a message to come into town immediately. She gathered her traveling gear together and waited.

A few days later, another runner came to the farm and gave her the summons to come to the Flagon Dragon Inn in preparation for the upcoming council session. The runner had been instructed to escort her to the Inn and had brought a horse for her to ride. When she arrived at the Inn, Neega, Bree, Borovik and Kellen were already there. They all embraced her and greeted her with happy tears. The runner told the group that the council meeting would start the next morning, and to meet Sildar Hallwinter at the gate to the Lords' Palace. That night Mara used her Sending Stone to send a message to Talis, "At Flagon Dragon Inn. Must attend council session at Lords' Palace tomorrow."

The next day, they met Sildar at the gate of the Lords' Palace and he escorted them to the secret council chambers. He advised the party that all the factions were agreed that the ritual to summon Tiamat had to be stopped. However, because of the level of distrust between the various factions, none of them had yet committed any resources to the task. The party would have to tread carefully. Their activities could potentially show the council a path forward but balancing the activities so as to simultaneously impress as many factions as possible and offend as few as possible would require finesse. The party decided to let Borovik and Kellen do most of the talking, since Kellen was the most eloquent and Borovik was the most learned.

The outer galleries of the chambers were packed with nobles from all across the Sword Coast, arguing about what needed to be done. As they entered the chambers proper, they found that, in addition to themselves, there were nine other delegates. The delegates looked at each other suspiciously.

The session was called to order by a tall, broad shouldered human male, who sported a thick beard and a wild mane of hair. He carried himself like nobility and spoke with assurance.

"I am Lord Dagult Neverember, the Open Lord of Waterdeep and the leader of the Lords' Alliance. We have called this council together to discuss plans for how to stop the ritual to summon Tiamat to the material plane and to ask the powerful factions of the Sword Coast to supply resources to carry out the plans. Allow me to introduce the other attendees.

Pointing to a dwarven man he announced, "This is Ambassador Connerad Brawnanvil, the former king of Mithral Hall. He represents the dwarves of the north, including Mithral Hall, Citadel Felbarr and Citadel Adbar."

Turning to a human man, he said, "Marshall Ulder Ravengard is the leader of the Flaming Fists, the military might in Baldur's Gate."

Dagult gestured to an elf man with a regal bearing. "Next we have King Melandrach. He is the King of the Misty Forest, and represents elves of both the Misty Forest and the High Forest."

Introducing another human man he said, "Taern Hornblade was formerly the high mage of Silverymoon and has come here as their representative."

Nodding at the elf woman Remalia Haventree, he said "Many of you already know the noble woman Remalia Haventree, who is here to represent the Harpers."

Pointing to another human male, Dagult continued, "From the Order of the Gantlet we have the paladin Ontharr Frume of Elturel."

Gesturing to a half-elf male, Dagult introduced him, "Delaan Winterhound comes to us from the Emerald Enclave."

Turning to a human male, Dagult said, "This is Sir Isteval. Although he now lives in Daggerford, he was once a Purple Dragon Knight of Cormyr. Cormyr has drafted him to attend the council to assess if Cormyr should commit resources."

Dagult then motioned the party forward and said, "Finally, I want to introduce the Heroes of Phandalin. They have been invited to the council because they thwarted the delivery of a shipment of loot destined for a treasure hoard tribute to Tiamat and provided a good deal of the information we now have about the recent Cult of the Dragon activities. Heroes, please stand as I call your names: Neega the Sword Bearer, Kellen of Clan Daergal, Borovik Stayanoga, Mara Evenwood and Bree Thorngage."

The rest of the delegates cheered as the heroes were introduced.

Dagult then summarized the events leading up to the council and information gathered by various parties, principally Sildar Hallwinter's report on the Heroes of Phandalin activities, the book Borovik discovered which described the ritual, and investigations carried out by the Harpers and the Order of the Gauntlet.

"The Cult of the Dragon intends to perform a summoning ritual to bring the evil dragon goddess Tiamat back to the material plane and are close to starting the ritual. They are gathering at the Well of Dragons even now and are using the Draakhorn, an ancient magical artifact, to summon chromatic dragons to the ritual.

"The ritual is a massive affair and will require the sacrifice of hundreds of victims. It also requires the presence of 5 dragon masks, one for each type of chromatic dragon. Currently each of the five masks is being held by a separate high-ranking officer of the cult, whom they call Wyrmspeakers. When brought together, the masks combine magically into a single mask, which is then used in the summoning ritual.

"The Cult of the Dragon is being assisted in the ritual by some of the exiled Red Wizards of Thay. We believe that they are asking in return that when Tiamat is summoned, she will overthrow the lich Szass Tam, who is currently the Lord of Thay. This would allow them to return to Thay from their exile.

"The treasures stolen from towns all across the Sword Coast are being used to amass a huge tribute to Tiamat when she arrives. The Heroes of Phandalin are responsible for disrupting a large shipment of treasure by crashing the flying castle that was carrying the treasure to the Well of Dragons."

Turning to the heroes, Dagult asked them if they had anything to add based on their own experiences.

"No," replied Borovik. "We ourselves didn't know about the dragon masks, although we have heard of the Wyrmspeakers. We do know the names of 2 of the Wyrmspeakers: Rezmir, whom we killed, and Severin Silrajin, who is the cult leader."

At this point, Dagult opened up for questions and comments.

Sir Isteval sighed and said, "Well, now I know why so many Cormyrians have been disappearing of late. The have all been kidnapped and will be murdered. And it explains why the exiled Red Wizards in Cormyr have been more active lately."

A few of the Lords' Alliance delegates grumbled that the flying castle had been destroyed, rather than brought back to be used against the cult.

"Excuse me, people," exclaimed Kellen. "We did not crash the castle. The Red Wizard leader, Rath Modar, escaped after we killed Rezmir, and he must have alerted the cult that the castle had been invaded. Dragons began landing on the castle and we had to leave in a hurry."

"Well, how did you get off the castle?" asked Onthar Frume.

Borovik lied to hide the fact that they been carried away on the backs of white dragons, and said, "We jumped off and I cast Feather Fall on the entire party so we would float down to the ground."

Taern the mage looked a little skeptical but said nothing.

"Then if you didn't crash it yourselves, how did it crash?" continued Ontharr.

"We don't really know," Kellen lied to disguise fact that the white dragons told them exactly what had happened. "We only heard about the crash from someone who had talked to someone who had seen it crash."

Remalia of the Harpers and Delaan of the Emerald Enclave then began to complain that Lords' Alliance troops had destroyed a clutch of dragons' eggs found at a cultist camp shortly after the attack on Phandalin.

"They should have been allowed to hatch!" exclaimed Delaan. "Chromatic dragons are part of nature and it upsets the balance of nature to kill their young!"

A heated argument ensued until Dagult ordered a halt to it. He then called on Dala Silmerhelve, who had been invited to this session to reveal some more information her family benefactor had given her about the Draakhorn.

Dala stood up and informed the council, "The last known location of the Draakhorn was in the Sea of Moving Ice, to the extreme north of here. It hasn't been possible to locate the source of the Draakhorn sound, so it may no longer be in the Sea of Moving Ice. However, that's the best lead we currently have, and it would be a good place to start looking.

"The foremost expert on the Draakhorn is a tiefling sorcerer maned Maccath the Crimson. She belongs to the Arcane Brotherhood, a wizards' guild in Luskan, and we contacted them to get in touch with her to see what she knows. Unfortunately, she vanished 3 years ago while doing some investigations in the Sea of Moving Ice."

"When are you going to reveal the name of your benefactor?" demanded Ulder Ravengard.

"Never. He has asked me to keep his identity secret."

"Why?"

"He has his own reasons, and I will respect his wishes," Dala replied coldly.

"Enough!" cried Dagult, then continued, "We need to hear the report by Remalia on intelligence gathered by the Harpers."

Remalia rose and began, "Harper agents have been gathering intelligence on the top leadership of the cult and their whereabouts. We have found that one of the Wyrmspeakers, Varram the White, who is in possession of the White Dragon mask, has been seen in the settlement Boareskyr Bridge, near the Serpent Hills. If he could be captured, we might be able to claim one of the dragon masks and prevent the performance of the ritual."

Mara grimaced at the mention of Varram, Talis' rival to the position of White Dragon Wyrmspeaker. Fortunately, no one seemed to notice.

Dagult rubbed his chin and said, "Both of these missions sound like one the Heroes of Phandalin are capable of undertaking. We need to decide which one to send them on first."

Spirited discussion followed, with the council eventually deciding it would be most urgent to go after Varram the White. The party was told to prepare to leave within 2 days.

The council adjourned and Mara went with the rest of the party back to the Flagon Dragon Inn. As they were eating the evening meal, Neega looked quizzically at Borovik and asked, "Why did you tell the Council we jumped off the flying castle and you cast Feather Fall on us?"

Borovik responded, "Now what do you think the Council would have said if they knew we are friendly enough with white dragons that they would agree to fly us off to safety when the castle was attacked?"

Neega nodded and said, "You have a point there."

About this time Mara received a message from Talis, "How did the council session go?"

Mara replied, "Being sent to track Varram the White. Need you to tell us everything you know about what he's up to."