[Cerek]

Originally posted by T-D-C: How about the Cowled Wizards loose contact with the Island and because you know both the new inmates they send you to investigate

I have to admit my first reaction was the same as Riftmakers. The Cowled Wizards are running their own private prison for any mage in Athkala. The only crime you really have to be "guilty" of is refusing to pay the BRIBE needed for the C.W.'s to turn their head to your spellcasting.

The PC knows that Imoen has been wrongly imprisoned BY the Cowled Wizards. Under normal circumstances, I would agree 100% with Riftmaker that they absolutely would NOT want the PC and his/her party anywhere NEAR their private little Spellhold.

However, T-D-C (along with others) DO have a point that the Cowled Wizards would be "concerned" about the events transpiring at Spellhold, and I can certainly picture them sending the PC to investigate rather than placing themselves in harm's way.

As for the Harper tie-in. As the game stands now, the leader of the Harpers is out to capture the PC and/or imprison him/her because of their Slayer abilities. If you have Jaheira in the party, this leads to an inevitable confrontation in which you have to defend yourself against the leader and several members of the Harpers. The PC doesn't suffer any repurcussions for his actions - however - because Jaheira and the rest of the Harpers realize this guy was following an unsanctioned personal agenda.

So the replacement leader could offer passage to Spellhold as a way to compensate the PC for the trouble he/she endured at the hands of the former leader. They could still require a few tasks to be completed by the PC first and could then offer passage for free (or they could say the standard fee is still necessary in order to bribe the proper people to secure passage).

I admit my memory of the whole Harper Interaction is a bit fuzzy and may not be completely accurate. It also may be completely different if Jaheira isn't in the party. I'm just recalling events as best as I remember them.