Yes, you can long rest after telling Minthara about the Grove, but be aware that doing so will immediately trigger the battle sequence for her assault on the Emerald Grove.
Understanding the Consequences of Resting
Once you inform the Drow Paladin Minthara about the location of the Emerald Grove and agree to her plan to attack, she states that the assault will commence the very next day. This is a crucial game trigger: taking a long rest will directly advance the game state to the battle.
- Immediate Battle Trigger: A long rest acts as the catalyst for the conflict. The moment you complete a long rest, the game will initiate the assault on the Grove.
- Commitment to the Conflict: If you intended to side with Minthara, this is the expected progression. However, if your strategy involved dealing with other Goblin leaders in their camp discreetly before the large-scale battle, or if you were planning to side with the Grove, a long rest after this point will remove those options. You'll be locked into the full-scale confrontation.
- Loss of Alternative Preparations: For players who wish to defend the Grove, using a long rest after Minthara has been told will prevent opportunities to subtly eliminate key Goblin leaders or make other strategic preparations in the Goblin Camp without triggering the main battle. Instead, you would be forced to betray Minthara and her forces directly during the attack itself.
Therefore, while the game allows you to mechanically long rest, it is not a neutral action in this specific scenario. It's an irreversible step that progresses the narrative and initiates a major combat encounter, significantly altering your available options and the immediate flow of the story.
