one more reload, after picking up shadowheart (skipping lae'zel and astarian) and beating the goblins at the gate, beelined it to edwins guys. leaving the followers alive, headed to the cave and got the dialogue.
tried camping before entering the cave, shadowheart says in camp "I'm not sure this is a good idea". i still got the dialogue.
note: my other attempts above, astarian had been about trouble at night with gale and lae'zel in camp. i'll make a run with astarian in camp and see what happens.
